Japan Public Transport Guide: Trains, Subways and Buses

All Japan Areas & sights 10 min read Last checked: 2026-11-03

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

Contents

1How Japan's public transport works
2Paper tickets or IC cards: which to use
3Step by step: your first subway or train ride
4Transfers: changing lines without stress
5Shinkansen, express trains and the JR Pass
6Luggage on the Shinkansen
7How to ride a local bus
8Manners on trains and buses
9Mistakes first-timers make
10FAQ
11Related guides

Japan's trains, subways and buses are easy to use once you know three things. Pay with a paper ticket or a tap-to-pay IC card. Follow station signs that use line letters, numbers and colors. On some buses, you board at the back and pay when you get off at the front.

At a glance

Where

Big cities have many rail companies, and fares differ by company and region (JNTO).

How to pay

Buy a paper ticket at a machine, or tap an IC card (a rechargeable travel card) at the gate (JNTO).

Suica card price

500 yen

A normal Suica needs a 500 yen deposit. A JR East-issued card returned at a JR East station gets the deposit and balance back (JR East).

Welcome Suica

No deposit, usable for 28 days, balance not refundable, top up with cash only (JR East).

Shinkansen

You need a basic fare ticket plus a limited express ticket (JR Central).

Big luggage

Over 160 cm total on main Shinkansen lines needs a reserved seat with luggage space (JR Central).

Buses

Some buses use pay-when-you-exit; bring exact change because no change is given (JNTO).

Booking

You can book Shinkansen online with JR East's e-ticket (JR East). Check official sites for current fares.

1How Japan's public transport works

In big cities, many different companies run the trains. Fares differ by company and by region ⓘ JNTO. So one trip can mean paying two companies.

In Tokyo, two companies run the subway: Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway ⓘ Tokyo Metro. Other rail companies run more lines in the city.

One popular guide tells travelers to plan routes by company, not trust line colors alone, and expect extra fares when they switch operators.

In the countryside, trains and buses may run less often than in cities ⓘ JNTO. Check the timetable before you go. Do not expect a train every few minutes.

2Paper tickets or IC cards: which to use

You have two main ways to pay for trains. Both work at automatic ticket gates.

	Paper ticket	IC card (like Suica or PASMO)
How to buy	Ticket machine at the station ⓘ JNTO	Check the card issuer's official site; top up at Tokyo Metro machines ⓘ Tokyo Metro
How to use	Insert at gate, take it back, keep it ⓘ JNTO	Tap on the reader when you enter and exit ⓘ JNTO
At the end	Gate keeps the ticket ⓘ JNTO	Fare is calculated automatically ⓘ JR East
If fare is too low	Pay the difference at a fare machine near the gate ⓘ Tokyo Metro	Top up the card ⓘ JR East
Cost to get one	Just the fare	Normal Suica: 500 yen deposit; Welcome Suica: no deposit ⓘ JR East
Limits	Works for your chosen route	Only inside each IC area; cannot cross between areas ⓘ JR East

Suica works on trains, subways, buses and monorails in the Tokyo area. It also works on some transport in other regions ⓘ JR East. But some places and lines do not take IC cards, so look for the IC sign ⓘ JNTO.

If your trip crosses from one Suica area into another, you cannot use the card for it. JR East says to buy a ticket in advance for these trips ⓘ JR East.

One creator shows his first solo Tokyo Metro ride, topping up his Suica and following signs to Shinjuku-Sanchome.

3Step by step: your first subway or train ride

Plan your route. Use a route app to see time, transfers and fare. Note the company for each part.
Get a ticket or check your IC balance. On Tokyo Metro machines, press "International Languages" for English ⓘ Tokyo Metro. You can choose your destination by station name or by line and station number ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Have cash ready. Tokyo Metro machines do not take credit cards, except for buying passes like commuter passes ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Go through the gate. Insert a paper ticket and take it back, or tap your IC card ⓘ JNTO.
Find the platform. Signs show the line and the direction ⓘ Tokyo Metro. Station numbers mix a line letter, a station number and a line color ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Wait and board. Stand behind the yellow warning blocks. Let people get off first. Do not rush onto the train ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Watch the screen. Screens above the doors show where you are and where the train is going ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Exit. Use the same ticket or card at the gate. If your fare was too low, use the fare machine near the gate ⓘ Tokyo Metro.

A Korean guide shows a route app with time, transfers and fares, then an IC card tap at the gate.

4Transfers: changing lines without stress

Changing trains is not always a simple walk across a platform. At some Tokyo Metro stations, you must pass through a gate even between two Tokyo Metro lines. Look for the orange transfer gates ⓘ Tokyo Metro.

There is also a time limit for these transfers. Tokyo Metro pages do not agree, though. Some say 60 minutes, and another explains rules for over 30 minutes at certain stations ⓘ Tokyo Metro. Ask station staff to be sure.

Fares differ by company ⓘ JNTO. A Korean video explains that changing operators, such as JR, private railways and subways, means exiting the gate, tapping your IC card and paying a new fare.

5Shinkansen, express trains and the JR Pass

Local and rapid trains without reserved seats only need a basic fare ticket ⓘ JR Central. The Shinkansen (bullet train) and limited express trains need more. You need the fare ticket plus a limited express ticket for that train ⓘ JR Central. Green Cars (first-class cars) need an extra Green ticket ⓘ JR Central.

JR East sells a Shinkansen e-ticket. You book online and link it to an IC card. Each traveler needs their own IC card to pass the gate ⓘ JR East. JR East's "Express Train e-ticket" for normal lines is only the express part. You still need a fare ticket or IC card ⓘ JR East.

The Japan Rail Pass comes in Ordinary and Green types. Each has 7-day, 14-day and 21-day versions (JAPAN RAIL PASS). Check prices on the official site.

The pass alone does not cover Nozomi or Mizuho trains. You must buy a special extra ticket before boarding (JAPAN RAIL PASS). It also does not cover JR highway buses and some local buses (JAPAN RAIL PASS).

6Luggage on the Shinkansen

On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, luggage over 160 cm (length + width + height) needs a seat with oversized luggage space ⓘ JR Central. The FAQ also lists the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen ⓘ JR Central.

These seats cost the same as normal reserved seats. There is no extra charge for the space ⓘ JR Central. If you bring big luggage without booking, you pay a 1,000 yen fee, tax included ⓘ JR Central.

Luggage over 250 cm total is not allowed ⓘ JR Central. The page is unclear about bags of exactly 160 cm, so check with JR Central if your bag is that size.

Strollers, sports gear and musical instruments are outside this rule. But you must still book if you want to use the luggage space ⓘ JR Central.

7How to ride a local bus

Buses in Japan use two main systems ⓘ JNTO:

Rear-entry: Board at the back. Pay at the front when you get off. The fare depends on how far you ride.
Front-entry: Board at the front. Pay one flat fare when you get on.

Using cash on a distance-based bus? Take a numbered ticket (seiri-ken) when you board. Before your stop, find your number on the front display to see your fare ⓘ JNTO. Put the exact amount in the fare box. No change is given if you pay too much ⓘ JNTO.

Bus stop timetables show weekdays and weekends or holidays separately. They use the 24-hour clock, so 18:00 means 6 pm ⓘ JNTO.

A Korean reel shows the full flow: rear door, numbered ticket, fare display, then exact cash or an IC tap at the front.

Another Korean creator points out that there are no free transfers between trains and buses.

8Manners on trains and buses

JNTO asks riders to avoid phone calls on trains where possible. On long trips like the Shinkansen, take calls in the area between cars ⓘ JNTO.

Do not smoke or vape on board. Hold your backpack in your hands or put it on the rack. Offer your seat near the priority seats ⓘ JNTO.

A funny etiquette video shows three things to avoid: leaning on platform doors, talking on the phone and cutting in line.

9Mistakes first-timers make

Trusting line colors only -> Check the company, line letter and station number too.
Expecting a credit card to work at every machine -> Bring cash for Tokyo Metro ticket machines ⓘ Tokyo Metro.
Using Suica across regions -> Buy a ticket in advance for trips that cross IC areas ⓘ JR East.
Paying too much on a bus -> Have exact change ready; the box gives no change ⓘ JNTO.
Bringing a big suitcase on the Shinkansen without booking -> Reserve a luggage-space seat to avoid the 1,000 yen fee ⓘ JR Central.

10FAQ

Is Suica refundable? A JR East-issued Suica returned at a JR East station refunds the 500 yen deposit and the balance. Welcome Suica balances are not refundable ⓘ JR East.

Can I use a credit card for train tickets? Not at Tokyo Metro ticket machines, except for passes ⓘ Tokyo Metro. Other operators vary, so check on site.

Does the JR Pass cover every train? No. Nozomi and Mizuho need an extra ticket, and some buses are not covered (JAPAN RAIL PASS).

What if I paid too little for my ticket? Use the fare adjustment machine near the exit gate ⓘ Tokyo Metro.

What tickets do I need for the Shinkansen? You need a fare ticket plus a limited express ticket ⓘ JR Central. Big luggage over 160 cm also needs a special seat booking ⓘ JR Central. For other seat rules, check the official site.

How long can I take to transfer on Tokyo Metro? Official pages say different things (60 or 30 minutes). Ask station staff ⓘ Tokyo Metro.