The cost of transportation in Japan
Japan has an efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between the large cities. Japanese public transportation is characterized by its punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it. Whether you are taking a Japanese bus, car, taxi, or train, the network of transport is so grand that you will be able to reach any part of Japan with ease.
Japanese Limousine Bus is convenient for tourists as it stops right in front of most major hotels. It takes about 90 min from Narita to Tokyo and costs 3000 yen.
Train is the cheapest solution and possibly the quickest, depending on the destination. There are several lines going to Tokyo. One should check which is the nearest station to the destination and work out backward which way is the most convenient for the individual. For example, during going to Shinjuku Station, the traveller can take the Keisei line from Narita to Nippori, then change to JR Yamanote to Shinjuku; or take to same Keisei line, but the changing at Hachiman to the Toei Shinjuku line can save 10min and 50 yen.
Taxi is the most expensive alternative. Count at least 15,000-20,000 yen to central Tokyo.
If the traveler has more time than money, the “seishun 18 kippu” is by far the cheapest solution. One ticket cost 2300 yen and gives unlimited travel inside Japan for one day. It has to be bought by set of five tickets, which can be shared with other people and used in consecutive or unconsecutive days. There are however two major drawbacks – otherwise, everybody would be using this ticket. The first one is that only local or ordinary trains can be used (no shinkansen, no limited-express…), which means it takes nine hours from Tokyo to Kyoto, instead of about three hours by Shinkansen. The second is that this ticket can only be purchased and used during three fixed periods about forty days of the years which coincide with academic holidays. This is the most travelled route in Japan, as well by tourists as by business people. As a Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket cost about 12,000 yen one-way, it remains expensive. Night buses are cheaper, and price vary greatly from one company to another. “JR” has the most expensive, but also the most frequent and possibly most confortable buses. If the traveller is looking for good deals can try to take a special package tour named orion tour, which has night buses running from Yokohama, Shinjuku or Tokyo station to Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe for 5000 yen one-way. It is very convenient for people who are planning to travel long distances around Japan, but remains too expensive (28,300 yen for the cheapest one) for those only visiting the Kanto or Kansai regions.
