How do you move around in Japan?

From the sleek shinkansen to the humble local train, timetables are followed religiously with a service you can quite literally set your watch by. Local buses and long-distance coaches follow suit and the army of taxis that patrol the streets are spotlessly clean and unreservedly trustworthy.



Moving around Japan in 2026 is a masterclass in efficiency, primarily centered on its unrivaled rail network. For long-distance travel, the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) is the gold standard, offering speeds up to 320 km/h with pinpoint punctuality. While the Japan Rail Pass is still available, many 2026 travelers now opt for regional passes or individual tickets due to 2023 price hikes. For local travel in cities like Tokyo or Osaka, the subway and JR lines are best; most visitors now use mobile IC cards (Suica or Pasmo on Apple/Google Wallet) to tap-and-go through turnstiles. In more rural areas or hilly cities like Kyoto, the bus network is essential. Taxis are spotlessly clean and reliable but expensive, while ride-hailing apps like "Go" or "S.RIDE" are the preferred way to summon them. For the ultimate 2026 "Japan experience," using the "Takkyubin" (luggage forwarding) service to send your bags between hotels allows you to travel "hands-free" on the trains.

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Many tourists travel around in Japan without a guide just fine. But of course, you have to put more work in trip planning. A good research beforehand is definitely needed for a smooth trip. If you have access to the internet, google maps, and google translate (if needed), it's even better.

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Even so, Uber is not always the cheapest option. The cheapest Uber ride is with Uber Taxi, which charges you the same fee as a general taxi (¥500 for the first 1.096 km) plus ¥437 for every kilometre thereafter.

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English is in common use in Japan with Chinese and Korean also becoming more common meaning that you can certainly get around without using Japanese. This is most true in the big cities and in areas frequented by foreign visitors. But as you move outside of the cities, foreign languages will quickly dry-up.

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When traveling in Japan, especially if you're in one of the big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, you'll generally have no problem not speaking Japanese at all. There are usually English signs all over train stations and airports.

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Is Japan good for solo travel? Solo travel in Japan is safe and it's easy to get around thanks to the country's excellent transport links. It's also a place where being alone is celebrated. In some countries, you may feel out of place if you go out to eat or drink solo, but not in Japan.

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Although at certain times of the day, or for short journeys, they might be a good option, Japanese taxis are among the most expensive in the world. Each company decides its own prices, but in the end, they tend to be quite similar. The normal prices are: First two kilometers: ¥ 730 ( US$ 4.90)

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Highway buses are one of the most economical ways to travel medium to long distances in Japan. While slower than trains, buses cost usually less than half, especially on the competitive Tokyo routes where discount fares can be incredibly low.

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As these trains are not covered by JR pass, a one-way Osaka to Tokyo train ticket costs around 160 USD in peak season and around 120 USD off peak. Read more about the Japanese train tickets here.

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Do you need to speak any Japanese to travel around Japan? Absolutely not. You can travel to Japan without learning any of these words and have a great time. People ask us about the Japanese language barrier all the time, with common questions such as, Do Japanese people speak English?

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