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If you are coming to Tokyo and wish to wander around? Or simply moving to Tokyo but yet to know how the commuting system work? Living in Japan is quite convenient, but Tokyo is crowded.
Public transportation is the best way to travel for a budget.
Tokyo is huge!! If you are looking to go from the East to the West of Tokyo, public transportation can get you there in roughly 2 hours, by train.
Living in Japan, you can find the train system quite A-MAZ-ING!! At least in Tokyo, it is a MAZE!
Japan connected by a train system by Japan Railway. In Tokyo, there are 2 train systems, one is Tokyo Metro and the other is JR (Japan Railway). All insanely packed in rush hour. As other big cities usually have, a metro line, just here in Tokyo, Railway also appears in the inner city. (Plus they still have monorail!)
Fun fact number 1: Shinjuku is the most crowded station in Tokyo, not the Tokyo station!!
For inner Tokyo, Tokyo Metro is a good choice with price started from JPY 170.
For the rest of Tokyo, JR would be a better choice, and ticket started from JPY 140.
If you are going to live and working in Japan, daily commuting to work, usually a monthly ticket would be referred. (And your employer is subjected to pay you back, ask them if it is not mentioned.)
If you are looking for a special ticket you can check out this link here. Do you know that you can travel around Japan with a 5 days ticket (you can ride Shinkansen too). The link is not available yet.
Buses – pay once for the whole ride
Buses in Japan have different fare systems, in Tokyo, they have a fixed price, around JPY 220 for one-way, no matter which stops that you will get off. Once you get off the bus, the next bus you jump on will charge you another JPY 220, check the map before getting off the bus. Living in Japan, better check your maps (either Google or Apple) they are accurate, really did the job as they update frequently. Fortunately, some bus lines in Tokyo now have English, Chinese, Korean voice pronouncers. Still, it’s better to check your map.
Fun fact number 2: Commuter Card PASMO can save you a few yen. And easier to bring, rather having coins in your pocket. It can be purchase at any big station. Everyone living in Japan has an IC card.
Living in Japan and would love to explore the neighborhood? Get on a bicycle
If you are living in Tokyo for a short-time, second-hand bicycles are fairly cheap if you have interest digging in your surrounding neighborhood or just out for a picnic. New bicycles on the shopping website can start from JPY 15,000 (around USD 150).
A note here is that owning a bicycle in Japan, require you to register at your seller or at the police office. (Thief prevention)
And last, want to enjoy with top convenience? Taxi!!
If you live in Japan you may know this, people do not speak English here. If you fortunate enough to run into a driver who can, else, you can just show them the address you want to travel to. We can say that most of the taxi drivers here are quite honest and will not driving you circular. Or just guide them with your map GPS.
Red light means the Taxi is available, and a green one saying that it’s occupied.
Fun fact number 3: beware of red and green light indicate in Japan, might be the reverse of what you think (not the traffic light, it’s still the same.)
Also, prepare for some cash, as some are not accept credit card, even restaurant.
If you haven’t got any plan yet, these guide here might help you decide!
If you see this guide well, share it! If you want to hang out with a local, why don’t you live with one! At Homii, we host homestay services that match you with a local host family!! Wouldn’t it be nice to have your 2nd family in Japan? Read our guests’ experience here and you will understand why!