Getting Around Japan: Trains, Passes & IC Cards

Japan has the best public transport in the world, and you can plan an entire two-week trip without ever renting a car. The bullet train (Shinkansen) connects the major cities at extraordinary speed and punctuality, while IC cards make local subways and buses effortless. The main decision most visitors face is whether to buy a Japan Rail Pass or pay per journey, and this guide walks through both, plus the local options once you arrive.

The Shinkansen (bullet train)

The Shinkansen is Japan's high-speed rail network, running at up to about 320 km/h with legendary punctuality. The busiest line, the Tokaido Shinkansen, links Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka; Tokyo to Kyoto takes roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. The network extends west to Hiroshima (about 4 hours from Tokyo) and beyond to Kyushu, and north to Tohoku and Hokkaido. Trains are frequent, comfortable, and reservable; you can travel with a reserved seat or, on most lines, in non-reserved cars. Note that the fastest Nozomi and Mizuho services on the Tokaido/Sanyo line are not covered by the standard Japan Rail Pass without paying a supplement, so pass holders usually take the slightly slower Hikari or Sakura.

Japan Rail Pass: is it worth it?

The nationwide Japan Rail Pass gives unlimited travel on JR trains, including most Shinkansen, for a set number of consecutive days. As of 2026, a 7-day ordinary-class pass costs around 50,000 yen (with a price increase scheduled for October 2026), and 14- and 21-day options are also available. The pass is worth it when you cover long distances, for example a Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima round trip easily exceeds the 7-day price in point-to-point fares. But if you are mostly staying in one region or one or two cities, individual tickets or a regional pass (such as the JR Kansai Area Pass or JR East passes) are often cheaper. The simple test: add up the JR fares for your planned long-distance legs, then compare to the pass price. The pass must usually be bought before or shortly after arrival and activated for a chosen start date.

IC cards for cities

For everything local, get a rechargeable IC card: Suica and PASMO (Tokyo area), ICOCA (Kansai), or the others, which are now broadly interoperable nationwide. Tap on and off subways, local trains, and buses, and use the same card to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and many shops. You can add a digital Suica/PASMO to a phone wallet, or buy a physical card at stations. This is all most visitors need within and between neighbourhoods.

Buses, flights, and cars

Long-distance buses (including overnight services) are the budget alternative to the Shinkansen, slower but much cheaper. Domestic flights make sense for far destinations like Hokkaido and Okinawa, where the train would take a full day; low-cost carriers and ANA/JAL serve dense domestic routes. Renting a car is rarely necessary on a city-focused trip, but it shines for rural areas, the Japan Alps, and exploring Hokkaido at your own pace; an International Driving Permit is required.

Practical tips

• Trains are quiet zones: keep phones on silent and conversations low.
• There is no tipping, including taxis.
• Last trains often run before midnight; check times if you are out late.
• Luggage forwarding (takkyubin) lets you send suitcases between hotels cheaply, so you can ride the Shinkansen unencumbered.
• Google Maps and the Japan Travel app handle routing well, including platform and transfer details.