Japan's transport infrastructure is considered one of the best in the world. It covers all types of passenger and freight traffic. Municipal carriers daily serve thousands of flows of citizens and tourists. In any large settlement of the country, several types of public transport operate at once.
Metro
Most subway routes in Japan are above ground. His system is complex and intricate. The largest networks with an abundance of branches are located in Tokyo and Osaka. The principles of their functioning are similar. In the morning and evening hours, Japan's underground transport is overloaded. Despite the crush in the cars, the metro is recognized as the most affordable and reliable way to travel in a metropolis.
The relatively high cost of the ticket justifies the absence of traffic jams. It is worth considering the branched system of stations. The metro is the best way to get from one end of the city to the other. Instead of the usual transfer hubs, the country has implemented special hubs that simultaneously use various modes of transport in Japan. At such stations, leaving the subway car, you can transfer to the train or bus.
Travel cardsdocuments must be purchased at terminals and cash desks that operate in the lobbies. The average cost of a trip to the subway is 120 rubles. All information plates are duplicated in English. The entrance to the subway is blocked by ordinary turnstiles. To leave the lobby at the desired station, you will need to present a ticket.
Municipal communication
Land transport in Japan is represented by scheduled buses. In small towns of the country, they replace the subway. True, their routes are no less difficult. This is due to the fact that several operators are responsible for the transportation of passengers at once. The confusion arises from the fact that a trip on the same route can cost differently.
The bus bodies bear the logo of the service company. Each vehicle is painted in the color of the line on which its route is located. The number and exact name of the terminal stations are indicated on a plate mounted on the windshield. Buses do not run long distances in Tokyo. The length of their path is limited by metro stations. The cost of a ticket in land transport in Japan is approximately 100 rubles.
In the settlements of the country where there is no subway, the movement of buses is regulated by zones. This division determines the cost of the trip. Up-to-date traffic information and directions can be found at the stop information boards. During peak hours in Tokyo, buses move very slowly. They are used to overcome short distances.
Movement starts at 07:00 andends at 22:00. Stop names are in Japanese and translated into English. According to the rules, passengers enter the cabin through the front door. There is a turnstile in its opening. If you don't have a ticket, you can buy a pass from the driver. There are no additional sales or service fees. The ticket price is the same as in the terminal.
With the breeze
A taxi driver stands out from other modes of transport in Japan. He wears a formal business suit. Always dressed in an ironed shirt. On his hands are impeccable white gloves. The look is complemented by a tie. The driver's shoes are always in perfect condition. Foreign tourists who have used taxi services for the first time are surprised by the abundance of lace that decorates car interiors.
Headrests, armrests and even seats are covered with openwork capes. You won't be able to open the car door on your own. It's a driver's privilege. Therefore, you need to wait a bit until the lock is unlocked.
Japan's public transport regulations are very different from European regulations. The green icon on the windshield of the car means that the taxi is busy. Red indicates that the driver is free. Special platforms for boarding taxis are equipped in the largest areas of Tokyo and other metropolitan areas. In the provinces, cars are caught right on the roadway.
Despite the comfort, the taxi is still inferior in popularity to the subway in Japan. Cars often get stuck in traffic jams. Sometimes the number of waiting passengers exceeds the number of available vehicles.funds. In these cases, queues accumulate in parking lots.
There is an alternative
Monorail is another popular mode of transport in the country. Japan's single-rail railways have enveloped most of the population centers. They also exist in Okinawa. In the capital, this type of transport is represented by fully automated trains controlled by intelligent systems. They do not have drivers or stewards. This mode of transport is considered one of the safest.
Despite the similarity to the subway, in Japan, the monorail is a completely independent transport system. Tickets are sold at robotic terminals and ticket offices centered on boarding platforms. Tourists at the entrance to the car tend to take first place. Futuristic views open from the panoramic windows of the salon. The most sought-after tour route runs through Tokyo Bay and leads to Odaiba Island, a man-made landmass.
Classic of the genre
Trams in Japan are considered exotic. You can count them on your fingers. One branch operates in Tokyo. Others serve the suburbs of the country's metropolitan areas. They are designed for curious tourists. Their speed is low, but the trams do not stand in traffic jams. Trolleybuses have also survived in Japan.
Unlike Russian models, Japanese ones run underground. They follow to the top of the Tate mountain peak. They are used to serve tourist groups. These are modern and comfortable cars, which are a worthy way of environmentally friendlytransport. Japanese trolleybuses move in a tunnel resembling a subway.
Railways
Electric trains that serve the suburbs of megacities account for the main passenger flow. Long-distance trains are also popular. They are preferred over airplanes. The railway transport system in Japan surprises with its simplicity and uncomplicatedness. There are the following types of trains:
- Shinkansen;
- express;
- electric trains.
Shinkansen can be compared to Russian Sapsan. This is a convenient and fast way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto and other locations in the country. The train network covers the entire territory of Japan. The maximum speed of trains reaches 300 kilometers per hour. They don't slow down on intermediate platforms.
The Mizuho and Nazomi trains go from one point to another almost non-stop. Similar trains "Sakura" and "Hikari" serve substations, so the cost of a trip to them is an order of magnitude cheaper. Plus, there is a single pass. Express fares are even lower and there are more stops. Long-distance trains are used by the Japanese and visitors.
Electric trains follow more slowly. They consist of several comfortable carriages. The difference between economy and first class is not significant. It is expressed in the distance between the rows of seats and in an extended set of options.
Purchasing tickets
Train fares in Japan are made up of two parameters. Distance affects the price, the composition category is also important. The express train from Osaka to Tokyo will cost 12,000 rubles. The route from the capital to Sapporo, the length of which is 830 kilometers, is estimated at 20,000 rubles. The most sought-after type of travel pass used on rail transport in Japan is the JR Pass.
Each pass has an expiration date and an unlimited number of rides. Green cards require first class travel. All the rest are designed for economical passengers. Children also need to purchase a card. Special subscriptions have been developed for them. Students over 11 need to buy a regular ticket. Tourists need to remember that the subscription is nominal. It is issued on the website of the transport company, and then the coupon printed on the printer is exchanged at any JR office.
The travel card can be issued for seven days, two weeks or 21 days. The cheapest one will cost about 35,000 rubles, the most expensive costs almost 80,000 rubles. This pass allows you to use the services of all express trains except Mizuho and Nazomi. Plus, it is accepted on ferries calling at the port of Miyajima, as well as on trains going to Narita Airport.
A worthy alternative to JR is Seishun 18. This subscription is non-refundable. Making it work is not always possible. It is valid only during the holidays, which fall in March, April, July, August and September, December and January. Seishun 18 is valid for exactly five days. It is accepted on all express trains, except for the Shinkansen. The ticket price is 12,000 rubles. Buythe subscription is available at the terminals and ticket offices of stations.
Standard travel fare between Nikko and the Japanese capital is 1,300 rubles, between Yokohama and Tokyo is 500 rubles. To get from Kamakura to Tokyo you need to pay 900 rubles. The journey from Osaka to Kyoto will cost 500 rubles.
There are several more passenger programs in Japan. In the list of the most popular Kansai, Sanyo, Kuishu, Hokkaido. Discounts are provided not only to children under 12 years old, but also to pensioners and students upon presentation of the relevant documents. The average train speed in Japan is 200 kilometers per hour.
Airplanes
Aircraft in the country operate local and international flights. The largest airports in Japan are located in Tokyo and Osaka. Seventeen years ago, the cost of air travel was controlled by the state. In 2000, private air carriers received the right to set tariffs. In most cases, all fees are included in the ticket price. Local flights are operated by JAS, ANA and JAL.
The main contingent of local flights are businessmen, for whom travel time is a priority. Air travel in Japan costs only ten percent more than train tickets. The government is actively involved in the development of transport infrastructure. The area of existing airports is being increased, new terminals are being put into operation. The checkpoints of the country's leading air hubs are being upgraded. Reconstruction of the complex in Narita is planned.
Marinemessage
Traveling by water is an option for leisurely tourists. The shipping system serves all the islands of the state. From Kobe (Japan) you can get to almost anywhere in the country. Ferries are the most common type of sea vessels. They run not only between remote areas of land, but also depart from Tokyo to Osaka and other coastal settlements.
According to statistics, there are about 6,900 islands in Japan. The main sea gates are Kyushu and Hokkaido. The latter is a port city. Where ferries cannot pass, bridges, tunnels and crossings have been built.
Passenger and cargo ships serve not only local destinations, but also international ones. They enter Russian cities, provide maritime communication with South Korea, Taiwan and China. There are four classes of ferries:
- special;
- first;
- second with bed;
- second without a bed.
In the first case, the passenger pays for the trip in a cabin with one or two beds. When sailing first class, he has the right to count on a common room in which several berths are installed, but not more than four. Traveling second class tourists are accommodated in common rooms, which provide fourteen beds. When choosing the cheapest sea transport ticket in Japan, a cabin with a tatami is provided. The room category selection service is only available to customers who travel long distances.
Ticketsfor passenger ships are purchased at the offices of carriers, at the berths and in travel companies. You can get from Osaka to Beppu for 3,500 rubles. A ferry ticket from Tokyo to Tokushima will cost 4,000 rubles. The cost of the trip depends on the distance and the chosen category. A trip from Kobe (Japan) to Kitakshu costs only 2,500 rubles. Travel time is twelve hours.
Hanku Ferry, Ferry Sunflower, Tokyo Ferry are recognized as the largest ferry operators in the country. The ship "Eastern Dream" runs from Japan to Vladivostok. It makes a stop at a port in South Korea, which lasts nine hours. The final destination is Sakaiminato, located in the province of Tottori.
Rent a car
For those who are used to moving around the country on their own, there are car rental points in Japan. Any driver who presents an international certificate can get a car. You will also need to take out an insurance policy from a local company. The main disadvantages of the rental service are the high cost and complexity of the registration procedure.
