Travel

Rail travel in Japan is daunting. The stations can be hectic places with multiple rail lines converging, meaning not only do you have to decipher the signs you also have to wade through the crowds. But train travel in Japan is a pleasure. Nowhere on earth are trains as accurate, down to the second usually, and the staff is knowledgable and friendly.

Once you understand some basics it's not bad at all. First, the subway and rail lines use a color matching system. So even if you can't read the characters as you rush through a station you can always match the colors. Second, most station names and information use the Western (i.e. English) alphabet, known as 'romajii' in Japanese. (Some small, rural stations might not have much information in English, but if you're adventurous enough to hit the countryside this is a small obstacle!) Finally, there are abundant resources to help you get around, from Web sites to iPod/PDA apps that detail the rail systems, and the staff in the stations are very helpful.

The main questions that arise when planning a rail trip to Japan are how much does it cost, and how do I know how long it takes from point A to point B. Again technology is your friend. Before leaving, use these resources in addition to the Japan forums on Trip Advisor:

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html  - This site has great information on the various rail pass options available. There are passes that cover the entire country or particular regions. Pay particular attention to the limitations on each pass; some are valid for particular rail lines or exclude particular trains (i.e. the JR Pass is not valid for the Nozomi Shinkansen, the fastest model available).
• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html  - Similar to the above, but for air travel discounts.
•  http://www.hyperdia.com/  - This link gives detailed information on which routes to use to get around Japan. Note that the search has an option to include/exclude air travel and Nozomi Shinkansen; this is very important. Also, the time on the site is Japan Standard Time.

SUICA / ICOCA pre-paid IC card: good on JR private trains, subways buses

One easy way to get around Kanto Kansai (on almost all JR and private trains, subways, buses) is to buy a pre-paid IC card, called SUICA in the Tokyo area and ICOCA (pronounced E-Coca) in the Osaka area. There's no discount involved, but the benefit is not having to buy a ticket each time, and they can be used anywhere on most public transportation.

You can buy these IC chip cards at any JR station (there's a 500-yen deposit that's returned with the card), and then charge them up with a few thousand yen, so that you can then just glide through the wickets without having to buy a ticket each step. The SUICA card can be used in Kansai, and the ICOCA card be used in Kanto.

They can even be used at some convenience stores, in addition to JR AND private trains, subways, buses throughout Japan. Any leftover money can be refunded at any JR station from the area it was purchased in, minus a 220-yen handling fee.