Your transport around Japan will be among the most expensive things you do, but there are plenty of ways to trim your transport costs. Regardless of the length of stay in Japan, there are plenty of ways to save money travelling around Japan, be it only for a few days or weeks.
Use the Japan Rail Pass (And use it well!)
You may have heard of the Japan Rail Pass or the JR Pass for short. The JR Pass allows you to have UNLIMITED travel on any Japan Rail operated train, bus, or ferry service around the county for a period of 7, 14, or 21 days. Despite the price increase of October 2023, the JR Pass is still a massive cost saver, particularly on 14- and 21-day excursions. Of course, how worthwhile the pass is entirely depends on your itinerary, but if you plan on travelling long distances on the Bullet trains (or shinkansen as they are known as in Japan), then the pass is well worth it, despite the steep up-front purchase cost.
On a recent itinerary, we worked with a client to create, the 21-Day JR Pass resulted in around 50,000 JPY savings compared to purchasing the tickets individually.
Click here for more information, or to purchase a JR Pass.
There are also regional rail passes, which cover smaller areas. Read more on regional rail passes.
Utilize local public transport lines
Public transport in Japan is affordable, well-connected, and reliable, especially in the major cities. Public Transport. Public transport is the go-to for locals and tourists. Train & bus fares in the country are incredibly reasonable. With the average train ride across town costing anywhere from $150-300JPY (about $1-$2.00 USD) one way, it’s tough to beat those rates in a taxi or a private car. Public transport is king in any large city in Japan – which is typically where most tourists to Japan go anyway.
Some cities, such as Tokyo, offer metro passes, allowing you to travel unlimitedly on the Tokyo Subway for a set period and price. The Tokyo Subway has 3 pass options for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours, priced at 800, 1,200, and 1,500 yen, respectively (approximately $5.50, $8.00, and $10 USD), valid on all Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway lines in the city. 1500 yen for unlimited subway travel in Tokyo for 72 hours is a fantastic deal and shows just how affordable public transport can be in Japan.
Fly Longer Distances
Japan has several low-cost airlines, which keeps airfares competitive and often cheaper than taking the train without a JR Pass. Even the 2 largest airlines in the country, have reasonable airfare when compared to train trips. Depending on how far ahead you book your airfare, you can get from Tokyo to Osaka in an hour quicker, for less than 5000JPY one way, or cheaper when a sale is on. This is compared to the 14000JPY it would cost on the bullet train without the JR Pass.
To find the best deals on flights, we use Skyscanner. Skyscanner helps you to compare your flights with other options and airlines to help you find the best rate on your flights. Many of the low-cost airlines in Japan are available on Skyscanner, making getting across the country so much easier and cheaper.
So, if you are travelling to Japan and don’t want to get a JR Pass, perhaps you are only in the country for a week and only want to see Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, then booking flights to get across the country might be a good option.
Take Advantage of Regional Rail Passes
If you don’t plan on travelling across the country and can’t justify the hefty up-front cost of the JR Pass, you can also purchase regional rail passes, which work similarly to the Japan Rail Pass but are restricted to a smaller area for a shorter period. An example is the Kansai-Hiroshima Area, which covers JR Rail and bus lines in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and the JR Sanyo Shinkansen line, anywhere between Shin-Osaka Station and Hiroshima Station. For 5 days, this pass costs 17.000 JPY. (around )$114 USD. Considering that the Bullet Train from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima costs about 10,000 JPY ($ 65 USD) one way, these regional rail passes could quickly pay for themselves. Much easier than
Book a hotel that includes a bicycle rental.
Some hotels in Japan, often Guesthouses or backpackers, can sometimes offer a free bicycle or a very affordable rate for their guests. Instead of taking the train places, take the bicycle with you places. Take the streets less travelled by other tourists. Bicycles are a great way to get around the city at your own pace and help you enjoy the surroundings a little more than the train or bus would allow. And, if you use it to explore where you are in Japan rather than taking public transport, that’s another expense you don’t have while the bike is available.
On Booking.com, you can see which hotels have on-site bikes available for rental. These may be free, or there may be a small charge depending on the hotel.
Stretch those legs
Lastly, we encourage you to stretch those legs every now and again, say, “No taxi, not today” and walk yourself to and from your destination. While impractical for more considerable distances, if where you are going is only a handful of train stations or bus stops away from where you are, then why not get walking if you are able and save yourself a little cash in the process.
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