How to Get Around Japan

Japan's rail network is one of the best in the world, and the shinkansen (bullet train) makes long-distance travel fast, frequent, and famously punctual -- a Japan Rail Pass can offer real savings.

Within cities, subway networks are extensive, and IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) work seamlessly across most transit nationwide.

A rental car makes more sense for rural areas like Hokkaidō, where trains run less frequently -- Japan drives on the left.

The driving permit trap

Japan accepts only the 1949 version of the International Driving Permit. Many countries now issue the 1968 convention permit instead, and it is not valid here. You need the 1949 IDP plus your own licence and your insurance documents with you in the car, and you could be arrested and fined for driving without the correct documents. Check which convention your issuing authority uses before you book a car, not after.

Roads are well maintained and driving is on the left. Watch for pedestrians crossing at green lights, especially at junctions.

Carry your passport

You must carry your passport or residence card at all times. A photocopy will not satisfy authorities, and police officers may ask for your identification documents at any time. This is the single most commonly broken rule among visitors to Japan, and the one most likely to turn a pleasant evening into a long one.

Money on the move

Japan is still a predominantly cash-based society, and you may have difficulty using cards issued outside the country — Cirrus, Maestro, Link and Delta cash cards are not widely accepted. The machines that do take some foreign cards are at Japanese post offices, 7-Eleven stores and JP Post Bank, and only during business hours. Carry more cash than you would elsewhere and top up in daylight.

Rail, and the rest

The rail network is one of the best in the world and the shinkansen makes long-distance travel fast, frequent and famously punctual; a Japan Rail Pass can offer real savings depending on the route. Within cities, subway networks are extensive and IC cards — Suica, Pasmo — work across most transit nationwide. A rental car makes more sense in rural areas such as Hokkaido, where trains run less often — which is exactly where the 1949 permit matters.

Weather that stops the trains

The typhoon season runs June to December, peaking July to September, with the highest risk in the south. Heavy rainfall is common in both the rainy season and the typhoon season and can bring flooding, landslides and significant transport disruption, and conditions can worsen rapidly with little warning. Typhoons often arrive with damaging high tides, and the danger compounds when an earthquake follows a storm that has already saturated the ground. Monitor Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts and follow evacuation orders.