The Basics

• Be sure to carry adequate cash or coins when you go out for the day as you will not be able to use credit cards or traveler's cheques to pay for taxis or to buy train or bus tickets.
• Though travel by taxi can be quite tempting when in a new city, in Japan it can also be astronomically expensive and considerably slower than trains or subways. Besides, figuring out public transportation is half the fun!
• Take your time and ask questions!
  

Trains
Trains are the best way to travel. Japan Railways (JR) is the largest train system in Japan, made up of several different private train systems that are linked together. The JR system covers the entire country, providing both long distance and local service. The bullet train system, known as the shinkansen, is run by JR, but the shinkansen train lines, and sometimes even the stations, are separate from the regular railways. There are also many private train lines in Japan. These lines are short and centered around cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Big city train systems, therefore, are a combination of JR, private and subway lines, which means that you not only need to switch trains, but you also need to switch train lines.

There are many different kinds of trains. The trains which stop at every station are called local trains and are slightly cheaper than the express or limited express trains. There are any number of express services to choose from, but make sure the train will indeed stop at the station where you would like to disembark. There is usually a board on the platform which will tell you which trains stop at which stations. It is a good idea to have the name of your destination written in Japanese and romanized characters before tackling the train system.

Railway stations in bigger cities can often be confusing, so when at all possible, try to plan your course of action in advance. Figure out which lines and which trains you need to board, and then follow the numerous signs, written in English, which are posted throughout the station. Trouble occurs when you are not clear about which train lines to use, so be sure to ask questions! Because the stations can get quite crowded, it is less stressful if you try to think through your course before you get there. Exiting can also be a bit tricky, so take the time to look carefully at the station map and exit signs. Most exit signs will list the major buildings or attractions that are found in that direction.

Buy a ticket before passing through the turnstile, and place it in the small opening on top. The ticket will pass through to the other side, and the doors will open. Don't forget to take your ticket and keep it because you will need it again when you leave the train terminal.

How to buy a ticket:
All local tickets are sold in vending machines near the entrance to the train terminal. There is a large map with the various routes above the vending machine. Most of these maps have some sort of English guide to them, but it may be difficult to locate your destination on the route map. If you are unable to figure out how much you need to pay, just buy the cheapest ticket available. When you reach your destination, you can go to a fare adjustment machine, insert the ticket you bought and pay the difference. If you try to go through the turnstile without adjusting your fare, you can cause a bit of a traffic jam, so be sure to adjust the ticket before attempting to exit. If there is no fare adjustment machine, take it to the nearest attended ticket gate and the person there will tell you how much you owe.

You will have a Japan Rail Pass effective from June 17th through June 24th. On those days, you can use any JR train (JR trains only!) and JR ferry, reserved or non-reserved seats (to reserve your seat, go to the "Green Window" in any JR station) for free! .

Bullet train tickets and tickets for longer trips can be purchased at the "Green Window" in most JR stations, which is easily identified by its green sign. If you buy a reserved seat, your ticket will indicate the car, row and seat number. Line up beneath the sign with the corresponding car number and wait for the train. If you have bought a non-reserved seat ticket, then look for the non-reserved seat cars. Some trains still have one or two smoking cars, so be aware of this as you look for the right line. You do not want to be even a minute later than the departure time written on the ticket because trains do not linger at the station unless they are ahead of schedule. They stop long enough for people to get on and off and are soon off and running again.

Subways
The procedure for buying a ticket and using the subway is quite similar to that of taking the train. Subways operate in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, but not in the other cities you will visit. Subway maps are available on-line at: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/GA/Transportation/subways.html.

Buses
You will find plenty of city buses in all of the cities you will visit. City buses can be confusing and slow, since they are at the mercy of city traffic (you can enjoy views from the window, though!). While some bus stops will have signs written in English telling you where the bus stops, some of them are only Japanese, so you may have to ask someone which bus to take to get to where you want to go. On most buses, passengers board through the door toward the back of the bus and get off from the door next to the driver (you pay when you get off), but on others, it is the other way around; enter at the front and exit at the rear (you pay when you get on).

Some buses will announce upcoming stops in English, but most will not. To be safe, you may want to tell the driver or another passenger where you would like to go and ask them to tell you when to push the button. Many buses will also have a screen at the front which will announce the name of the next stop in Japanese and sometimes Roman characters or English. When you hear the name of your stop, push the button (or pull the cord) next to your seat to indicate that you would like to get off. Do not push the button before you hear the name of your stop or you may find yourself getting off some place other than your destination!

In most cities, the fare is often a flat rate of around 200 yen, which you drop into the plastic receptacle on top of a machine (usually when you get on). The cost on buses outside of the cities and in more rural areas is determined by distance traveled. When you get on, take a ticket from the machine by the door. The ticket will have a number indicating the zone in which you boarded. An electronic board above the driver will indicate how much you need to pay when you get off. Exit from the front of the bus and drop the proper amount in the plastic receptacle. CAUTION: You must pay with exact change. Buses have 1000 yen bill change machines on them, so first put the bill into the machine, and then place the correct change into the receptacle. You may use the change machine whenever the bus is not in motion.

Susan's personal experience on a local bus:
Trying to get around on your own can be the best experience you will have in Japan. When I first moved to Japan, I lived in a small city whose buses were not entirely foreigner friendly. I worked hard to memorize the Japanese character for the stop I needed to go to and confidently boarded the bus. Because foreigners were rare where I lived, people did not usually approach me on the bus. On this particular day, however, a woman in her 60's sat next to me and began to ask me questions. In very broken Japanese, I explained that I was teaching English in a town called Fuji. We chatted for awhile, and then she got off the bus, leaning over to whisper something in the driver's ear before leaving. Two stops later, about 15 miles away from my town, the bus driver stopped and instructed me to get off and "Wait right there!" It seemed I had no choice, so I got off on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. After some moments of panic an old farmer walked by, and I showed him the Japanese character for my town. He explained that I was indeed standing at a bus stop and the bus I wanted would be along shortly. That night, after I was safely home, my Japanese friend showed me that the Japanese character for my town's name and the Japanese character for the name of a town 30 miles in the other direction were only different by one stroke of the brush. Thank goodness for the kind woman who sat next to me and the adamant bus driver!

Taxis
With rates starting at 630 yen, taxis are by far the most expensive means of public transport. The initial 630 yen will take you about 2 km (1.6 miles). The fee is based on distance traveled as well as time spent en route, increasing incrementally every ½ mile or 2 minutes. Rates are more expensive after 11 p.m. Like buses, taxis are subject to city traffic, which can sometimes make riding in a car slower than walking. Taxis in Japan are summoned the same way they are summoned in the US minus the whistle. While a select few taxi drivers may speak a bit of English, most cannot, so be sure to take something with the name and address of where you would like to go written in both Japanese (for the taxi driver) and Roman characters (for you). Like in the US, you pay just before leaving the taxi. Do not tip! Finally, the back passenger side doors of taxis open and close automatically. Opening or closing the door yourself can lead to a disgruntled taxi driver, so be careful!

City-specific Information (by Mayumi Nakano)

Tokyo
JR Yamanote-sen Line, which circles around Tokyo metropolis, covers major districts such as Shinjuku, Harajuku and Tokyo. JR Chuo-sen line runs across this circle connecting Shinjuku and Tokyo. There are also numerous lines in two subway systems (Eidan & Toei) as well as many private train companies. Shinjuku Station, which is located in a 10-minute walk from our hotel, is one of the largest terminals where a number of different lines intersect. It will be very convenient but also confuse you. The railway map is a must item when you go out (even people living there carry it around!). Although Tokyo also has developed bus systems, I seldom rode the bus when I was in Tokyo because trains are faster and more convenient to travel in the crowded city.

Kyoto
Kyoto City Subway has two lines: Karasuma-sen Line, which runs north and south (Kyoto Station is on this line), and Tozai-sen Line, which runs east and west. There are also some JR lines and other lines operated by private train companies. However, many people find buses a more convenient and fun way to travel in Kyto. The major bus systems in Kyoto include City Bus (shi-basu), Kyoto Bus and Keihan Bus, but City Bus provides more services than the others. If you plan to ride City Bus more than three times a day, you may want to purchase a one-day pass (500 yen) which is available at the City Bus office at Kyoto Station (Karasuma-guchi Exit). The office also sells some other passes including "Kyoto Sightseeing Card" that will allow unlimited rides of subway, City Bus and Kyoto Bus for one day (1200 yen).

Hiroshima
Hiroshima Dentetsu (Hiroden) provides several street car lines, and most of the lines connect different parts of the city and Hiroshima Station, which is located near our hotel (the hotel is actually managed by this train company). Riding a street car is very similar to riding a bus. Hiroshima Station also serves as a major terminal for two bus systems: Hiroden Bus and Hirsohima Bus. You can take either the street car or the bus to travel between Hiroshima Station and the downtown area, but I personally enjoy the nostalgic feeling I get when I ride the street cars.

Osaka
Osaka is another metropolis that has numerous subway/train lines and bus services, but I'll just focus on subways since you won't have much free time there. Our hotel is located in the Kita (north) district, where you can easily access three subway lines/stations: Umeda station on Midosuji-sen Line, Nishi-Umeda station on Yotsubashi-sen Line, and Higashi-Umeda station on Tanimachi-sen Line. Umeda Station is the one you are likely to use most because Namba, which is located in the Minamai (south) district and is the biggest downtown area, is on Midosuji-sen Line. Both Umeda and Namba are major terminal stations for several different trains (Umeda also has three different subway lines intersecting), so make sure that you are riding on the correct train/line.

Okinawa
Although a new monorail system is coming to Naha City at the end of this summer, there is no train system in Okinawa. There are some bus systems that run both inside and outside Naha City: Naha Kotsu, Ryukyu Bus, Okinawa Bus and Toyo Bus. You probably won't have enough free time to travel outside Naha.

Resources

• Japan National Tourist Organization - Getting Around: Trains
  General information on Japanese railway system.
  
• Japan-guide.com - Transportaion: Trains
  Historical overview of Japanese railway system and basic information.
• Japan Railway Pass
  Official website.
  
• Japan-guide.com - Transportation: Shinkansen
  Information on shinkansen.
  
• Japan National Tourist Organization - Getting Around: Buses
  General information on Japanese buses.