Getting Around Japan

What kind of journey are you making?

01Suica and IC cardsChoose a card, add value and understand where it works.02Ride an ordinary train or subwayGo from ticket or tap to gate, platform, transfer and exit.03Ride the ShinkansenPlan the booking, ticket, gate, seat and luggage steps.04Store or send your luggageChoose storage, forwarding or carrying, then check acceptance and collection timing.05Find the right platformMatch company, line, direction, train and platform.06A longer or reserved-seat journeyCheck whether the service needs another ticket or reservation.07From the airportFinish arrivals, then choose the transfer to your actual address.08My IC card has stopped workingStep aside and get help at the staffed gate.

Think from doorway to doorway

01Start
Use your real location, not just the nearest large station.
02Travel
Match operator, service, direction and ticket.
03Change
Allow for the station layout, luggage and access needs.
04Arrive
Check the exit, final walk and arrival arrangements.

A planning diagram, not a route map or live timetable.

Our advice: compare the total journey, including transfers and the final walk. A simpler trip can be worth a longer travel time when carrying luggage or travelling with children. Check the last useful service and what you will do if a delayed arrival misses it.

For rural areas, check both outward and return services before leaving. A stop on a map does not promise frequent service, IC-card acceptance or an available taxi. Ask your stay or the local operator about the final connection. Do not assume a city transport pattern works everywhere.

Choose tickets after choosing the journey

An IC card is a payment tool for compatible journeys. It is not an all-Japan pass. For a longer train trip, check fare, service and seat requirements together. For a pass, compare the routes you will actually ride against its coverage and conditions; do not buy one solely because it sounds convenient.

Before reserving, check the operator's luggage rules and any accessible boarding arrangements needed for your train. Save the booking instructions and collection method. If an app and the departure board disagree, ask staff before boarding.

Describe the problem in your own words

Try “my Suica doesn't work,” “extra ticket” or “bus.” Search can find a guide, sign or phrase; it is not a live route planner.

For a sign, open Read Japan. For a destination question, prepare a Japanese phrase card and show it to staff.

Can one IC card replace every ticket?

No. Check coverage and the specific service. Some trains require additional tickets or reservations, and an ordinary IC journey cannot cross every service-area boundary.

Does this page know whether my train is running?

No. Use the operator's current service information and the instructions at the station. This Hub helps you decide what to check.

Sources & checks

Sources checked 16 Sept 2026. For changing details, confirm with the responsible organization.

JR East · Ticket guideBasic fare and limited-express ticket layers; seat categories
JR East · Using SuicaTop-up, insufficient balance, additional tickets and separate IC service areas
Toei Transportation · How to use busesTokyo 23-ward front/pay-first example; Tama rear/pay-last example; stop button and cash handling · Operator examples, not nationwide rules. Japanese guidance summarized in English.

Review interval: 90 days. This page is not a live status feed. Check time-sensitive details with the linked authority before acting.

Keep moving

Your next useful step

Suica & IC Cards in Japan: How to Buy, Use, Recharge & Fix ProblemsChoose a card, tap with confidence and know what to do if a gate says no.Find your train. Then your platform.Five things to match before you board.Does this train need another ticket?An IC card pays a fare. It does not always cover the whole journey.