7 Transportation Options in Tokyo to Maximize Your Itinerary!

Traveloka Team
4 min read

Transportation options in Tokyo are known to be cheap, fast, punctual, and also comfortable for tourists. This certainly makes value more appealing to attract tourists to visit Tokyo. You can choose any mode of transportation according to your destination.

Even for transportation options within the city, the waiting time is only a matter of minutes. Delay, traffic jams, and other problems that you usually encounter in Indonesia will not happen there. The drawback might be one, newcomers can be a little confused by the complex Japanese transportation map.

Transportation Options in Tokyo

Do you have plans to go to Tokyo in the near future? Dont worry, here are some transportation options in Tokyo, Japan, that you can consider during your vacation:

1. Bus

Information and Advantages: Buses are often an alternative choice if you are outside the city center. Bus departure schedules are not as frequent as trains and the travel time is also longer. There are quite a few options, namely Toei Bus, SKY BUS Tokyo, Hato Bus, Skytree Shuttle, and even free buses.
Routes: Toei Bus covers the main areas in Tokyo, while other buses only cover spot-spot famous tourist attractions in Tokyo.
Tariffs: Transportation costs in Tokyo are relatively cheap if you use the bus. Toei Bus fares start from JPY 180, Skytree Shuttle from JPY 220, Shuttle Seven from JPY 170 to JPY 420. You can also buy a one day pass for several types of buses.
Tips: Understand how to get on and pay on the bus to make your trip easier. The payment machine on the bus only accepts exact change. So, make sure you have small change. Get on from the front door. When you are almost at your destination, press the button to get off.

2. JR East

Information and Advantages: This mode of transportation has a very extensive network and its stations are spread throughout Tokyo, including Shinjuku Station. You can buy tickets directly at the station using the machine, tap PASMO and Suica, to JR Pass.
Routes: You can start riding the JR Line from the moment you leave Narita Airport to various prefectures around the Kanto area. There are a total of around 23 districts in Tokyo that you can reach with JR East.
Tariffs: JR train fares vary depending on the route. However, you can buy a pass ticket such as the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (JPY 10,180 per 3 days), Tokyo 1-Day Ticket (JPY 1,600 per 1 day), and Tokunai Pass JPY 760 per day. Pass for children, the price is half that of adults.
Tips: If your vacation is between cities in Japan, you can consider a ticket pass that covers a wider area. Buy a pass while still in Indonesia so that the price is cheaper. Adjust your itinerary vacation with the ticket pass you buy so that its worth it.

3. Bullet Train (Shinkansen)

Information and Advantages: Shinkansen is the name of a fast mode of transportation in Japan which is the choice for intercity travel. There are 5 main lines at the moment, namely Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Hokkaido, and Hokuriku.
Routes: As one of the main cities in Japan, you can reach other cities in Japan using the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station.
Tariffs: It is very possible to book tickets online, even before you arrive in Japan. You can also buy them directly at JR stations (via ticket machines or official ticket sales offices). Shinkansen fares are much more expensive than regular trains, for example, from Tokyo to Osaka, it can cost JPY 14,000.
Tips: To get a cheaper price, you can consider buying a JR Pass. Pass this has 3 options, namely 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days. The price starts from JPY 29,650 to JPY 60,450 for adults and half price for children.

4. Subway

Information and Advantages: Japan is known for its efficient and effective train network, including its subway. The map subway or Japanese metro is easy to read and multilingual signs are available at stations and on trains.
Routes: Tokyo Subway Lines serves the entire city with a total of 280 stations. Options available include Tokyo Metro, Toei Lines, Keio Lines, and Odakyu Lines.
Tariffs: Fare subway varies, for example, for Tokyo Metro its around JPY 170 to JPY 320. Meanwhile, Toei Lines has a fare between JPY 180 to JPY 430. However, you can buy a subway pass to save on transportation costs in Japan. Pass is available in 1 to 3 day options.
Tips: Tokyo Subway Lines is not managed by JR, so you cant use the JR Pass. Download the Tokyo Metro app to make your trip easier. Always check the operating hours subway so that your schedule doesnt get messed up and avoid rush hour if you dont want it to be too crowded.

5. Taxi

Information and Advantages: If you ask what transportation options are available in Japan? Then taxis are one of them. There are green, yellow, and black taxi options. Currently, there are many taxis in Tokyo that have English signs.
Routes: Taxis do not have fixed routes. You can go anywhere with this mode of transportation.
Tariffs: The fare starts from JPY 500 and then according to the distance traveled. Usually there is a fixed cost if you start your journey from Narita or Haneda airport.
Tips: You can try a sightseeing taxi to visit spot of interest while also getting a guide from the driver about the local area.

6. Car Rental

Information and Advantages: Although public transportation in Tokyo is easy and fast, you can also rent a car to get around. This option is suitable for those of you who are traveling in large numbers (including parents and small children) or have plans to go out of town.
Routes: When you rent a car, the route can be adjusted to your needs and the applicable rental terms. There are some cars that can be taken out of town or only within the city.
Tariffs: Car rental rates in Tokyo vary depending on the length of the rental and the type of car. Usually the rate starts from around Rp4 million per day. The daily system is also not the same, some are only 3 hours, 5 hours, to 10 hours.
Tips: You can rent a car in Tokyo through Traveloka. The car options vary from sedans to vans. Make sure you have an international license and a driving permit recognized in Japan. Also understand the traffic regulations in Japan before renting a car.

7. Bicycle Rental

Information and Advantages: Some areas in Tokyo are very tempting to explore by bicycle. You can cycle around parks or wide open areas with a bicycle. Examples are Shibuya, Meguro, Okutama, and also Ome.
Routes: As with car rentals, you can use a bicycle almost everywhere.
Tariffs: Bicycle rental in Japan can be calculated per hour or per day. The rates vary from JPY 200 per 3 hours to thousands of yen per day. Usually there is a deposit that will be returned after the rental is complete and insurance. Rental rates on weekends are more expensive than weekdays.
Tips: Understand local regulations regarding the use of bicycles in the city. Dont park carelessly, speed, and always make sure to stay on the left side. You can join a bicycle tour in Tokyo to avoid getting lost.

Ready to start your Japanese adventure? Book your flight tickets to Tokyo and discover the best hotel deals in districts like Shinjuku or Shibuya through Traveloka. Don't forget to secure your attraction tickets for Tokyo Disneyland or Shibuya Sky in advance to skip the lines. For a more worry-free budget, you can use TPayLater to book everything now and pay in flexible installments.

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