Getting Around– category –
Photo: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe JR Pass, IC cards, Shinkansen seats and airport trains, explained so you buy only what your route needs.
Booking something? The tools we use, one per job.
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How to Use Google Maps in Japan: Exits, Transfers and Lists
Best everyday use: the Transit tab with "Depart at" set the night before. Best for exits: the station exit Google shows, now mapped in 80+ cities. Best fo… -
Best App for Trains in Japan: Google Maps vs Navitime
Best for walking and street exits: Google Maps. Best for exact platforms and pass filters: Japan Travel by NAVITIME. Best offline backup route planner: Ja… -
Japan Night Bus vs Shinkansen: Is It Worth It?
On a 7–10 day trip, the Shinkansen is usually the better use of your night. Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka: the bus saved about ¥7,000–¥11,000 on our sample date… -
Luggage Forwarding in Japan: Is It Worth It? Costs and Safety
One 160-size suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka costs ¥3,160 cash with Yamato. Haneda to a Tokyo hotel is ¥2,410; Narita to Tokyo is ¥3,020 (another pr… -
Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kyoto: A Stress-Free Guide
Skip the tourist queue; get your IC card digitally or at a machine. The Airport Rapid is often less crowded than the Haruka Express. Use the Yamato luggag… -
Narita vs Haneda: Getting to Your Hotel Without the Stress
Best for easy access: Haneda Airport via the Keikyu Line. Best for Shinjuku/Shibuya: Narita Airport via the Narita Express (N'EX). Best for families with… -
Should You Fly or Take the Train from Tokyo to Kyoto?
Best for most travelers: The Tokaido Shinkansen (reliable and direct). Best for strict budgets: Daytime bus or regional train (slow but cheap). Best for f… -
Shinkansen Tickets Online vs In Person: Booking and Seats
Online: Smart EX (Tokyo–Osaka–Hakata), JR-EAST Train Reservation (north), JR-WEST (west). In person: a JR ticket machine with English menus, or the JR tic… -
Suica vs Pasmo vs Icoca: Which IC Card Actually Matters?
Best for iPhone users: Apple Wallet Suica or Pasmo (instant). Best for Android users: Mobile Suica or Pasmo (requires Osaifu-Keitai). Best for travelers w… -
Does the JR Pass Cover Subways? The Reality for 2026
The Japan Rail Pass does not work on local subways. You need an IC card like Suica for short city trips. JR lines often miss the main tourist city centers…
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