Ultra-detailed Japanese traffic guide 3

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🤗 2 [Shinkansen (Japanese high-speed train)]

Shinkansen actually belongs to JR, and the reason why it's singled out is because Shinkansen is considered a special kind of JR, which was built later, is faster, and mainly connects larger cities, similar to high-speed railroads. On a regular JR in Japan, you will feel that the carriages shake a lot and are not very stable, compared to the Shinkansen, which is much better in terms of stability and amenities: larger seat gaps, adjustable pillows, higher seat backs (for privacy), etc. The Shinkansen is a special type of JR that was built later and travels at a faster speed, similar to the high-speed trains. Shinkansen can be purchased in the same way as JR. Since it's a long-distance train, there are some trips where the entire train is assigned seats, so be careful when buying, especially if you have a JR-pass ticket, and remember to make a seat reservation ahead of time. Personally, I chose to do the Shinkansen from Hakodate, Hokkaido to Tokyo, the whole journey takes about 4.5 hours, the experience is still quite good, and it is a viable alternative to airplanes.

🤗 3 [City buses]

Get on at the back door and get off at the front door. Buses in Japan are charged according to the station you board, and the amount of the bus can only be checked when you get off the bus, so you need to get off the bus through the front door so that the driver can supervise the fare.

For buses that can swipe the IC card, swipe the card once when you get on the bus, and swipe it again when you get off the bus; Some buses do not allow you to use an IC card, so you need to get on the bus and get a numbered ticket, and get off the bus and give the numbered ticket to the driver along with the fare. There is a number on the numbered ticket, which represents which station you get on the train from, and get off the bus according to the number, and the fare and number will be displayed on the large screen in the car.

🤗 4 [trams]

Trams are a special type of public transportation, similar to BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), that run on the ground but have their own tracks and stations. The tram ride is exactly the same as a bus, so I won't go into that again.

🤗 5 [Subway]

The subway in both Tokyo and Sapporo is easy to access by swiping your IC card. One thing to note, the subway and JR are not interchangeable, and some subway lines are not interchangeable with each other. So make sure you look at the name of the line before entering the station, or you will be charged for going in and coming out.

🤗 6 [Long-distance Bus]

Long-distance buses are an alternative to JR for traveling from one city to another, and their advantage is mainly that they are cheap, costing half the price of a JR limited express. For example, if you want to go from Sapporo to Toya, you can take a bus that departs from Sapporo Chuo Bus Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the JR station. Long-distance buses have a fixed daily schedule, which can be found on Google Maps or at the site, so just buy your ticket at the site and go to the station at the time to get on the bus.

🤗 7 [Taxi]

Taxis in Japan are very expensive, at least 5 times more expensive than at home. Taxis can be hailed directly on the side of the road, or you can use mobile app, such as Uber.

🤗 8 [Summary of pit avoidance points]

Except for airplanes, Japan is by car Non-real-name, no ID required, and no security check is required

It is advisable to memorize the romanization of some of the main stops and destinations in advance so that you can ask for directions, buy tickets, and listen to the announcements on the train.

Google Maps is a must-have, and the accuracy is relatively high when used, which can meet the needs of most scenarios

Weekdays and holidays are not the same, so be sure to select the correct date when searching for routes

Not all lines can be transferred within the station, so be sure to look for the correct line before entering the station

If you get on the bus at the back door and get off at the front door, if you don't have an IC card or you can't use it, please remember to pick up a numbered ticket

If you have a JR-pass and are traveling long distances, it is recommended that you change to a reserved seat in advance to prevent you from losing seats

When traveling from Sapporo to Asahikawa, Noboribetsu and Hakodate, don't use your IC card to enter the station, as it will be very troublesome if you do not accept the card when leaving the station