ThispageisaboutgettingaroundJapaningeneral.Forgetting to and from Hakuba please go to our “Getting to Hakuba” page.
By train
GettingaroundJapanbytrainisquiteeasyprovidedyouknowthe namesofthestationsandwhereyouneedtochangetrains.Allof thestationnamesarenowinEnglishaswellasJapanesesothat partofitisabreeze.Tofindouthowtogettoyourdestination,as wellasthepriceandtimetables,lookattheHyperdiawebsite,a greatresource.IfyouaredoinganyserioustravelaroundJapanit isworthgettingaJRrailpasswhichwillgiveyouunlimitedtravel onJRtrainsincludingbullettrainsfor7,14or21daysfor¥28,300, ¥45,100and¥57,700respectively. AreturntriptoOsakafrom Tokyo onthebullettrainwillnormallysetyouback¥28,640,soitquickly paysforitself.TheJRrailpassesneedtobepurchasedbeforeyou arrive in Japan and you can do so online right here.
By bus
UsingbusesinJapancanbetrickyandisnotrecommendedforthe nonJapanesespeakingforeigner,exceptforthelongdistance buses.Ticketsforthesecanbepurchasedatanytravelagentin JapanorfromlargerJRtrainstations.Therearemanydifferent companiesrunningdifferentroutessothereisnocomprehensive website to gather information from.
By rental car
ItisquitefeasibletorentacarinJapan,butcanbequite expensive(itishardtogetacarforlessthan¥6,000aday).Ontop ofthatexpresswayfeesworkoutatabout¥100forevery4 kilometers,addingtotheexpense.Onthebrightside,mostofthe majorroadsignsareinEnglishandeveryonedrivesinanorderly manner,making the actual driving part of it fairly easy.
The cheapest ski holidays for the best ski resort in Japan.