Transportation

Most international flights into Japan land at Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND) near Tokyo. Haneda is closer to the city center and generally preferred if available.

• Book flights early — September is peak travel season — prices rise fast
• Fly into Tokyo (NRT or HND) — Haneda (HND) is closer to the city
• Fly out of Osaka (KIX — Kansai International) — Open-jaw tickets save backtracking
• Flight time from US East Coast — Approx. 14–16 hours nonstop
• Flight time from US West Coast — Approx. 11–12 hours nonstop
• Check baggage allowance — Some carriers have strict limits on Japan routes

The JR Pass is an unlimited rail pass for tourists that covers most Shinkansen (bullet train) routes and JR local lines. It must be purchased before you arrive in Japan.

• Purchase before leaving home — Cannot be bought inside Japan
• 14-day pass recommended for our trip — Covers Sept 19 – Oct 2
• Covers Tokyo ↔ Osaka Shinkansen — The Tokaido Shinkansen — about 2.5 hrs
• Covers most JR local lines in Tokyo & Osaka
• Reserve Shinkansen seats in advance — Free with JR Pass — do it at the station
• Activate at the airport on arrival — Exchange your voucher at a JR office

An IC card is a rechargeable transit card that works on virtually every subway, bus, and local train in Japan. It also works at convenience stores and many vending machines.

• Get a Suica or Pasmo card at the airport — Available from machines at NRT and HND
• Load ¥3,000–¥5,000 to start — Top up at any station machine
• Tap in and out at every gate — Works on Tokyo Metro, Osaka Metro, JR local lines
• Use at konbini and vending machines — 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart all accept it
• Keep the card — it's reusable — Return for ¥500 deposit refund at trip end

The Shinkansen is the highlight of Japanese rail travel — incredibly fast, punctual to the minute, and comfortable. The Tokyo–Osaka route on the Tokaido Shinkansen is one of the most iconic train journeys in the world.

• Tokyo → Osaka (Nozomi/Hikari) — ~2.5 hrs — covered by JR Pass (Hikari only)
• Seats are spacious and comfortable — Reserved seats recommended for group travel
• Ekiben (station bento boxes) — Buy at the station before boarding — a must-try
• Luggage forwarding recommended — Ship bags ahead so you travel light on the train
• Trains are always on time — Average delay is under 1 minute

Both Tokyo and Osaka have extensive subway and bus networks. Your IC card handles everything — no need to buy individual tickets.

• Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway — 13 lines covering the whole city
• Osaka Metro — 9 lines — easy to navigate
• Google Maps works great for transit directions — Download offline maps before you land
• Taxis are available but expensive — Use for late nights or heavy luggage only
• Ride-share apps (Uber) have limited coverage — Don't rely on them — transit is better
• Bicycle rentals available in many areas — Great for exploring neighborhoods