Traveling and Getting Around in Japan: Plane, Train, Bus, or Car?

With 5 trips to Japan, we have tested different ways to get around this beautiful and vast country. The options are numerous, ranging from the fastest to the most picturesque, from the most independent to the most assisted, from the most luxurious to the most budget-friendly... Here are our experiences and practical information to help you navigate Japan and prepare for your trip.

Let's start with the most common mode of transportation used by tourists: the train. A term that should really be used in the plural, given the variety of styles and looks of Japanese trains! From the famous and ultra-fast Shinkansen to the small country trains, not to mention the tourist trains with large windows and those decorated with themes that are very... Japanese: the cherry blossoms, Hello Kitty...

So many tourists choose this means of transport because there is a special pass designed for it: the JR Pass. I talk about it in more detail in this article: Traveling by train in Japan: impressions and information.

Its only disadvantage, for us, is that you have to purchase this pass before leaving for Japan, which requires you to have a well-defined itinerary and limits flexibility if you change your mind while there.

Traveling by plane to arrive in the land of the rising sun is classic. But using planes to get around within the country is much less known. Yet, it can be a very interesting option.

We did this during our last trip to the archipelago, for our pilgrimage on Shikoku Island. Since we planned to travel on foot, buying a train pass didn't make sense. And outside of a pass, train tickets can quickly become very expensive. The bus would have been a solution... but Shikoku is so far from Tokyo! The best option for us was to take a domestic flight from the capital to the pilgrimage island and back. The same was true during our first trip where we spent a week in Kyoto; buying a one-week pass would have been quite silly!

There are tips for tourists, but many travelers are unaware! The Japanese airline ANA offers low-cost tickets for tourists with its program >. These tickets, priced between 45 and 90 € (luggage included!) take us anywhere in Japan... even to Okinawa! There are a few conditions to benefit from this (more info on ANA's website):

Oh, and you can purchase these tickets even once in Japan, up to 3 days before the flight's departure. Let's say you want to see the cherry blossoms, but unfortunately, this year they bloom 2 weeks later than expected in Tokyo. Just hop on a plane and you can be in Fukuoka or even Okinawa! The same goes if a typhoon disrupts your plans.

We loved the service from ANA, both on board and from the very first moments during check-in: little attentions for Manoa (a stroller, a special family line, a small toy...), always with smiles... It was truly a pleasure to feel welcomed by the staff of this airline.

For those who think they can't make the most of a train pass, prefer to stay around Tokyo (and therefore don't need to take internal flights) and are on a small budget, the bus is the perfect solution.

And to make the most of your time (and even more your budget), there are overnight buses, like between Tokyo and Kyoto, which are said to be very comfortable.

We have never tried intercity buses. The only time we wanted to do this was during our fourth trip to Japan, when I was pregnant. An earthquake had stopped train services on the line we were on... but buses were not operating either! I assure you, it's really an extraordinary situation in a country known for its punctual public transport!

During our second trip to Japan, we rented a car to get off the rails and feel free to explore other regions of this beautiful country. A memorable road trip!

And rest assured, driving in Japan, even though we drive on the left and despite their writing... is not that complicated! I discuss it in more detail in the article Renting and Driving a Car in Japan: A Beginner's Guide!

I couldn't finish this article without talking about this wonderful means of transport: our feet! As we return from our pilgrimage, I still have tingling legs and a fierce desire to walk again on the beautiful island of Shikoku!

Walking in Japan, dressed in pilgrimage attire, has been an incredibly beautiful experience. On so many levels. I still dream about it...

One thing is for sure, if you have a few free days, don't hesitate to try the experience. You don't need to walk the entire Shikoku pilgrimage. You can cover just a part of it, or choose a smaller pilgrimage, like the one in Chichibu that Aala from the blog Un gaijin au Japon beautifully highlighted in this video.

We could also add to this list (non-exhaustive) biking or hitchhiking. I tried the latter during our last trip several times, but I wasn't picked up every time. And when I was, I sensed a great desire to help from the drivers related to the pilgrimage attire I was wearing... In short, a special context.

But also: the cable car, boat, funicular, monorail...

I also haven't mentioned the subways and intercity trains of Tokyo (and other major cities). I discuss this in more detail in the dedicated article about this megacity.

I should rather say, to each their own solutions for each trip, as it is not uncommon to combine several of these means of transport.

I hope this article helps you prepare for your trip to Japan. Every time I finish writing an article about Japan, I am filled with > (as Amélie Nothomb would say) and a great desire to return... once again!

If you have questions, feel free to refer to the articles mentioned here for more details and to ask your questions in the comments. And if you still don't know where to sleep in Japan, I invite you to check out my complete article on this subject.

In collaboration with ANA.