Getting Around Japan
Japan's rail system is one of the engineering wonders of the modern world, and it will be your primary means of getting around. It can look intimidating at first — the maps resemble circuit boards and the station hubs are multi-level labyrinths. It is, in fact, very logical. This guide gives you everything you need to navigate it with confidence from day one.
Covers Shinkansen & most JR lines
Subway, bus & non-JR lines
Always select "Transit" mode
What It Covers
The JR Pass covers travel on Japan Railways (JR) lines including most Shinkansen bullet train routes, the Tokyo Monorail, and many regional lines. It covers the majority of intercity travel on this itinerary. It does not cover all subway lines within cities — that's where the PASMO card comes in.
Picking It Up
If you purchased a JR Pass voucher before departure, redeem it at the JR Rail office at Haneda Terminal 3 on arrival day. This is also the place to pick up a pocket Wi-Fi hotspot if you opted for one, and where to purchase your PASMO card. Do all three at the same stop — it saves backtracking.
Reserving Shinkansen Seats
The JR Pass covers the fare on Shinkansen lines that accept it — primarily the Tokaido-Sanyo line (Tokyo–Osaka–Hiroshima corridor) and the Hokkaido line north toward Sapporo. Use the JR Rail app to reserve your seat before travel days. Reserved seating is strongly recommended. If you miss a reserved train, you can rebook at the station via the app or at a ticket window.
Nozomi & Mizuho — Important
The Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen trains are the fastest options on the Tokyo–Osaka corridor — roughly 10 minutes faster than the alternatives. However, they are not covered by the JR Pass. Always take the Sakura or Hikari trains instead. They're nearly as fast and your pass covers them fully.
Green Cars
Japan's Green Cars are the equivalent of first class — wider seats, more legroom, quieter cars. Your JR Rail Pass entitles you to travel in Green Cars where available. Not every train has them, and local trains and subway lines never do. When a Green Car is available on a long Shinkansen run, use it. Look for the green four-leaf clover symbol on the car exterior before you board.
What It Is
The PASMO is a rechargeable IC transit card accepted on virtually every subway line, city bus, and non-JR rail line in Japan. Think of it as the transit card that covers everything the JR Pass doesn't. You tap in and tap out at entry gates — no tickets, no queuing at machines for every ride.
Loading Value
Purchase the card and load it at the JR office at Haneda Terminal 3 on arrival. Start with ¥5,000 (roughly $35 USD). You can add value at any major station using the green recharge machines — they have English-language menus. Any unused balance is refundable at a PASMO office before you depart.
Cashing Out
Before you leave Japan, return your PASMO card to a PASMO service office to collect any remaining balance. There are offices at most major hub stations. If your departure is from Chitose/Sapporo, handle it there. If you're transiting through Tokyo/Haneda on the way home, there's time to do it there as well. Don't leave money on the card.
The key principle: Major Japanese train stations are multi-level complexes where multiple rail lines share the same building. Each line has its own platforms and the platform numbers are reused across lines — platform 3 on the JR line is not the same as platform 3 on the subway. Always confirm the line first, then the platform, then the direction.
Overhead Signage
Signs in major stations are in both Japanese and English. Follow them deliberately. When transferring between lines, signs will direct you to a different level or wing. Allow extra time at your first few station transfers — it gets intuitive quickly, but the first time through a hub like Shinjuku or Shin-Osaka can be disorienting.
Direction — End-Station Logic
Trains are identified by their final destination station, not by "northbound" or "eastbound." To know which direction you need, you need to know which end-station is in your direction of travel. Google Maps Transit mode handles this for you — it will tell you exactly which train to board and which direction.
Express vs. Local
Each line operates a mix of direct/express, rapid, and local trains. Express trains skip intermediate stations — if your stop isn't a major one, confirm that the train you're boarding stops there. Google Maps will specify which type of train to take. When in doubt, a local train gets you there; it just takes longer.
Ask Someone in Uniform
Every major station has JR or transit staff on the floor. They wear uniforms and typically speak some English. If you're genuinely lost — platform, direction, connection — find one and ask. They will go out of their way to get you sorted. This is not a last resort; it's a completely normal thing to do.
Getting to Your Hotel from the Station
Most hotels on this itinerary are a short walk from their respective stations — under a kilometer in most cases. When you're carrying luggage, that walk is more demanding than it sounds. Taxis queue outside every major station and are a completely reasonable option for the final leg. Alternatively, if the station has a subway connection that brings you closer, Google Maps will show you the walking-versus-transit tradeoff. When you leave the hotel each morning, stop at the front desk and take a business card — it has the hotel's address in Japanese, which you can show to any taxi driver on your return.
The Unwritten Rules — Worth Knowing Before You Board
Safe and Professional
Japanese taxis are clean, metered, and driven by professionals who will not take you out of your way to run up the fare. Expect to pay approximately ¥1,000 (roughly $7–8 USD) per kilometer in major cities. Fares are posted inside the cab. No tipping.
Automatic Doors
Japanese taxi doors open and close automatically — the driver controls them from the front. Wait for the door to open before getting in, and do not attempt to close it yourself when you exit. This surprises nearly every first-time visitor.
Show the Address in Japanese
English fluency among taxi drivers is inconsistent. When leaving your hotel, take a business card from the front desk — it has the address in Japanese. For other destinations, use Google Translate's camera function to write down the address in Japanese script before you need it.
Hailing & Apps
Taxis can be hailed on the street or found at taxi stands outside every major station and hotel. The GO app (formerly Japan Taxi) is what locals use — it hails licensed metered cabs, shows estimated fares upfront, and lets you pay in-app. You'll still pay standard metered rates, but it works smoothly and doesn't require flagging someone down. Uber operates in major cities as well, but works similarly to GO — it dispatches metered cabs rather than ride-share vehicles, and payment goes to the driver. Either app is a reasonable option; the taxi stand is still usually the fastest choice when you're already standing in front of one.