Getting around in Tokyo?

the train system in Japan is the best I have ever seen in the world (and I have traveled throughout Asia, the U.S., Australia, and Europe)--the trains are very clean, very timely, and very easy to use. In Tokyo, the train stops are announced in Japanese and English as well as displayed--perfect for visitors. Elsewhere in Japan the transport systems can be tricky (in Kyoto the buses only say the stops in Japanese and don't display the stop in English anywhere! eek!).

The best thing to do is to get a JR pass (as a visitor traveling between cities etc.), a daily pass (if you're just visiting one city), or a Suica/Pasmo/equivalent (if you are staying for an extended period of time). The Suica/Pasmo card in Tokyo is a card that you can refill (using kiosks in English) and can scan as you enter the train platforms--your fare is automatically removed from your balance! So easy!

All of the train stations have detailed maps in English and Japanese to help you navigate. While many station staff don't speak English, they are happy to try if you ask politely for help (get a phrasebook! best investment ever!). The JR lines are all color-coordinated, which makes things even easier when you are transferring.

In the mornings (7:00-9:00) and the evenings (21:00-when the last trains run around midnight) the city trains can get quite busy. Usually seats are reserved for older/less able-bodied passengers, and sometimes you may get squished! It's part of the experience of being in japan, I think everyone should go into a crowded train car. The last run of the night around midnight is ALWAYS packed--beware.

if you're traveling between cities you can often reserve a seat for yourself, especially on long journeys. Some train systems, like the Shinkansen, require seat reservations--make sure you make arrangements at one of the main stations (in Tokyo: Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Tokyo are the biggest on the JR line) or talk to your hotel concierge for details.

Taking a cab in Tokyo or anywhere in Japan can be quite expensive--especially on the busy Tokyo streets where you can be stuck in traffic with the meter running. Drive at your own risk. I would never drive in Japan #1 because Japanese drivers (especially in Tokyo) are a little scary and #2 because I cannot read signs in Japanese and #3 because I don't need to--public transport is so convenient! Very few people in Japan drive as compared to Europe and America--it's quite the surprise.

Buses, however, can be extremely convenient. All the major rail companies in Japan also run bus systems (I took a JR night bus to Kyoto--it was very affordable and comfortable). There are also city buses that you can use your Suica/Pasmo on, or get a daily pass.

The Tokyo Metro system is just as convenient and easy to use! You can also use your Suica/Pasmo/Daily Pass to take advantage of this--a lot of metros can take you to places in the city that trains can't!

Enjoy your trip to Japan!

Tokyo is pretty hectic at any time of the day, but Japan has one of the world`s best transport systems, and getting around is usually a breeze. The trains are fast, efficient and cover most of the country. The best way to get around Tokyo is using the JR Train Line (Yamanote loop line).

If you plan on doing a lot of travel all around Japan then think about the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited travel on almost all JR trains, including the shinkansen, for a fixed period of 7, 14 or 21 days (excluding the Nozomi superexpress). This pass can only be purchased outside of Japan.

Tokyo http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010/06/tokyo-...

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The subway is best, but not during rush hour...they actually used to employ people called "pushers" to pack people into the trains. No, I am NOT kidding. There is one problem for women in subway though...and that is the time-honored Japanese ecchi tradition known as groping. Fortunately, the laws are far more strenuously enforced than in the past. It is no longer viewed as just a nuisance, but is now a crime that is taken quite seriously.

Tokyo is quite possibly the safest city in the world. I mean, I could swear that there are times that there are more police on the streets than people. There have been some incidents of note in the past few years, like the infamous Akihabara Sunday attack by a crazed man driving a truck into shoppers, but it is a place that I am always comfortable in.

Getting around by car? LMAO The good folks in Tokyo are generally smart enough not to drive. Every now and then you will also see young guys in hotted up cars engaging in the extremely dangerous and totally illegal practice of "drifting." It is best to avoid the streets after about 1 AM until dawn in that regard.

I grew up in NYC, so I know from crazy...and Tokyo is only a 7 out of 10 on the crazymeter. Crowded is another story though.

As the previous poster said, taxis are expensive...and you can generally walk faster than a cab. I have always enjoyed walking in Tokyo, especially in Shibuya and Akihabara, but that is the whole idea of Shibuya and Akihabara. Parking in those two places is crazy expensive, if you can find any to start with.

So, to me at least, Tokyo is fun and very, very safe.

you've some problems, in spite of the undeniable fact that it's not insurmountable -- you will properly be a functional illiterate. initially, carry out a little education by getting a customer's word e book and get attentive to the countless functional sections jointly with ordering at an eatery, asking for guidelines, and so on. There are additionally bilingual (English/jap) maps of Tokyo and its subway structures - get oriented to the lay of the land. it may be valuable in case you took alongside a compass (the city isn't precisely geared up on a grid device). 2nd, plan your commute and playout some eventualities on your suggestions. the greater serious element you're able to do is in simple terms circulate and not do ANY making plans and prep. the jap are very valuable and information with travellers, yet there's a difference between being somebody who took the time to prep and nevertheless choose for some help, and somebody who desires help because of the fact they have been in simple terms too lazy. 0.33, examine/analyze with reference to the countless known places in Tokyo. you would be greater valuable able to appreciative of what you notice and journey. Be a customer as a replace of a tourist.

Driving is crazy. There is always traffic and the signs are in japanese so hard to read. PLus there is toll gates every where. Train is easy, you can go any where in Japan with the public transportation. It is usually cheaper to go by public transportation.

Easy, safe and cheap on the subway. They close at 10:00 pm. Taxis are expensive and very slow. Tokyo is virtually crime free.