Japan is known for its efficiency, especially when it comes to public transport. Home of the Bullet Train, accurate timetables, perfect queues, and silent carriages.

Here is, what I hope, a simple guide to buying tickets for the bus and trains. And please, please, please, read the rules at the bottom of the post. Thank you!

 

Public Buses:

Hakone, Koyasan, Kyoto – I didn’t find one post about how to use a bus ticket before I visited Japan. Sure, plenty about the Suica Card, but that doesn’t suit everyone (me lol). I collected so many coins, I needed to use them (and we don’t tip the Japanese!)

Courtesy of www.touristinjapan.com
Hokurikurailroad.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

You enter the bus via the back doors, and take the little slip that automatically comes out of the machine next to you. As you’re travelling keep an eye on the screen at the front above the driver, it will tell you the fare zones. When you’re exiting the bus, and you’ve squeeeezed through everybody to get to the front doors, drop the coins into the basket by the driver, and wait for the nod of approval. Arigatou gozaimasu! 🙏

 

The Metro:

Yeah, good luck! 😂

Haha, I’m kidding. The hardest thing about the subway is finding the correct exit. For the tickets, you can just go to a machine (do check it’s the right colour machine for what you want though – usually not pink for tourists), and I found it easiest to “search by station name”. If you do have difficulty, you can either head to the turnstiles and ask staff there, or press the help button and someone might stick their head out of the wall. Couldn’t make it up! Love it!

Japancitytour.com

Shinkansen:

Whoop, whoop! Who isn’t curious about the bullet train?! Do book your tickets in advance if you have concrete plans, the savings are worth it.

Please note, that while you’ll have your QR code ticket emailed to you, you will also need to purchase a base ticket. Ask the staff which one, but from Tokyo to Kyoto it was the 290 fare. Also, if you’re taking this route, sit on the right-hand side and keep an eye out for Mt. Fuji!

 

Rules for all public transport:

  • Don’t have a phone call
  • Don’t listen to music or play voice notes without earphones
  • Do not talk loudly
  • Do not eat or drink
  • Do not block the doors
  • Offer your seats to the elderly locals – seriously, the tourists we saw were very ignorant regarding this