Nihon TripJapan Travel Guide
日本旅行 · Trip prep

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🚆Japanese transport: all you need to know
Getting around Japan is almost entirely by rail and subway. Dedicated trains run from airports to city centers, and within cities a single IC transit card covers subways, buses and even convenience-store purchases. Between cities, the shinkansen and limited express trains get you there fast.
IC transit cardsSuica/PASMO (Tokyo), ICOCA (Osaka), SUGOCA (Fukuoka), Kitaca (Hokkaido) and others are interchangeable. Okinawa's OKICA is separate. You can also add them to the iPhone Wallet app.
Airport → cityAfter choosing an area, check the fastest airport train or bus for each city in the 'Getting there from the airport' box at the top.
Getting between citiesTokyo ↔ Osaka is about 2.5 hours by shinkansen; Hakata ↔ Yufuin/Beppu is around 2 hours by limited express. Between Okinawa's islands, you fly.
💡Handy tips
  1. Tokyo and Osaka subways are packed at rush hour (7–9 a.m., 5–7 p.m.). Avoid them if you have big luggage.
  2. Taxi base fares are fairly high, so they're best for short trips or groups.
  3. If you're traveling between several cities or visiting many sights, a regional pass may be cheaper. Compare it with your itinerary.
  4. Avoid phone calls on trains, and set your phone to silent near priority seats.
Choose an area below to go to its Transport info.
Couldn't load live weather, so average values are shown.

Transport

How to get from the airport to town, and around the city

Tokyo東京
Narita Airport → Tokyo Sta.About 60 minJR Narita Express
Narita Airport → UenoAbout 45 minKeisei Skyliner
Haneda Airport → ShinagawaAbout 15 minKeikyu Airport Line
Haneda Airport → HamamatsuchoAbout 20 minTokyo Monorail
Yokohama · Haneda Airport → Yokohama Sta.About 25 minKeikyu Line
Tokyo Sta. → Yokohama Sta.About 25 minJR Tokaido Line
Kamakura & Enoshima · Tokyo Sta. → Kamakura Sta.About 1 hour JR Yokosuka Line
Kamakura Sta. → Enoshima Sta.About 25 minEnoden
Hakone · Shinjuku Sta. → Hakone-Yumoto Sta.About 1 h 25 minOdakyu Romancecar
Transit cards Suica · PASMOIf you'll ride the subway a lot, compare the 24/48/72-hour subway passes.
Osaka大阪
Kansai Airport → NambaAbout 40 minNankai Limited Express Rapi:t
Kansai Airport → Osaka Sta.About 70 minJR Kanku Rapid
Kansai Airport → Shin-OsakaAbout 50 minJR Limited Express Haruka
Kyoto · Kansai Airport → Kyoto Sta.About 1 h 15 minJR Limited Express Haruka
Osaka Sta. → Kyoto Sta.About 30 minJR Special Rapid
Nara · Osaka-Namba Sta. → Kintetsu-Nara Sta.About 40 minKintetsu Nara Line Rapid Express
Kobe · Osaka Sta. → Sannomiya Sta.About 21 minJR Special Rapid
Kansai Airport → SannomiyaAbout 1 h 5 minAirport limousine bus
Transit cards ICOCAThere are passes bundling Osaka sightseeing admissions with transport — compare them with your plans.
Fukuoka福岡
Fukuoka Airport International Terminal → Hakata Sta.About 15 minNishitetsu direct bus
Airport Domestic Terminal → TenjinAbout 11 minAirport subway line (about 10 min by shuttle bus from the International Terminal)
Hakata → DazaifuAbout 40 minNishitetsu train (departs Tenjin)
Dazaifu · Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Sta. → Dazaifu Sta.About 30 minNishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line (change at Futsukaichi)
Itoshima · Tenjin Sta. → Chikuzen-Maebaru Sta.About 30 minJR Chikuhi Line, through-running from the Airport subway line
Yufuin · Hakata Station → Yufuin Sta.About 2 h 15 minJR Limited Express Yufuin no Mori
Hakata Bus Terminal → YufuinAbout 2 h 10 minHighway bus
Beppu · Hakata Station → Beppu Sta.About 2 hours JR Limited Express Sonic
Transit cards SUGOCA · HayakakenThe airport is close to downtown, so you can plan plenty on your arrival day.
Hokkaido北海道
New Chitose Airport → Sapporo Sta.About 37 minJR Rapid Airport
Sapporo Sta. → Otaru Sta.About 35 minJR Rapid
Odori → Mt. MoiwaAbout 30 minStreetcar + ropeway
Otaru · Sapporo Sta. → Otaru Sta.About 35 minJR Rapid Airport
New Chitose Airport → Otaru Sta.About 1 h 15 minJR Rapid Airport
Hakodate · Hakodate Airport → Hakodate Sta.About 20 minAirport bus
Sapporo Station → Hakodate Sta.About 3 h 50 minJR Limited Express Hokuto
Asahikawa · Sapporo Station → Asahikawa Sta.About 1 h 25 minJR Limited Express Kamui/Lilac
Furano·Biei · Asahikawa Sta. → Biei Sta.About 35 minJR Furano Line
Sapporo Station → Furano Sta.About 2 hours JR (change at Takikawa)
Transit cards KitacaIn winter, heavy snow can delay or stop trains. Leave plenty of time on your departure day.
Okinawa沖縄
Naha Airport → Kencho-mae (Kokusai-dori)About 12 minYui Rail
Naha Airport → ShuriAbout 27 minYui Rail
Naha → Churaumi AquariumAbout 2 hoursRental car · Highway bus
Central Okinawa (Chatan·Urasoe) · Naha Airport → Chatan American VillageAbout 1 hour Route bus·Airport limousine
Northern Okinawa (Motobu·Nago) · Naha Airport → MotobuAbout 2 hours Yanbaru Express Bus
Ishigaki Island · Ishigaki Airport → Ishigaki Bus TerminalAbout 30 minAirport bus
Miyako Island · Miyako Airport → Central HiraraAbout 15 minTaxi·Rental car
Transit cards OKICAA rental car is handiest for the northern sights. Be sure to bring an International Driving Permit and your passport.
Nagoya名古屋
Chubu Centrair → Nagoya Sta.About 30 minMeitetsu μSKY limited express
Nagoya Sta. → Takayama Sta.About 2 h 20 minJR Hida limited express
Takayama → Shirakawa-goAbout 50 minNohi Bus
Inuyama · Nagoya Sta. → Inuyama Sta.About 30 minMeitetsu Inuyama Line
Takayama · Nagoya Sta. → Takayama Sta.About 2 h 20 minJR Hida limited express
Shirakawa-go · Takayama → Shirakawa-goAbout 50 minNohi Bus (booking recommended)
Transit cards manaca · TOICACentral Nagoya runs on the Higashiyama and Meijo subway lines. If you ride several times a day, compare the subway and bus one-day passes.
Hiroshima広島
Hiroshima Airport → Hiroshima Sta.About 50 minAirport limousine bus
Hiroshima Sta. → Atomic Bomb DomeAbout 20 minHiroden streetcar
Hiroshima Sta. → MiyajimaAbout 45 minJR Sanyo Line + ferry
Miyajima · Hiroshima Sta. → Miyajimaguchi Sta.About 27 minJR Sanyo Line
Peace Memorial Park → MiyajimaAbout 45 minWorld Heritage Sea Route boat
Onomichi · Hiroshima Sta. → Onomichi Sta.About 1 h 20 minJR Sanyo Line
Kurashiki (Okayama) · Hiroshima Sta. → Okayama Sta.About 35 minSanyo Shinkansen
Okayama Sta. → Kurashiki Sta.About 17 minJR Sanyo Line
Transit cards ICOCAOn Hiroden streetcars you can tap IC cards like Suica or ICOCA at doors with crew; cash is paid when you get off.
Shikoku四国
Matsuyama Airport → central MatsuyamaAbout 25 minAirport limousine bus
JR Matsuyama Sta. → Dogo OnsenAbout 20 minIyotetsu streetcar
Takamatsu Airport → Takamatsu Sta.About 45 minAirport limousine bus
Takamatsu Port → NaoshimaAbout 30–50 minShikoku Kisen ferry or high-speed boat
Matsuyama → TakamatsuAbout 2 hr 30 minJR Ishizuchi limited express
Takamatsu · JR Matsuyama Sta. → Takamatsu Sta.About 2 hr 30 minJR Ishizuchi limited express
Okayama Sta. → Takamatsu Sta.About 55 minJR Marine Liner rapid
Naoshima · Takamatsu Port → Miyanoura Port, NaoshimaAbout 50 minShikoku Kisen ferry or high-speed boat
Kotohira · Takamatsu-Chikko Sta. → Kotoden Kotohira Sta.About 1 hour Kotoden Kotohira Line
Transit cards IruCa · Iyotetsu IC cardIyotetsu (Matsuyama) and Kotoden (Takamatsu) mostly don't take Suica or ICOCA, so carry cash or buy a day pass.

Transit card guide

Names differ by region, but apart from Okinawa's OKICA and Shikoku's local cards they're all interchangeable. One card works on subways, buses and in convenience stores nationwide.

Suica
Tokyo · Greater Tokyo (JR East)

Suica

  • JR East station ticket machines (unregistered cards back on sale since March 2025; includes a ¥500 deposit)
  • 'Welcome Suica' for visitors: sold at Narita and Haneda airports and elsewhere. No deposit; valid for 28 days after purchase
  • You can create one instantly in the iPhone Wallet app, and there's also a 'Welcome Suica Mobile' app (iOS) for visitors

Works on Tokyo's JR, subways, private railways and buses, and even at convenience stores.

Photo: Welcome Suica card photo · Ravi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original ↗
PASMO
Tokyo · Greater Tokyo (subways and private railways)

PASMO

  • Ticket machines at Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and private railway stations (unregistered cards back on sale since March 2025)
  • The 'PASMO PASSPORT' for visitors is no longer sold

Works just like Suica. You only need one of the two.

Photo: PASMO card image · Public domain · Original ↗
ICOCA
Osaka · Kyoto · Kobe · Nara (JR West)

ICOCA

  • JR ticket machines and counters at Kansai Airport Sta., and JR West station machines (includes a ¥500 deposit)
  • You can also create one in the iPhone Wallet app

Also works on the Osaka subway, Hankyu, Hanshin, Kintetsu, Nankai and Kyoto city buses.

Photo: ICOCA logo · Public domain · Original ↗
Hayakaken · SUGOCA · nimoca
Fukuoka · Kyushu

Hayakaken · SUGOCA · nimoca

  • Hayakaken: Fukuoka subway station ticket machines (including Airport Sta.)
  • SUGOCA: JR Kyushu station ticket machines (Hakata Sta., etc.)
  • nimoca: Nishitetsu train stations and bus offices (the line to Dazaifu)

All three are interchangeable. Hayakaken is easiest to buy right at the airport.

Photo: Hayakaken logo · Public domain · Original ↗
Kitaca
Hokkaido (JR Hokkaido)

Kitaca

  • JR Hokkaido station ticket machines such as New Chitose Airport and Sapporo (includes a ¥500 deposit)

Nationwide transit IC cards also work on Sapporo's subway and streetcar. For Hakodate and Asahikawa city buses, check whether cards are accepted.

Photo: Kitaca logo · Public domain · Original ↗
OKICA
Okinawa

OKICA

  • Yui Rail station ticket machines and offices of Okinawa's main bus companies

Suica and other nationwide IC cards work on the Yui Rail. Route buses mainly use OKICA, so check in advance whether nationwide cards are accepted.

manaca · TOICA
Nagoya (subway & Meitetsu / JR Central)

manaca · TOICA

  • Ticket machines at Centrair and Nagoya stations (manaca for subway and Meitetsu, TOICA for JR)

Other regions' cards such as Suica and ICOCA work here too.

IruCa · ICい～カード
Shikoku (Kotoden in Takamatsu / Iyotetsu in Matsuyama)

IruCa · ICい～カード

  • Kotoden and Iyotetsu station counters

These are local-only cards, and Suica-type cards mostly don't work on these lines. Visitors are better off with cash or a day pass.

Top-up & balance

You can top up with cash at station machines and convenience-store registers. Most allow up to ¥20,000 per top-up.

Getting your balance back

The deposit and balance can be refunded at the issuing company's counter, possibly with a fee. With an iPhone Wallet card, you can just keep the balance for your next trip.

Some places don't accept them

They can't be used on some rural buses and lines, or to buy shinkansen reserved seats. Buy separate tickets for long-distance trains.

One transit card works nationwide

Major transit IC cards like Suica, PASMO and ICOCA are interchangeable. You can also create a Suica in the iPhone Wallet app.

Do the math on a JR Pass

If you're staying in only one or two cities, a regional pass or IC card is often cheaper than the nationwide JR Pass.

Check last-train times

Most subways stop around midnight. If you'll be out late, check the last train near your lodging in advance.