Which means of transport to use au Japon?

Organize your stay au Japon

From the airport to the city centre From the airport to the city centre au Japon

To get to the city from Narita airport:

Skyliner. The Skyliner goes to Nippori station, then to Ueno station, both in eastern Tokyo. Keisei station in Ueno is just a few minutes' walk from the JR Yamanote line. The journey costs ¥2,580 and takes 45 minutes. Depending on the time of day, a train leaves every 20-25 minutes, between 5.40 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Keisei Limited Express. This is the second option offered by Keisei. Tickets cost just ¥1,060 and the journey takes 1h20. It links Ueno Keisei station to Narita airport. For more information on these two lines: ✆ +81 47634 8763, www.keisei.co.jp. There's also a bus from this company that serves Tokyo station in 65 min for ¥1,500 (tyo-nrt.com).

The JR Narita Express (N'EX) takes passengers to Tokyo Station in less than an hour. It continues to Shinjuku in 1h22. JR also offers another line, the JR Airport Liner Rapid Train. It takes 1h20 to reach central Tokyo station and 1h40 to Shinjuku.

Limousine buses. These buses enable you to reach Tokyo's most important hotels in 1h30 when traffic jams are not too bad. Areas served include Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Hibiya, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Ginza and Akasaka. Very convenient for busy travelers.

Bus - TCAT. TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) is located in Nihombashi, near Suitengu-mae station on the Hanzōmon line. From TCAT, you can take a shuttle bus to Tokyo station or a limousine-bus (¥3,100) to Narita airport.

Cab. A trip to central Tokyo costs at least ¥30,000.


To get into town from Haneda airport :

The Keikyu Airport Express line links the airport to Shinagawa station (JR andShinkansen) in less than 25 min for ¥330.

Tokyo Monorail connects Terminal 1 with Hamamatsucho station (Yamanote line) in less than 20 min for ¥520.

A fixed-rate cab from the center takes only half an hour and costs around ¥8,000 (depending on the district). To book a fixed-rate cab: www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/haneda-airport/taxi.html. If your district is close to the airport (south of Tokyo), you can take a cab without using this service.

There are shuttle buses between Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT) and Haneda, which take around 30 minutes and cost ¥1,000. From Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, you can also take the limousine-bus service, which costs around ¥1,400.

To get to the city from Kansai International Airport (Osaka):

Kansai Airport Rapid Service (Kanku Rapid). This JR train connects the airport with Tennoji and Osaka stations in around 50 to 70 minutes for ¥1,080 and ¥1,210 respectively.

Limited Express Haruka. This is JR's fastest express train. It reaches Tennoji and Shin-Osaka stations in 30 and 45 minutes (¥1840 and ¥2410 respectively).

Nankai. This company offers two trains to reach Namba from the airport: the Limited Express Rapid (approx. 35 minutes - ¥1490) and the Airport Express (approx. 45 minutes - ¥970).

Limousine buses. These buses take you to various districts and hotels in Osaka. They're easy to find just outside the airport, on the arrivals level.

Cabs. A trip to central Osaka costs an average of ¥15,000 - ¥18,000.

Arrival by train Arrival by train au Japon

Convenient access. All the prefectural capitals of Tōhoku are served by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Cities like Sendai and Fukushima take a minimum of 1.5 hours and Akita a maximum of around 3 hours 45 minutes.

Several Shinkansen lines. Japan's Shinkansen trains vary according to line and destination. In the Tōhoku region, there are four lines: Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen. The trains also differ in design and color.

Good to know. Some Shinkansen stations are not always located in the city center. This is the case of Shin-Aomori, located about five minutes by local train from the heart of Aomori. Conversely, other stations have been set up in the countryside to serve small towns and facilitate regional travel. For example, Tazawako station (Akita) is just 15 minutes by bus from Lake Tazawa, providing rapid access to this natural site.

The name of the operator usually precedes the name of the station, when companies differ. Ticket prices vary according to operator and destination.

To simplify travel between the networks of different operators, we recommend using an IC Card. This rechargeable smart card, purchased with a ¥500 deposit, makes it easy to pay on most transport systems. The deposit is refundable by returning the card to the appropriate counter at the end of your stay. Today, it's also possible to download a digital version directly onto your smartphone via an app.

Public transport Public transport au Japon

In Japan, train and subway ticket prices vary according to the distance travelled between the departure and arrival stations. Vending machines also offer an interface in English and other languages. In addition to the famous JR Pass, valid on JR and Shinkansen lines, there are many regional passes combining trains and other forms of transport. To find out more about these advantageous options, consult the operators' websites, tourist information centers or the "Getting around - Train Pass" section at the end of this guide. Locally, some city buses also offer day passes, such as the "Loop Sendai" in Sendai or the Haikara-san and Akabe Town buses in Aizu-Wakamatsu. Finally, 2 or 3-day passes enable long-distance bus travel across Tōhoku (excluding Niigata), via the "Tohoku Highway Bus" network.

Bike, scooters & co Bike, scooters & co au Japon

Bicycles are a common means of transport in Japan, practical and enjoyable for exploring cities at your own pace. Self-access rental services are multiplying, but you can also rent a bike from tourist offices, hotels, agencies or specialized stores. Some destinations in Tōhoku lend themselves particularly well to two-wheeled excursions, such as Kakunodate and Lake Tazawa (Akita), Hirosaki (Aomori), Kesennuma (Miyagi) or Lake Inawashiro (Fukushima).

With a driver With a driver au Japon

In Japan, it's perfectly possible to hail a cab on the street or wait for one at designated ranks, often located in front of railway stations. Online booking is also an option, although slightly more expensive. In the less touristy prefectures, however, cabs can be a rarity. Don't hesitate to consult local companies: some of them offer sightseeing tours. There are also fixed-fare cab services, such as Sendai Chuo Taxi, which offer transparently-priced journeys between two defined points. For example, a trip from the center of Sendai to Akiu Onsen costs around ¥5,200.

By car By car au Japon

We don't recommend driving in big cities, where traffic jams are frequent and parking is both scarce and expensive. Especially as the rail network is highly developed. On the other hand, to explore the countryside or the most remote areas, car rental becomes a very practical option, and is even highly recommended. This is the case, for example, to reach the Oga peninsula (Akita) or the Shimokita peninsula (Aomori).

Accessibility Accessibility au Japon

In major Japanese cities, sidewalks and station platforms are generally equipped with pedometer tiles. Most stations also have accessible elevators, with priority given to people with disabilities and parents with young children. Staff can provide assistance with moving around, and steps in stations where they are needed. If you have any questions or would like to arrange an escort, JR provides a helpline in English: ✆ +81 50-2016-1603. It is also advisable to book wheelchair-accessible cabs in advance, especially from airports. Outside the major cities, accessibility becomes more uncertain, particularly in mountainous areas, temples or shrines.