Japan has, hands down, one of the best public transport networks in the world — but for a first-time visitor it can feel like a wall of acronyms: JR, N’EX, Shinkansen, Suica, ICOCA, Skyliner. I live here and use these trains every week, so this hub pulls together everything you need to move around the country with confidence, from the moment you land to your last bullet train home.
Start with whichever section matches where you are in your trip.
From the airport into the city
Your very first journey. Each of these compares every realistic option by time, cost and hassle, with the one I’d actually take.
- Narita Airport to Tokyo: all options compared
- Haneda vs Narita: which Tokyo airport is better for you
- Kansai Airport to Kyoto and Osaka
IC cards, trains and how the system works
The basics that make everything else easy. Get an IC card first — it turns almost every train, subway and bus into a single tap.
- Suica vs PASMO vs Welcome Suica: which IC card should tourists get
- Japan’s trains explained for first-timers
- How Japan’s train fares actually work
- How to ride the Shinkansen: a step-by-step guide
Rail passes: are they worth it?
The Japan Rail Pass is not the automatic bargain it once was. Here’s how to decide, and how to buy without overpaying.
Between cities
Practical extras
New route and station guides are added here regularly — bookmark this page and you’ll always have the map of how to get around.
