All About Traveling - Japan Edition
Getting Around in Japan
Outside of Tokyo Station
Getting around in Japan is pretty easy and straight forward and this is made possible by Google Maps - it is a LIFESAVER in Japan. In this post, I’ll talk about the JR pass, train pass, the Shinkansen (bullet train), wifi & data, and more.
WIFI & DATA
Technically, you can do all the research - which bus to take and at which times to get where you need - before you even head to Japan so you don’t need wifi/data. But what if you want to post on social media? Or what if there’s an emergency? Change of plans? Late to a train? WiFi and data can save you here.
You are able to find free WiFi in certain places like the airport, Starbucks’, certain train stations, certain convenient stores, some department stores - this can work, if you don’t need a constant connection but why not have WiFi all the time, you know?
SIM Card
Many SIM card companies will provide you with the same provider as a Japanese citizen. Of course, having a SIM card directly in your phone will allow you to access the internet without fuss. Some companies will even ship the SIM card directly to your house before you arrive to Japan, so right when you land, put the card in and you’ll have access right away.
I wouldn’t worry too much about getting it before - you can still get it at the airport or major electronic stores. Though one thing to note, some SIM cards allow only a certain amount of GB to be used before it stop working or drastically slows down. So just be weary of that..
Pros: you can get it mailed to your house, essentially no set-up (just pop it in and go), super easy, can’t lose it (unless you lose your phone)
Cons: limited GB, will need to hotspot your phone if you want to share
WiFi Egg/Pocket WiFi
I personally used a WiFi egg, both times I went to Japan actually. It’s essentially a device that provides a WiFi hotspot for you and has unlimited use - though I’ve heard if you use a lot, it gets slower but I haven’t had that problem. You can order this before you go to Japan so you can pick it up at the airport (just know which airport and which terminal) or you can just go to a counter and rent one for use. I rented mine from Ninja WiFi both times I went to Japan (NOT SPONSORED) and have had no issues whatsoever.
This is what it looks like. Image from econnectjapan.com
Just power it up, find the network name on your phone and put in the password (both these are stuck to the WiFi egg) and you’re set!
Pros: reliable, easy to connect multiple people, has its own power source (I’m not sure if multiple people hotspotting off your phone drains its batter but I would assume so)
Cons: extra weight, has its own power source (so you’ll need to charge it and bring an external battery if it runs out of juice)
TRAVELING AROUND IN JAPAN
Japan’s train system is quite advance, its at least 100x better than what I have here in Canada (*cough* ew what even is the trash TTC and GO transit we have? *cough*). There are plenty of trains running all across Japan and they are rarely ever late, so they are a great affordable option. I will mainly be talking about the transit system but I did want to touch on taxi’s and car’s.
You are able to rent a car in Japan if you live in a country where your license is directly transferable to Japan or if you have an International Drivers License (you can find more about this on my previous post). But you will need to have this ordered in your home country. Additionally, Japan has tolled highways which are quite costly, so keep that in mind.
Taxi’s are known to be expensive in Japan so if you have the money, definitely go ahead! But if you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, definitely go for the train.
For example, if I wanted to travel from Tokyo Station to Meiji shrine, the cost is 200 YEN ($2.50 CAD) using the Chiyoda line (*varies by time and trains available) and by taxi, that would cost approximately 3500 YEN ($45 CAD). Of course the prices for each vary but you can clearly see the difference in cost..
Local Transit
Riding trains in Japan are very easy, with your JR pass you can ride almost all transit under the JR company (I think they have a few exceptions with boats, etc) or with Suica or Pasmo train cards, you can travel any train.
You can buy individual train ride tickets but you will need to know the station you are at, the station you will stop and the cost of the train ride. Without knowing all these, this can be a challenge. But if you are up for the challenge, go ahead! There are fare adjusters at all stations just in case you either paid too much because you got off earlier or you didn’t pay enough because you got off a later stop. You will need to adjust or the gate will not open for you.
With Suica or Pasmo, just make sure you have enough money loaded onto the card and just tap to enter the train station and tap to get out. It’s that simple! The money is automatically deducted based on the distance of your travel. Also the gate where you tap also has a screen that lets you know how much money you have left and how much its deducting.
Image from pasmo.co.jp
Image of a local JR train from seat61.com
With the JR pass, you will need to enter though the counter where there is a person - as they quickly check that your JR pass is valid. I hear that sometimes they ask to check your passport to verify that the names match but I’ve never been asked that.
Google Maps is very detailed in Japan, it will let you know which number entrance to enter in from to take which line at which platform (it’ll even tell you which car number usually has the least number of people because the trains get crowded - “are those Japan train videos on YouTube real?” - yes. Yes they absolutely are (especially rush hour)). Then it’ll tell you which number exit to leave from at the train station and then just follow the lines on Google until you reach your destination. It’s actually really easy. Of course, for this you’ll need WiFi/data and for your location to be on.
As you can see in the images below, traveling from Tokyo Station to Meiji shrine, you’ll take the Chiyoda Line which will cost 200 YEN. You’ll ride from platform 1, there will be 8 spots until you leave at Yoyogi-koen station. Depending on which train, sometimes it will be even more detailed (i.e. enter via entrance A5, take the XX Line at platform 3 for 4 stops, get off at XX station and exit via C3). Signs for entrances, transit lines, platforms and exits will be pretty clear all around - keep a sharp eye!
Shinkansen (Bullet train)
Now, what about the shinkansen? It’s the fast bullet train that has a few stops that spans across Japan. You can get from Tokyo to Osaka in about 2h30 mins (which is a little less than the driving distance between Toronto to Montreal - crazy).
Note, you are able to buy reserved seat tickets from the JR counter - I highly encourage this because this ensures you have a seat for the journey. There are a few trains that are unreserved but you risk not having a seat. It does cost a bit more though. When I traveled bought round trip tickets from Tokyo to Osaka, it cost me ~18,000 YEN ($250 CAD).
If you have the JR pass, you can of course, ride the shinkansen (because its operated by JR) for free. You are STILL REQUIRED to go to a counter to receive the ticket (you cannot just use your JR pass). So if you plan multiple trips to Osaka/Kyoto or outside Tokyo’s prefecture, you will definitely get your moneys worth (The JR pass costing ~$400 CAD for 7 days of use).
Also, if you already know which day you will be traveling, have them print out the tickets for you when you pick up your JR pass! This way you can ensure the best seats possible (if you sit on the right side traveling to Osaka, you can see Mt.Fuji on a nice day).
Image from osakastation.com
This was my view of Mt.Fuji from my seat - it was a bit rainy that day but I was still able to see it!
Hopefully I covered all that I wanted too - there was a lot, I might have forgot somethings but let me know if there are any topics you want me to talk about. I also hope you found this helpful, if you have any question feel free to leave a comment.
-Thomas