Transportation

Japan's leading railway company, Japan Railways (JR), has an elaborate and well-established network of trains throughout the country. From scenic local trains to the super express shinkansen, if you are traveling on rail in Japan, the chances are it will be with JR. A wide variety of unlimited ride passes are available to help reduce the cost of train travel and help you travel farther. 

Major advancements are being made in providing multi-language support on Japan's subway systems making it much easier to get around. Ticket machines, station names, as well as maps and guides of the subway and the local area are often provided in a number of languages. 

If you plan to hire a car during your stay in Japan, make sure that you are aware of all local rules and have all the necessary documentation. This short video of traffic rules in Japan  will give you the basics, but be sure to research further into renting a car in Japan 

Signs in the front of taxis show if they are available. These are usually displayed in Japanese, but they are color coded. Red means the taxi can pick up passengers, while green means it is occupied. Doors open and close automatically, so don't try to handle them yourself as you enter and exit. While some taxi drivers in big cities may have foreign language skills, it is a good idea to have your destination written in Japanese—especially if it is not a major sightseeing spot or hotel. Like other service-industry professionals in Japan, taxi drivers do not expect or accept tips. 

Bus services are available throughout Japan, and can often be a very convenient alternative to trains—especially when traveling in more local areas.

While journeys generally take longer, and weather and traffic can cause significant delays, fares tend to be cheaper and offer more options to travel overnight, saving the cost of a night's accommodation. If you are traveling locally or from city-to-city, make sure to consider the bus options when planning your Japan itinerary

Domestic air travel is both cost and time efficient, and is one of the best ways to explore several destinations in Japan during your trip.

With some 90 airports serving domestic and overseas flights, air travel within Japan is very convenient. The two main airline carriers offer cheap domestic flights for visitors to the country. Look into the Visit Japan Fare/Welcome to Japan Fare  by Japan Airlines (JAL) and the ANA Experience Japan Fare  by All Nippon Airways (ANA) to find out more.