mihos – Knowledge Of Asia

Travelling to Japan, although unbelievably convenient and punctual, can also be very expensive, which is why finding any way to save money can certainly help make the trip last longer and feel more enjoyable.

In order to help you save some money for your upcoming trip, consider some of the following tips that will help you get through the sprawling rush in cities like Tokyo:

Trains

Considering the different travel options available, trains are considered faster and more convenient than buses and certainly cheaper than choosing taxis. There are several different train companies that operate in Japan, with over 100 different lines running throughout the Greater Tokyo Area alone. This means absolute convenience for anyone wanting to get around the city or travel from one city to another. Not only are there hundreds of stations spread out over Tokyo but the connections between trains are phenomenal.

Each train line and station will have their own set of music that plays to indicate a train will be leaving. Many travellers love this feature because it make the ride that much more pleasant and helps you know which station you’re at without having to check. This is especially convenient for those ‘packed like sardines’ moments and times when you just need a little shut eye before heading back out.

You can choose from several overland trains that are mainly run by Japan Railway (JR) or the Tokyo Metro subway trains. There are also many private train lines that are also available to help with travel to more remote areas around Tokyo.

While JR does operate throughout Japan, there are some restrictions with passes, since JR has split into different groups like JR East, JR West, JR Hokkaido and so on. This is due to the fact that JR is owned by several different companies.

For long-distance travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima or Aomori, many prefer to use the famous Shinkansen bullet trains for their speed and convenience. Although they are a very fast option, they are the more expensive choice, sometimes even more expensive than flights!

Timetables and Maps

Train travel is one of the best ways in a busy city like Tokyo since they are abundant and very punctual to ensure everyone can get to their destination on time. Most timetables and maps are written in English to help travellers make their way around but there will be some times where they will only be written in Kanji. If you do happen to come across one of these problems, you can certainly try to ask for help or grab a personal train map written in English (available in almost every station near the ticket booths or gates).

Although it may seem like a city like Tokyo is a 24 hour party place, most trains stop operating around 12am -1am and begin around 5am. Catching the last train of the night for most tourists can be a very exciting experience because it’s exactly like so many movies and videos online, where people are being crammed in like there’s no tomorrow.

If you are the type who would like to avoid this experience, make sure to keep an eye out for the last train of the night, or else you’ll have the pleasure of staying in one of the 24 hour spots that most Japanese choose when they’ve missed the train:

internet café
manga café
karaoke box
capsule hotel

Perhaps one or two of these overnight experiences can be quite interesting and fun, they are certainly not the most comfortable places to sleep in (trust me I know).

A great way to find the best route and train times is to use this fantastic site called Jorudan. It`s an English site that offers a quick program that will find the best train times and routes to get you to your destination, no matter where it is in Japan. It will also calculate the total cost for each train ride, so you know exactly how much you will need to get there.

Jorudan English Site: http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

SUICA

The best way to travel with most of the trains in and around Tokyo is with a Suica pass. This pass allows you to fill the card with as much money as you like and all you have to do it swipe it at the gates of the different train stations. It’s a quick and convenient way to pay and travel, even between different train lines like JR and Tokyo Metro.

To purchase one, you can pretty much go to any station ticket booth in Tokyo and pay ¥500 (approx.. $6.50 USD) for the card, then take it to a designated Suica machine in the station to fill it with whatever amount you like. Most add ¥5,000 (approx.. $65 USD) or less in the cards and fill them whenever they get low.

The best thing about Suica cards is the fact that you can also use them to travel by bus throughout the city and use it to purchase food, drinks, snacks and products at thousands of shops, convenience stores, restaurants and vending machines around the city. In the end, you can keep it as a great souvenir or hold on to it until your next trip.

Suica is also available at Narita airport to help you get started off on the right foot, with trains that run straight from the airport to downtown Tokyo.

Suica Site: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

If you’re considering a trip to Japan, consider using trains over most of the other travel options out there; they offer a great view of the different areas of the city, play lovely music and help you get around with ease.