Transport(35 guides)

Regional Rail Passes vs the JR Pass: Which Saves More

Compare the 2026 JR East, Kansai-Hiroshima, and nationwide JR Pass prices, coverage boundaries, and the correct break-even calculation.

Updated: 2026-07-28

Train Stopped After an Earthquake in Japan: Should I Wait or Walk?

What to do when an earthquake stops your train in Japan: follow crew instructions, check official status, avoid a risky walk, and find temporary shelter.

Updated: 2026-07-28

Buying Shinkansen Tickets at a Machine: Step by Step

How to use an English ticket machine for Shinkansen travel: choose the route and seat, understand the two ticket parts, pay, and use the gates.

Updated: 2026-07-27

Train Delays in Japan: Certificates and Refund Rules

What to do when your Japanese train is delayed: how delay certificates work, when you get a limited-express refund, and what is not refundable.

Updated: 2026-07-27

Overweight Baggage at Japanese Airports: Fees and Fast Fixes

Suitcase over the airline limit in Japan? Check the exact rule, repack safely, compare another checked bag with the overweight fee, and find airport scales.

Updated: 2026-07-26

Japan Toll Roads: ETC Cards, Rental Cars, and Toll Gates

How Japanese expressway toll gates work with a rental ETC card, cash, or credit card, including lane signs, tickets, and what to do if the barrier stays shut.

Updated: 2026-07-24

Women-Only Train Cars in Japan: Hours, Signs, and Who Can Ride

How Japan's women-only train cars work: when the rule applies, how to read platform signs, who may use the car, and what to do if you board by mistake.

Updated: 2026-07-21

Suica on Your Phone: Foreign iPhone & Android Compatibility

Check whether a foreign iPhone or Android can use Suica, which mobile card to choose, how to top up, and what to do if your phone is unsupported.

Updated: 2026-07-20

Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin): Send Bags Ahead in Japan

How to send your suitcase ahead to your next hotel or airport in Japan, with costs, timing, and instructions.

Updated: 2026-07-17

Shinkansen Luggage Rules by Line: 160cm Limit and Tohoku Difference

The 160cm reservation rule applies on Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, and West Kyushu Shinkansen—not Tohoku. Measure your bag and find the right storage.

Updated: 2026-07-17

Coin Lockers at Japanese Train Stations: Sizes and Finding One

How big Japanese station coin lockers are, what they cost, how to pay with coins or a Suica, how to find an empty one, and what to do when they are full.

Updated: 2026-07-17

Can I Use My Suica Everywhere in Japan? Nationwide IC Card Guide

Whether your Suica or Pasmo works in Osaka, Kyoto, and other cities, plus the regional exceptions where IC cards are not accepted.

Updated: 2026-07-15

Renting a Car in Japan: IDP Rules by Country

Whether you can drive in Japan on your foreign license, which countries need an International Driving Permit, and which use an official translation instead.

Updated: 2026-07-13

Changing or Canceling a Shinkansen Ticket: Fees and Rules

How to change your Shinkansen ticket time or get a refund, the handling fees for unused tickets, what happens after departure, and lost-ticket rules.

Updated: 2026-07-12

Cycling in Autumn Japan: Early Dusk, Wet Leaves, and Rain Rules

Cycling in Japan in autumn? Plan for early darkness, wet leaves, rain gear, lights, reflectors, and the road rules visitors often miss.

Updated: 2026-07-11

Autumn Rental Car in Japan: Tires, Rain, Frost, and Accidents

A practical autumn rental-car check for Japan: tire tread, wipers, washer-fluid freeze points, wet braking, dusk visibility, and accident steps.

Updated: 2026-07-11

Japanese Fireworks: Getting There and Back Safely

How to reach a Japanese fireworks display and get home safely: station crowds, temporary controls, last trains, meeting points, and return routes.

Updated: 2026-07-11

Driving in Japan's Summer Heat and Rain: A Rental-Car Safety Plan

Driving a rental car in Japan in summer? Use this heat-and-rain plan for road notices, sudden downpours, flooded roads, parked-car safety, and emergencies.

Updated: 2026-07-11

Driving on Winter Roads in Japan: Snow Tires, Chains, and Black Ice

A practical guide to Japan winter roads: regional snow-tire and chain rules, black ice, rental-car checks, speed, and what to do if you must stop.

Updated: 2026-07-11

I Missed My Reserved Shinkansen: Do I Buy a New Ticket?

Missed your reserved Shinkansen? The JR rule that lets you ride a later train's non-reserved seat for free, and the fare types where it does not apply.

Updated: 2026-07-10

Is the JR Pass Still Worth It? Price Break-Even Tables

Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it after the price rise? Break-even tables for common routes and a simple decision flow.

Updated: 2026-07-09

Narita Express vs Skyliner: Which Train to Tokyo?

Compare the Narita Express (N'EX) and Keisei Skyliner from Narita Airport: travel time, fare, stations, and rail-pass fit, so you pick the right train.

Updated: 2026-07-08

Domestic Flight Baggage Rules in Japan (ANA, JAL, and LCCs)

Carry-on and checked baggage limits for domestic flights in Japan, comparing full-service airlines and low-cost carriers, with fees.

Updated: 2026-07-06

Narita, Haneda, KIX to City: Airport Transfer Comparison

Routes from Narita, Haneda, and Kansai airports to the city, with time and fare tables plus late-night options.

Updated: 2026-06-30

Avoiding Rush Hour on Japanese Trains

When rush hour happens in Japan, which trains and lines to avoid, and how to handle large luggage during peak commuting times.

Updated: 2026-06-27

Getting Around Japan with a Wheelchair or Mobility Aid

How accessible Japan is for wheelchair users: step-free trains, the shinkansen, subways, buses, temples, and how to request staff help in advance.

Updated: 2026-06-24

Sleeper Trains in Japan: Sunrise Seto and Izumo

How to ride Japan's only regular overnight trains, the Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo: routes, cabin types, JR Pass rules, and how to book.

Updated: 2026-06-23

Renting a Bike in Japan: City Shares and Shop Rentals

How tourists rent a bicycle in Japan: city bikeshare apps, local rental shops, and hotel loans, plus cycling rules, parking, and locking explained.

Updated: 2026-06-22

Japanese Train Etiquette: The Rules That Actually Matter

A simple guide to Japanese train etiquette for tourists: phone calls, priority seats, eating, backpacks, and the rules that actually matter (as of June 2026).

Updated: 2026-06-22

Shinkansen Seat Types: Reserved, Non-Reserved, and Green Car

Reserved vs non-reserved vs Green Car seats on the Shinkansen, when to book, JR Pass rules, and peak-season advice.

Updated: 2026-06-15

How to Ride Local Buses in Japan (Front or Back Door?)

How to pay on Japanese local buses: front or back door, flat fare or distance fare, IC cards, and the regional differences that confuse tourists.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Missed the Last Train in Japan: Your Real Options

What to do when you miss the last train in Japan: compare taxi, late-night bus, net cafe, capsule hotel, karaoke, and waiting for the first train.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Overnight Buses in Japan: Booking and What to Expect

Whether overnight buses are worth it, how to book one as a tourist, and the difference between 3-row and 4-row seats.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Suica & Pasmo for Tourists: How to Get and Use IC Cards

How tourists get a Suica or Pasmo in Japan, how to charge it, and how to use it on trains, buses, and at shops.

Updated: 2026-06-13

Taxis in Japan: Apps, Costs, and How to Pay

How to get a taxi in Japan using ride-hailing apps, what late-night fares cost, and whether you can pay with a foreign card or need cash.

Updated: 2026-06-13