Transportation

By train or by road, find out with us what is the ideal transportation solution for your trip to Japan!

Enjoy the efficiency of Japan's railway system with a Japan Rail Pass, rent a car to explore Japan's countryside off the beaten path or make your trip easier with an airport transfer ticket or a prepaid travel card. Which option will you choose?

• Trains:

Japan has an exceptional rail network, renowned for its punctuality, making it the most convenient way to get around the country. The Shinkansen, Japan's high-speed train, and local lines are ideal for visiting both major cities and more rural, authentic regions.
If you want to travel by train, the Japan Rail Pass is the most practical option! Choose between the national JR Pass or the regional JR Passes and travel Japan with unlimited freedom!

• Subways:

Facilitating travel within major cities, the subway networks are modern and efficient. Subway stations are equipped with English-language signs, and most stations and subway lines also offer English-language announcements both on the platforms and in the carriages for international travelers. To make your travel easier, you can use the rechargeable Suica card, which saves you having to buy tickets and can be used on all public transport in Japan (bus, streetcar, metro...).

• Buses:

In Japan, you'll find 2 types of bus: local buses and long-distance buses.
In cities where there is no subway (such as Kyoto or Hiroshima), local buses are the predominant means of transport. There are also city-to-city buses throughout the archipelago. Called "kôsoku", they are an inexpensive alternative for long and medium-distance travel in Japan. Japan has an extensive network of long-distance bus lines, known as "Highway buses", operating day and night. These buses are generally comfortable with spacious, reclining seats and free Wi-Fi access.

• Cars:

Offering unparalleled freedom to explore the country's interior, this is your chance to explore Japan's rural areas and stop wherever you please. Ideal for traveling with family or friends, this option lets you move at your own pace, without worrying about train schedules. An added advantage for the heaviest travelers and easily transported all your luggage.

• Plane : 

Flying is a real alternative for getting to Japan's most remote locations quickly and easily. With numerous airports for domestic flights throughout the country, you'll be able to get to the four corners of the country, such as Okinawa or Hokkaido, in just a few hours. The main airlines operating on the Japanese domestic market are Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), however, there are also smaller companies such as Air Do, StarFlyer, Peach Aviation, Jetstar Japan and Vanilla Air that offer more affordable fares.

• Cycling: 

For a leisurely ride around town or on country roads, a bicycle can be a pleasant way to get around where cars and trains don't go. For example, cycle around the lakes of Hakone at the foot of Mount Fuji, or wander through the rice paddies. Most of the local tourist offices in the towns you visit offer free or low-cost bicycle rental schemes. 

• Boat : 

To reach some of Japan's islands, you'll have no choice but to take a ferry, especially to visit the Seto Inland Sea where Naoshima Island is located, the islands off Tokyo such as Niijima, or the many islands that make up the Okinawa archipelago.