I would like to say, first and foremost, that I LOVE the public transportation system here, even with it's complications. There is NO need to rent a car in Japan with all the trains and buses - unless you plan on visiting particularly rural areas or are in a large group. Even then, most buses and trains will get you in the ballpark of where you need to go. While many from Europe argue the expense of Japanese public transit, I've been told renting a car can be phenomenally expensive as well - between the rental fee, gasoline (petrol) and toll fees, you're looking at a hefty bill.
This article will be focusing on the Tokyo train system. If you're visiting Kyoto or Osaka, please click their respective links for information regarding travel in those areas. However, some of this information might be useful!
For the sake of convenience, I highly recommend getting a rechargeable fare card known as an IC Card. In Tokyo, there is the Pasmo card and the Suica card. These are interchangeable within Tokyo, but the Suica card can be used on all JR lines throughout the country - the Pasmo is limited to Tokyo. Other cities will have their own IC Cards. You can obtain either of these at Narita Airport. I highly recommend this for tourists - the Suica and N'EX deal.
Now for the trains themselves. There are types of trains one should be familiar with when looking to board any train in Japan. Keep in mind that terms will vary depending on the train line you take and again, do your research before leaving to ensure you get the cheapest/fastest compromise.
Shinkansen - the very fast bullet train. These will be quite expensive. It's more costly to go by train from Tokyo to Osaka than it is to fly, although it tends to be faster over all due to airport waiting times and hopping onto a train to the airport/city. Depending on the line, there are a variety of speeds (and prices) one can take - just like the trains mentioned below. This is because all Shinkansen run on their own tracks and most people are going to the major hubs (and not the "smaller" large stations). If you plan on using a Shinkansen, check this out, because it goes into way more detail than I plan to write down here.
Limited Express - the fastest-non bullet train. While these are cheaper than the might Shinkansen, there's usually a seating charge and it will only stop at the largest stations. If you can figure out which car doesn't have a seating charge, you may get lucky and snag a seat. However, keep in mind most people don't want to pay the fee either nor are there more than two or three per hour - it will be crowded during rush hour.
Liners - similar to the limited express train, but are most often used by commuters. There is usually a fee, but the seats are typically unreserved.
Express - Half-way between limited express and rapid.
Rapid - these are the fastest trains you can take without a surcharge and typically only stop at larger stations and transfer points. They can come in a variety of types, so it's important to do your research ahead of time to ensure the train will stop at the station you want. If you didn't, there's usually a chart on the platform showing what trains stop where, but this is usually in Japanese. Knowing the characters for your station might be helpful in this situation. As an example, these are the rapid trains on the Chuo line.
- Chuo Special Rapid - stops at major stations between Tokyo and Tachikawa, branches west to Takao
- Ome Special Rapid - stops at major stations between Tokyo and Tachikawa, branches north to Ome
- Commuter Rapid - only on weekday evenings between Tokyo and Tachikawa
- Commuter Special Rapid - morning service with two trains from Otsuki, two from Ome and one from Takao
Local - the train that stops at every single station, without exception. If you're visiting a small station, you'll likely have to transfer to the local line to get there. Most trains in the US count as local trains.
Overwhelmed yet? Don't let it daunt you. I prefer the Tokyo system for a reason. I'll use the Chuo line again as an example. From Shinjuku to Takao, there are a total of 19 stops (60 minutes), but the commuter rapid train only stops at 11 of those (55 minutes) and the special rapid stops at only 8 (41 minutes total).
While the time difference doesn't seem substantial, it adds up on train rides over an hour long. In addition, having a variety of trains helps alleviate some of the congestion. If you haven't see the "traffic" during the Tokyo rush hour, you should watch THIS. Please ignore their commentary. It's the Tokyo Metro Tozai line - and it just happens to be the line I ride every morning. This is going in the opposite direction, so I get a mostly empty train when I get on, but after it's just awful.
Now, you're probably wondering how people navigate the crazy maze that is the Tokyo public transit system. My favorite website is the Tokyo Metro Transfer Guide because it automatically edits out shinkansen and the most expensive options. However, it doesn't have a timetable built into it, so if you're looking for a train at a specific time, check out Hyperdia.
Navigating Stations in Tokyo can be a huge pain. Even Japanese people have problems and in large stations like Shinjuku or Tokyo, it's not uncommon to get lost. It is VERY important, particularly with these large stations, to make sure you know which exit to take. Most stations towards the center of Tokyo have four exits. Shinjuku station has over 200! These stations are usually designed to accommodate 10 car trains - meaning they are quite long and making a mistake can cause you to be late. If you need to, write the name down.
That's all for now. If you have questions, drop a comment down below.
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