Transport

Train and bus guideLearn tickets, IC cards, gates, platforms, local buses, transfers and what to do after missing a service.Read the guide → IC card guideChoose a Suica, PASMO, visitor or mobile IC card, charge it, use trains and buses, and fix low balance or ticket-gate errors in Japan.Read the guide → IC card balance too low?IC card balance too low at a Japan ticket gate? Move aside, recharge or pay the shortage, use the same card and ask station staff if it still fails.Read the guide → Mobile Suica: iPhone and AndroidCheck whether your exact phone can use Mobile Suica, add it correctly and switch to a physical IC card or paper ticket if it is not compatible.Read the guide → Japan Rail Pass guideCheck eligibility, current prices, covered trains, seat reservations and when ordinary tickets or a regional pass may cost less.Read the guide → Taxis and ride-hailing apps in JapanUse taxi stands and apps safely, check late-night charges and payment, avoid unlicensed rides and keep the receipt.Read the guide → International driving permit in JapanCheck whether Japan accepts your 1949 Geneva Convention permit or requires an original license and approved Japanese translation before booking a rental car.Read the guide →

Airport to city transportChoose the right train or bus from Narita, Haneda or Kansai Airport based on your hotel area, luggage and arrival time.Read the guide → Tokyo station-to-airport luggage deliveryCompare Tokyo Station and Keisei Ueno counter routes to Haneda and Narita, including supported terminals, same-day cutoffs and collection deadlines.Read the guide →

Shinkansen oversized baggage rulesMeasure your suitcase, reserve the correct seat when required and avoid the ¥1,000 unreserved baggage fee.Read the guide → Luggage delivery and storageChoose between coin lockers, staffed storage and delivery between airports, hotels and stations.Read the guide → Lost items in JapanWho to contact at stations, shops, taxis, hotels, and police boxes.Read the guide →

Tokyo Station meal: a real visitAn editor’s firsthand visit to a set-meal restaurant in Tokyo Station, plus a practical way to check the gate side, floor and current opening hours.Read the guide → Nakasendo luggage transferNeed Nakasendo luggage transfer? Check the 2026 Magome–Tsumago dates, ¥1,000 fee, 11:30 cutoff, pickup points and no-service backups.Read the guide → Autumn crowds and booking problemsFind a workable hotel, train seat and sightseeing plan when Japan’s October–December travel dates are crowded or sold out.Read the guide → Tokyo autumn leaves: choose today’s planChoose a Tokyo autumn leaves spot by current color, time available, walking, crowds and the final journey back—not by an old peak-date list alone.Read the guide → Autumn leaves not at peak?Still green or already fallen? Check live local conditions, compare elevation and travel time, and find a worthwhile same-day alternative.Read the guide → Kyoto autumn bus crowd guideKyoto bus full or delayed during the autumn leaves season? Switch to trains or the subway, travel without large luggage and protect your return route.Read the guide →