Transportation
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Transportation is well developed in anywhere in Japan.
The train system is especially well organized.
Return to Transportation Page
Japan Rail Pass
This is really good deal for visiters to Japan.
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers
visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible
to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must meet one of the following two conditions.
You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under
the entry status of "temporary visitor."
Please check the above site if you have an interest..
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Type:
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Green
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Ordinary
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Duration
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Adult
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Child
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Adult
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Child
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7-day
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37,800 YEN
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18,900 YEN
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28,300 YEN
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14,150 YEN
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14-day
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61,200 YEN
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30,600 YEN
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45,100 YEN
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22,550 YEN
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21-day
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79,600 YEN
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39,800 YEN
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57,700YEN
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28,850 YEN
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Fare to Kyoto is 26,440 Yen by Hikari.
If you are going to visit more than two places like Kyoto, Osaka or Nikko,
this would be really deal for you.
Link for Japan Rail Pass
http://www.japanrailpass.net/
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If you land in Narita Airport and
You can buy a special standing ticket when seats of the next train are
sold out. |
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Limousine bus is a more economical way to your hotel. It takes you to the
front of your hotel from the Airport. Before you make a hotel reservation, it is one item which you had better to ask an operator. For reservation of returning way, contact hotel bell captain or 03-3370-91156 |
There are several ways to your hotel.
Taxis tend to be a bit expensive, but if you are affordable, they are at your service from the airport to your hotel.
It may cost you more than 15,000 Yen from the airport to your destination
in downtown in Tokyo.
If you are caught by trafic jam, it may take more than two hours and cost
more.
Best price if your hotel is located in Ueno, Nippori area
2,470 Yen 40 Minutes to Ueno.
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/accesse/index.htm
Also Express trains are available for Shinagawa and Haneda Airport.
Also if you can transfer to Yamanote line at Nippori, this is the cheapest
way from Narita Airport.
For example, from Narita to JR Shinagawa Special express and JR costs 1190
Yen and 90 minutes via Nippori.
Stop and think before you rent a car or unless you can understand the following traffic signs. Roads are full of these Japanese characters
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And more, you need to drive on the left side of the road. Moreover, roads are full with thousands of pedestrians and bicycles. |
There are three kinds of train systems in Japan. The first one is JR,(
Japan Railways), used to be under governmental operation and
currently seven JR companies operate the train systems
in the each region of Japan.
The second train system is private company operations.
Metropolitan areas like Tokyo have several train companies.
The third system consists of subway lines. Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Sapporo
and Osaka have subway lines and
trains run downtown area of big cities.
Eidan Chikatetsu (Subway) changed their name to "Tokyo Metro".
They have added new sign on each station.
The alphabet shows the line and the number means stattion name.
For example, M means Marunouchi line and 25 means 25th station. from west
or south end
It becomes much easier to use subway system before.
Detail information for Tokyo metro,
this the Homepage address of Tokyo Metro.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/index.htm
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Insert coins then press the button which is listed on the price table. If you don't know the right fare, just buy the lowest ticket and pay later.
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This is a sample of the JR (Japan Railways) ticket. The left side shows the issued date and the center contains the original station name and paid fare. The backside of this ticket is normally black or brown that means data is stored in the magnetic layer. |
Almost all train systems are using the auto ticket gate.
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Enter: This is an automatic ticket gate. Just insert your ticket on your right side machine. It will show up at the end of the machine. Pick up it Exit: Insert ticket then go through the path. Your ticket will be in the machine. If you have a transit ticket to other line, your ticket will pop up for your picking up. |
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Japan has the best Railroad system.
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| But The system is sometimes very unfriendly to foreigners If you do not know how much to pay for your whole journey, the fare adjustment (machine)You can pay the difference using this machine before you exit. |
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High Tech Train Navigator |
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In the JR Yamanote line, you may find this high tech LCD panel over the
doors. |
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This is a convenient card for you if you use |
You know this is one of the fastest tarain in the world.
Maximum speed is around 280 km/h.
It is the best way to go to Kyoto from Tokyo.
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This green mark means this car is Green car. You have to pay extra fare in addition to normal fare. |
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This is Green car of Shinkansen. There are four seats in a raw. The seat is much wider than normal car set. The fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 18,670 Yen. |
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This is regular car of Shinkansen. There are five seats in a raw. The fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,520 Yen. |
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| If you are traveling withyour family, JR train sheet can be convertible
to the face-to-face sheet. Roll your mouse over right picture.  |
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Eki Bento |
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| Eki means "Station" and Ben means "Bento". This is a sample of Eki-ben. You can enjoy various local foods. |
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This Bento is called "Makunouchi". Makunouchi means interval of the play of Kabuki. Originally it was prepared to eat luch during the interval of Kabuki. The price is around 500 Yen - 1000 Yen. |
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| Eki Bento is not only Japanese but also European type meals. The sandwitch is available. The price is around 600 Yen. |
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| This is called Sukeroku sushi. This sushi uses only vegitables. Fried Tofu and Kanpyo, kind of potato and seaweed. The price is around 500 Yen. Roll your mouse over right picture |
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| If you have moreinterest in Ekibe, you can buy a book at amazon.com. Title is Ekiben. |
This site is operated by Jordon.
Type in the nearest station and destination station and check arrival time
or departure time, it will give you the best tranporation way.
It is really usefull site to find the transportation in Japan.
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/
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You can catch a taxi anywhere. Plentiful The passenger door is opened automatically for easy getting on. A taxi driver manipulates the lever to open/close by his hand. So you don't need to close the door. |
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| I found the intersting sign in a taxi. It said" DANGER. PLEASE LET THE DRIVER OPEN AND CLOSE THE REMOTE CONTROLLED DOORS.". |
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There is a sign like left picture around big stations and hotels. Red rectangular light in the front windows in a cab means that the cab
is vacant and ready to |
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Basic Fare 660 Yen up to 2 kilo meter (around 1.25 mile)
Then 80 Yen will be added each 288 meter.
Survival tips again, most taxi drivers don't speak English.
Bring directions or address in Japanese.
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Bus system is complicated- route, fare, destination in Japanese. Since drivers don't speak English, a bus riding will be a big challenge for you. A bus is operating by only a driver. Therefore various ways to pay fare. |
Many visitors want to go to Kyoto.
I"d like to explain how much it is to go to Kyoto.
So here is a table for the transportaion to Kyoto.
| Name | Operation company | Time | Fare | How often | Comment |
| Nozomi (Shinkansen) | JR Tokai | 2h20m | 14190 | Two in hour | Fastest |
| Hikari (Shinkansen) | JR Tokai | 2h 45m | 13220 | Three in hour | Fast enough |
| Local trains | JR Tokai | 8h - 9h | 7980 | Many choice | Transit over 4 times You can enjoy it |
| Dream Kyoto | JR Bus | 8h | 8180 | 2/day | Red eye bus? at 22:00 & 22:30 |
The fare is sunject to change.
