Hands down no app beats google maps for navigating and finding your metro in Tokyo. I used it exclusively while there and was amazed at how in sync it was with the metro schedule (to the second), even telling you what platform to go to.
so what time does stations and trains and transport start operating? as I would like to wake really early so dont catch up the rush time may be 6am but I dont know what time do they open, thank you!!
Just go back from two weeks in Japan. Rode the Shinkasen, the Yamonite line and many others. Thank you for the detailed explanations on how to buy tickets and ride the trains. Also, thank you for your guides to Osaka and Kyoto. It was not as intimidating as I thought it might be. Signs are in English and people are friendly and helpful.
So many railway companies and metro companies and so many passes...I always got anxiety when I'm searching for transport info this video is really a savior thanks!!
OMG, I love how you explained the transfer process! I have been asking this for the past months because I'm going to Tokyo alone this Wednesday. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION. ❤
Will be going to Tokyo on a self-help trip next month for the first time (second time actually but the first time was many decades ago with a tour group) so this is my first lesson to prep for my trip to the Land of the Rising Sun :) THANKS for the detailed rundown of repertoire I need!
Another tip for riding. As a tourist you're likely to have a backpack. If you take it off and hold it by your feet while riding it will take up less room and your less likely to hit someone with it. Also with the IC cards don't forget they cost 500 yen but when you leave you can give the card back and get that 500 yen back.
If you're a backpacker, it can't be helped really... but I do definitely recommend a messenger bag rather than backpack. Besides it being what the people there actually use, it's a lot more maneuverable- you can quickly pull it from behind you to in front of you. And people are generally using their bags, purses and briefcases as personal space buffers anyway. Backpacks take too much space though, and if on both shoulders, won't easily yield when you come into contact with someone, giving you that leverage that risks whacking someone quite hard. If you twist into someone with a messenger bag, the bag just moves.
Suica Card is an IC card. Suica is the company or brand. IC is a type of card. IC Card in japan consist of Suica, Pasmo, Icaco, etc. All work the same so it doesnt matter which one u get.
thank you so much, we are visiting japan for the first time and we're very nervous for riding public transportations in japan and you're very helpful! thank you so much!
It does look intimidating, but I couldn't believe how easy it was in reality! Downloading the English language app for the underground is absolutely essential IMO. Makes everything so simple.
The one for the Tokyo Metro is called "tokyosubway" (it's an official app by Tokyo metro). It's pretty good...you can also use Google Maps to plan out trip itineraries too, that's what I did when I went last year.
Really appreciate your videos on Japan. Leaving for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto in three weeks. I have traveled a lot in Europe and ridden the rails there but Japan is a whole different animal. This one in particular really explained the basics. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks.
The Japan subway system seems so intimidating compared to when I used the subway system in Korea. Got to keep looking up videos to make sure I'm ready. Thank you for the helpful information 🤗
Your channel is very good and we discover many things about culture and tips. I'm from Brazil and I will planned to visit Japan in end of May and I will stay there for around 20 days.
Good Day Thank you for your tips. My sister and I took my niece to school to Japan in October 2018. She lives in Hana Koganei and we stayed in Nishishinjuku . Her school was in Takadanoba. So we had to navigate getting to her house and her school. We had to use several lines the Jr , Yamanato and Toei Odeo Line. We spent so much money buying individual tickets. While at the the train station we saw the suica and pasmo cards to buy but we did not know we could use on all the different lines. we are going back in March 2019 and will definitely purchase while using the subway. This time we get to do more sightseeing and want to go to Mount Fuji and Kyoto. Will buy the JR Rail pass.. thanks for the video very helpful. We did get lost in the train stations.
It WORKS on everything, but transferring train companies really adds up. That's why all the Waseda kids living along Seibu Shinjuku walk to 'Baba despite it being about a mile/1.5 km. If you're a tourist you can usually get away with using JR pass when it's still active, or Tokyo Metro/TOEI passes, but since she's living on a pretty pure commuter line that tourists wouldn't be expected to take, there's not much that can be done to help that. It'll at least save you the trouble of buying individual tickets.
@@raxhelraven All the IC cards have been interconnected at this point and basically all do the same thing. (possible minor exceptions). So suica and pasmo both work on all of the lines within Tokyo- get whichever, they do the same thing. The small advantage of pasmo is you can return it with no charge. But if you plan on keeping it forever anyway, then they are basically equivalent. (some offer some minor point card cash back type benefits, so if you are a local using the train often you may want to examine that- tourists won't hit any breakpoints to get anything out of it though). Basically every company (or groups of companies) had their own card. Tokyo and Osaka has pretty much been interconnected for over a decade. Most everything else took a little bit longer. I'm not aware of any more exceptions, but it's possible some private lines still do not accept IC cards (or only the regional one). Before I used to always have to say that the Hiroshima Cable Cars (de facto transportation in Hiroshima) only accepted the local card, but that's been changed within the last few years.
Traveled there with my family at the start of the year! And I have to agree the maps can be intimidating at the start, but it starts to grow on you after a couple of train rides. Anyways great video keep it up!
This is the most comprehensive and well explained video on the topic of trains. I will apply for the JRpass in the US and get the SUICA card on arrival. I think that I can at least find the station, but with all of the tracks and platforms, I fear that I will be a regular visitor to the attendant's booth. Thank you for posting such a good video. Hope that it still applies in 2023. I will know in 2 weeks.
pretty handy stuff to know, I've got a trip coming up in about two months and I feel more at ease about getting through train stations after watching this.
I must say, out of all the videos I've watched on youtube your vid was the most helpful. I've been planning a trip and the transportation was definitely my biggest concern. Thanks for sharing!
Extremely helpful video since we will be going to Japan in three weeks and your video answered EXACTLY all the questions that I had about JR, Suica etc. I also didn't know you could just show your pass to a human with the JR pass. I would have looked pretty stupid trying to shove the pass into the turnstile!!
i live here and this video probably even helps me haha. ya tokyo and shinjuku station can be crazy. like i said, i live here and i even have a hard time sometimes. but now i know those two stations like the back of my hand. just to add, might not be train related but the Suica/ Pasmo cards can also be used as cash card. so you can use it to buy drinks on the vending machine or even pay for things on the register at a convenience store, that is if you have a lot of cash stored in it. so thats another benefit of the suica card.
Thanks Jaysato! Great tip on using Suica as a cash card! It is nice to be able to use it at convenience stores and not have to carry a whole bunch of small coins around.
jaysato hello. I plan to travel on the Chuo Rapid line shinjuku to Tokyo station. do you know if the trains will be very crowded if I travel around 6:30 a.m. on a weekday with my luggage?
on a week day around that time probably might not be that bad. probably around 7am or a bit after would be the rush hour. most of the trains around that time will be crowded for sure.
This was so helpful! I am planning my first trip to Japan. I consider the planning a part of the journey, a part that I thoroughly enjoy. But for subway systems which are my own personal kryptonite, as it were. Not planes, buses nor automobiles. Just subway systems. It stresses me out greatly. This video really set my mind at ease. I can do this!
My boyfriend and I are going to Japan February 2019. Thank you for the great tips. Your video is a definite in my arsenal of " Japan travel videos". Good job!
@@jar13lucky I wouldn't say it was easy. It was manageable. Definitely buy a Suica or Pasmo for your Tokyo trains. I used Google maps. There was free wifi at each station that I used. Google maps gave a choice of train routes, times of each train, length of trip, cost of trip, and which platform. Day 1 in Tokyo was difficult, but by day 2 and 3, I had a better grasp on the trains. I didn't travel outside of Tokyo by train or bus. I spent 3 days in Tokyo and 10 days in Rausu, Hokkaido.
Melanie Chandler thanks! Definitely be getting a Suica card. I hope myself and friends can manage 😅 And I’ve seen google maps is quite good ^^ Hope we don’t get lost as we’ll be travelling from Tokyo to Osaka
Thank You for creating this video. I'll be on an 11hr layover arriving in Narita Airport by 6:45am on the 31st of Dec (Yep, New Years Eve) and not leaving until 6pm on my next flight. I plan to enter the city to visit one of the traditional attractions (probably Meiji Jingu Shrine), taking the train there and back. This has shown me what I'll be up against !
Thank you for the video! i will be in tokyo from march to may and have to transfer in shinjuku everyday to get to university. your video helped alot and answered many questions!
So my husband and I are taking our first trip to Japan this fall. We wanted to visit both Kyoto and Nara Village, but it looks like the JR pass would be the way to go for Kyoto and...how shall I say- toemo takai desu! Can you use Pasmo or Suica card to get to Nara Village? I was looking at the Pasmo Passport to see if that would work...
You can do the passport...if you’re staying in either Osaka or Kyoto while you want to visit Nara, I would recommend this instead. It’s what my wife/I did...when you arrive in Nara all local transportation is included with this pass. We originally were looking at the Kansai thru pass, but after some very helpful recommendations we ended-up getting individual passes (which included complimentary access to attractions/entrances as well as discounts for foreign visitors) costing less than the pass would have been. It boils down to convenience. If you want to only have “1” card to scan through the IC/run through the machine then go for the pass, but if you don’t mind coordinating...go for the most cost effective option with individual passes (have to put through the yellow inserts at the ticket gates and take as you walk through). Here’s the one we got for Nara: www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day2day.html
@@calculatedczar Awesome! Thank you! We ended up going with the JR pass because we decided to change up our stay to not just visit Osaka/Kyoto/Nara but to stay in Tokyo the first week and a few days, then go on to Osaka and stay there since it's centrally located to Nara and Kyoto. However, we will be using the pasmo passports as well since we need those for the metro/subway, etc.
You make a very clear explanation and great demonstration. I wish i had found your video b4 I headed to Tokyo last time. It was like a mazed and I got lost in these underground stations!
I stayed in Tokyo for a week and bought 2 3-day-pass which is only available to foreign tourists. Of course these passes are for JR only but as I was on my first trip to Tokyo, the JR line basically covers all major tourist attractions I wanted to visit.
I remember my first time going to Japan, there wasn’t any SUICA cards. So if my friends and I weren’t sure what fare to buy, we’d buy the cheapest ticket and when we’d arrive at our destination, we’d put it in the fare adjustment kiosk, pay the difference and be on our way! Times have changed for sure!
Wow!! Such an awesome video. Thank you so much. You have a great easy to follow style. I am only two weeks away from my first visit to Japan. Subscribed.
The Suica card sounds a lot like the Octopus card from Hong Kong. We used the Octopus card and it was so much easier with the different bus companies and also to load more money. We'll probably get a Suica card on our trip to Tokyo in 2020. Thanks for all the info!
Great video, you really went into such detail. But one MAJOR topic you forgot to mention is etiquette inside the train: - Don't talk on the phone. Ever. - Switch phones to silent mode. That means no music, no games, no notification alerts. - Don't eat or drink. - Don't blow your nose. - Don't man-spread. You could probably make a whole new video about these and other "rules" of train etiquette!
@@redfish337 My bad. I didn't mean that you can't do those things at all, just that you have to do them silently in consideration of other passengers, unlike in other countries. For example in London, people on trains and buses will talk on their phones, play music out loud or constantly let notification sounds come from their phones, but in Japan this is an absolute no-no.
Thank you. This video was really helpful. My plan is to buy both a SUICA card and a 72 hour subway pass. I think if I have a route that uses both the subway and the Yamanote line I can use my subway pass, exit, and then use my SUICA card to get on/off the Yamanote line.
Finding out which direction a train will be heading is a difficult task even for a Japan born guy like myself because destination stations shown in electric boards are often unfamiliar city or town to me. This is because many commuting trains start from near by prefecture and go to another near by prefecture through Tokyo. Unless you are commuting with these trains, you have no idea where these destinations are. So, I always ask a passenger if the train will go to the station I want to go and stop there before getting in.
Hi Chris, thank you so much for this amazing tip ! It makes more sense to ride the subway in Tokyo now, and hopefully it will be lot easier in the future.. 😊
Hi Chris. Great useful information. I went thru Shinjuku Station when they were doing some renovations and got totally lost. I want to go on the Yamanote Loop one day. I did go on the Osaka Kanjo Loop that goes around Osaka Castle and it was a nice ride.
That is a great video - thank you very much. I understand how the bullet trains work and have purchased a JR Pass for 14 days of our 21 day trip coming up in October. I also understand it will benefit me to get a Suica card that I can re-charge along the way for the subway. In looking up HyperDia to get myself from Uno to Sakuragawa (Osaka) I'm just a bit confused about which pass to use where. I would reserve seats on the Sakura Shinkansen, so that part would be okay, but the itinerary shows: Uno - JR Uno-port line for Chayamachi, Chayamachi - JR Marine Liner 44 for Okayama, Okayama - Shinkansen Sakura 558, Shin-Osaka - JR Kyoto Line Rapid Service for Aboshi, Osaka - arrival track 5 then walk to Umeda Subway - Umeda (Subway) Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line for Tennoji, Namba (Subway) Osaka City Subway Sennichimae Line for Nodahanshin, Sakuragawa (Osaka). I was hoping to take the 15:42 from Uno as I will have a suitcase and want to try and avoid the worst of rush hour. In looking at Hyperdia - are only the trains marked as either JR Uno-port Line/JR Marine Liner/Shinkansen Sakura/JR Kyoto Line Rapid Service accessed by the JR Pass and and all the others paid for by the Suica card? Sorry it's such a long question!
Hi, I don't have your exact itinerary, so... this will just be my interpretation of a possible itinerary. You start in Uno, presumably getting off of a ferry from Shikoku or a cruise through Setouchi. You show the attendant at Uno Station your JR Pass. You get on the Uno-port line. Now, there are two kinds of trains here. Some trains go direct to Okayama. And some go to Chayamachi. If you can get on a train that just goes straight to Okayama, take it! Not transferring costs you 7 minutes. Transferring means you probably lose your seat and add extra ways to screw things up- keep it simple if possible! But if the schedule doesn't allow it, you'll have to transfer at Chayamachi. At Chayamachi, you can either take the JR Seto-Ohashi Line or the JR Marine Liner. The JR Marine liner is slightly faster. This train has reserved and unreserved seats. It's only about a 15 minute trip- so I wouldn't bother reserving anything- just make sure you get in an unreserved car. The Seto-Ohashi Line is a 20 minute trip... if it leaves first, take it instead since the difference is negligible. Arriving at Okayama, you will likely have to pass another ticket gate to enter the shinkansen line area. So show your pass again. You will get on a Sakura Shinkansen. This is a 45 minute journey. You can reserve a ticket if you like. For only a 45 minute trip it may not be worth the hassle. If the line doesn't look very long, then reserve one in advance, as there are few sakura shinkansen so they have a higher chance of selling out than other trains and these are twice as fast as kodama shinkansen on this route, so you definitely want the sakura. However, there are several unreserved cars on each sakura shinkansen- if the line to reserve is long or you don't get around to it, just get in an unreserved car. There are usually enough seats anyway and in any case it's only a 45 minute trip. At Shin-Osaka, you will exit the shinkansen portion, again showing your pass. NOW, we come to our next decision. Faster, or free? (there's an intermediate choice as well, which seems to be the one on your itinerary... but I'll omit since savings are minimal vs increased pain in the butt, IMHO) At Shin-Osaka, we can take either the Midosuji Subway Line or the JR Line. The Midosuji Line will cost 280 yen because it's a subway line, and not covered. You would use a suica card, or buy a day pass. Depending on where you're actually staying, you either get off at Namba, or transfer at Namba to Sennichimae Line, and get off at Sakuragawa. ALTERNATIVELY, you can take a JR Kyoto line to Osaka, then the Osaka Loop Line to Imamiya or Shin-Imamiya, and then the JR Yamatoji Line 1-2 more stops to JR Namba. This station is about 500 meters from Sakuragawa- and depending on where you're actually going, may be about as close anyway. This route would be free with JR Pass, but since you are taking a loop line instead of a direct route, and the JR Yamatoji local service can be fairly rare, this route can take a lot longer For reference, the JR route takes about 25-40 minutes from Shin-Osaka to JR Namba, depending on if the trains line up right or not, and would be free. The subway takes about 20-25 minutes, for 280 yen. The exits are again, about 500 meters apart, so your actual lodging location is probably a factor in your choice.
BTW, Taisho Station on the Osaka Loop Line may also be a valid free exit point and much less of a hassle to get to than JR-Namba. I assumed you're on the Namba side because that's the tourist area, but if you're to the west, Taisho may be preferred. Again, it just all depends on what your actual location is.
redfish337 Thanks for the tip about Taisho Station. My Airbnb is near to Namba and they list it as part of their directions for finding the apartment, so that's why I included it. I will consult the maps more closely to see if there are any work-arounds for that!
Yeah, you'll have to check where you're actually staying. Accommodations list their closest station- not necessarily the best one for everyone. West of Sakuragawa is already getting pretty far out from Namba though, so I'd be surprised if that's actually your best station. I'd imagine it would be Sakuragawa or one of the Namba Stations. But again, I don't have the address so it's up to you to decide. Good luck!
Well done, and instructive info, about trains and subway trials and tribulations/movements around Tokyo -- thanks as I will be in Tokyo Apr. 3, 2019 and travelling Japan solo for up to 5-6 weeks and then onward to ... Taiwan and more/less? Will be buying JRPass for 21 days and a Suica card for getting around metro Tokyo (also a SIM card for 30+ days/data and internet) from my Shibuya hostel (Ottawa Canada native). Ginza, alleyways, temples/pagodas, cherry blossoms, onsens, hanami, sushi, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Kinosaki, Osaka, Kagoshima by JR pass .... and much, much more. Sure to still encounter troubles but, at least I am now better armed.
The problem I had a few years ago while in Tokyo was finding which exit to go out once you get out of the train. Tokyo station especially has so many exits.
Absolutely agree on the exits being confusing! I had the trouble at Shinjuku station... my hotel was out of the "Southern Terrace Exit" so I saw an exit that said "South Exit" -- gee that must be the same! Well it turns out it's like a 20 minute walk from the "South Exit" to the "Southern Terrace Exit" -- and then there's also the "New South Exit" -- gotta love it :)
When I am a tourist in Tokyo, I enjoy riding the trains during rush hour once or twice. It is amusing for me to watch the Tokyoites on their way to work when I am not on my way to work. Is this cruel? Maybe.
hi. One thing I was looking for and probably was missed in your video was the fact that subway platforms in Japan have indicators that show what a specific train door is close to when it stops at different stations. So for example you are traveling from Ueno to Ikebokuro on the Yamanote, you would know using the guide in Ueno station what gate is close to a specific train door when it arrives at ikebukuro station for reasons like going out to a specific landmark or transferring to another line.
Want to know whether you should buy a Japan Railways JR Pass? Watch my video all about the JR Pass: th-cam.com/video/ONgDZ_VhWXc/w-d-xo.html
Hands down no app beats google maps for navigating and finding your metro in Tokyo. I used it exclusively while there and was amazed at how in sync it was with the metro schedule (to the second), even telling you what platform to go to.
Agreed.
Without Google Maps, Google Translate, and a currency translator app, I would have been hopelessly lost in a day.
I am a Tokyo native and think your explanation is very easy to understand and helpful for visitors from overseas. Thank you very much.
+kagonaka Thanks Kagonaka! I appreciate the kind words!
Can I visit your house?
@@williamjames4031 hahaha
so what time does stations and trains and transport start operating? as I would like to wake really early so dont catch up the rush time may be 6am but I dont know what time do they open, thank you!!
WYP MUSIC has
Just go back from two weeks in Japan. Rode the Shinkasen, the Yamonite line and many others. Thank you for the detailed explanations on how to buy tickets and ride the trains. Also, thank you for your guides to Osaka and Kyoto. It was not as intimidating as I thought it might be. Signs are in English and people are friendly and helpful.
Thanks Al!
So many railway companies and metro companies and so many passes...I always got anxiety when I'm searching for transport info
this video is really a savior thanks!!
Thanks Lola!
OMG, I love how you explained the transfer process!
I have been asking this for the past months because I'm going to Tokyo alone this Wednesday.
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THAT EXPLANATION. ❤
+SPIDER LILIEZ Thanks Spider! I hope you have a great trip!
How was your trip? I went last March with a group I want to go next year by myself. Im a woman... how safe was it?
When from at there
Will be going to Tokyo on a self-help trip next month for the first time (second time actually but the first time was many decades ago with a tour group) so this is my first lesson to prep for my trip to the Land of the Rising Sun :) THANKS for the detailed rundown of repertoire I need!
Thanks Will! I hope you enjoy Tokyo!
Another tip for riding. As a tourist you're likely to have a backpack. If you take it off and hold it by your feet while riding it will take up less room and your less likely to hit someone with it. Also with the IC cards don't forget they cost 500 yen but when you leave you can give the card back and get that 500 yen back.
+Phil Nolan Great tip on the backpack and getting your money back.. thanks!
If you're a backpacker, it can't be helped really... but I do definitely recommend a messenger bag rather than backpack. Besides it being what the people there actually use, it's a lot more maneuverable- you can quickly pull it from behind you to in front of you. And people are generally using their bags, purses and briefcases as personal space buffers anyway. Backpacks take too much space though, and if on both shoulders, won't easily yield when you come into contact with someone, giving you that leverage that risks whacking someone quite hard. If you twist into someone with a messenger bag, the bag just moves.
+redfish337 That's a great tip too!
Phil Nolan would say IC card is better than Suica card?
Suica Card is an IC card. Suica is the company or brand. IC is a type of card. IC Card in japan consist of Suica, Pasmo, Icaco, etc. All work the same so it doesnt matter which one u get.
thank you so much, we are visiting japan for the first time and we're very nervous for riding public transportations in japan and you're very helpful! thank you so much!
No worries!
It does look intimidating, but I couldn't believe how easy it was in reality! Downloading the English language app for the underground is absolutely essential IMO. Makes everything so simple.
Good tip on the mobile app!
Hey dude what is the name of that app
The one for the Tokyo Metro is called "tokyosubway" (it's an official app by Tokyo metro). It's pretty good...you can also use Google Maps to plan out trip itineraries too, that's what I did when I went last year.
Really appreciate your videos on Japan. Leaving for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto in three weeks. I have traveled a lot in Europe and ridden the rails there but Japan is a whole different animal. This one in particular really explained the basics. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks.
The Japan subway system seems so intimidating compared to when I used the subway system in Korea. Got to keep looking up videos to make sure I'm ready. Thank you for the helpful information 🤗
Now that you've seen this video I'm sure you'll be ready! :)
Your channel is very good and we discover many things about culture and tips. I'm from Brazil and I will planned to visit Japan in end of May and I will stay there for around 20 days.
Thanks Laeciro! Enjoy Japan!
Domo arigato gomashita.
Very informative & well presented, word by word 👍
Good Day
Thank you for your tips. My sister and I took my niece to school to Japan in October 2018. She lives in Hana Koganei and we stayed in Nishishinjuku . Her school was in Takadanoba. So we had to navigate getting to her house and her school. We had to use several lines the Jr , Yamanato and Toei Odeo Line. We spent so much money buying individual tickets. While at the the train station we saw the suica and pasmo cards to buy but we did not know we could use on all the different lines. we are going back in March 2019 and will definitely purchase while using the subway. This time we get to do more sightseeing and want to go to Mount Fuji and Kyoto. Will buy the JR Rail pass.. thanks for the video very helpful. We did get lost in the train stations.
Hopefully for your return trip you won't get lost this time! :)
It WORKS on everything, but transferring train companies really adds up. That's why all the Waseda kids living along Seibu Shinjuku walk to 'Baba despite it being about a mile/1.5 km. If you're a tourist you can usually get away with using JR pass when it's still active, or Tokyo Metro/TOEI passes, but since she's living on a pretty pure commuter line that tourists wouldn't be expected to take, there's not much that can be done to help that. It'll at least save you the trouble of buying individual tickets.
@@redfish337 is suica available to use in other line other than JR? like tokyo metro - ginza line and yurikamome line?
@@raxhelraven All the IC cards have been interconnected at this point and basically all do the same thing. (possible minor exceptions).
So suica and pasmo both work on all of the lines within Tokyo- get whichever, they do the same thing.
The small advantage of pasmo is you can return it with no charge. But if you plan on keeping it forever anyway, then they are basically equivalent.
(some offer some minor point card cash back type benefits, so if you are a local using the train often you may want to examine that- tourists won't hit any breakpoints to get anything out of it though).
Basically every company (or groups of companies) had their own card. Tokyo and Osaka has pretty much been interconnected for over a decade. Most everything else took a little bit longer. I'm not aware of any more exceptions, but it's possible some private lines still do not accept IC cards (or only the regional one). Before I used to always have to say that the Hiroshima Cable Cars (de facto transportation in Hiroshima) only accepted the local card, but that's been changed within the last few years.
This is the best, most thorough explanation! Thank you!
Traveled there with my family at the start of the year! And I have to agree the maps can be intimidating at the start, but it starts to grow on you after a couple of train rides. Anyways great video keep it up!
+Kevin West Thanks Kevin!
I found Yellow Productions Singapore videos super helpful. Now that I'm going to Japan I've got to watch ALL the Yellow Production videos on Japan.
Awesome! Thanks Steven!
Man thank you so much for the Info that you provide for people.
My pleasure Bob!
Perfect video to watch before going to tokyo.
Ah this was so useful! I had no idea how complicated it was until now lol
We watched this video on our last day in Tokyo. Wishing we would have watched it before we came to Tokyo. Great explanations!
Thanks Debbie! Sorry TH-cam didn't recommend it to you sooner 😉
This is the most comprehensive and well explained video on the topic of trains. I will apply for the JRpass in the US and get the SUICA card on arrival. I think that I can at least find the station, but with all of the tracks and platforms, I fear that I will be a regular visitor to the attendant's booth. Thank you for posting such a good video. Hope that it still applies in 2023. I will know in 2 weeks.
Thanks r g! Yup.. still all applies!
Can't wait I be there in October
pretty handy stuff to know, I've got a trip coming up in about two months and I feel more at ease about getting through train stations after watching this.
Enjoy Tokyo Daniel!
I must say, out of all the videos I've watched on youtube your vid was the most helpful. I've been planning a trip and the transportation was definitely my biggest concern. Thanks for sharing!
+Zelle OnTheGO Awwww... Thanks Zelle!
The best and most useful video we’ve seen. Thank you!
Thanks KM!
Extremely helpful video since we will be going to Japan in three weeks and your video answered EXACTLY all the questions that I had about JR, Suica etc. I also didn't know you could just show your pass to a human with the JR pass. I would have looked pretty stupid trying to shove the pass into the turnstile!!
this was very comprehensive and easy to understand. the etiquette part is very good to share!
Thanks Betty!
This was very helpful. Grabbing a Suica card asap. Its essentially the Presto card that i use on the subways in Toronto. Thank you sir!
i live here and this video probably even helps me haha. ya tokyo and shinjuku station can be crazy. like i said, i live here and i even have a hard time sometimes. but now i know those two stations like the back of my hand. just to add, might not be train related but the Suica/ Pasmo cards can also be used as cash card. so you can use it to buy drinks on the vending machine or even pay for things on the register at a convenience store, that is if you have a lot of cash stored in it. so thats another benefit of the suica card.
I used Suica when I was there. Picked it up at the airport. Even used it to buy stuff from vending machines!
Thanks Jaysato! Great tip on using Suica as a cash card! It is nice to be able to use it at convenience stores and not have to carry a whole bunch of small coins around.
I love the vending machines in Japan too! :)
jaysato hello.
I plan to travel on the Chuo Rapid line shinjuku to Tokyo station.
do you know if the trains will be very crowded if I travel around 6:30 a.m. on a weekday with my luggage?
on a week day around that time probably might not be that bad. probably around 7am or a bit after would be the rush hour. most of the trains around that time will be crowded for sure.
Thank you for the video, going to Japan in November ❤
This was so helpful! I am planning my first trip to Japan. I consider the planning a part of the journey, a part that I thoroughly enjoy. But for subway systems which are my own personal kryptonite, as it were. Not planes, buses nor automobiles. Just subway systems. It stresses me out greatly. This video really set my mind at ease. I can do this!
My boyfriend and I are going to Japan February 2019. Thank you for the great tips. Your video is a definite in my arsenal of " Japan travel videos". Good job!
Melanie Chandler hi. I’m going in October. Was the trains easy to navigate?
@@jar13lucky I wouldn't say it was easy. It was manageable. Definitely buy a Suica or Pasmo for your Tokyo trains. I used Google maps. There was free wifi at each station that I used. Google maps gave a choice of train routes, times of each train, length of trip, cost of trip, and which platform. Day 1 in Tokyo was difficult, but by day 2 and 3, I had a better grasp on the trains.
I didn't travel outside of Tokyo by train or bus. I spent 3 days in Tokyo and 10 days in Rausu, Hokkaido.
Melanie Chandler thanks! Definitely be getting a Suica card. I hope myself and friends can manage 😅 And I’ve seen google maps is quite good ^^ Hope we don’t get lost as we’ll be travelling from Tokyo to Osaka
Thank you so much for going through all these details!
Thank you..this was very helpful...I'm going to Tokyo this year by myself & I'm a little nervous but this video helped a lot😊
Thanks Sharonda! Enjoy Tokyo!
Thank You for creating this video.
I'll be on an 11hr layover arriving in Narita Airport by 6:45am on the 31st of Dec (Yep, New Years Eve) and not leaving until 6pm on my next flight. I plan to enter the city to visit one of the traditional attractions (probably Meiji Jingu Shrine), taking the train there and back.
This has shown me what I'll be up against !
Enjoy your 11 hours in Tokyo!
Thank you for the video! i will be in tokyo from march to may and have to transfer in shinjuku everyday to get to university. your video helped alot and answered many questions!
+KKaitoJeanne Awesome. Thanks!
So my husband and I are taking our first trip to Japan this fall. We wanted to visit both Kyoto and Nara Village, but it looks like the JR pass would be the way to go for Kyoto and...how shall I say- toemo takai desu! Can you use Pasmo or Suica card to get to Nara Village? I was looking at the Pasmo Passport to see if that would work...
You can do the passport...if you’re staying in either Osaka or Kyoto while you want to visit Nara, I would recommend this instead. It’s what my wife/I did...when you arrive in Nara all local transportation is included with this pass. We originally were looking at the Kansai thru pass, but after some very helpful recommendations we ended-up getting individual passes (which included complimentary access to attractions/entrances as well as discounts for foreign visitors) costing less than the pass would have been. It boils down to convenience. If you want to only have “1” card to scan through the IC/run through the machine then go for the pass, but if you don’t mind coordinating...go for the most cost effective option with individual passes (have to put through the yellow inserts at the ticket gates and take as you walk through). Here’s the one we got for Nara: www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day2day.html
@@calculatedczar Awesome! Thank you! We ended up going with the JR pass because we decided to change up our stay to not just visit Osaka/Kyoto/Nara but to stay in Tokyo the first week and a few days, then go on to Osaka and stay there since it's centrally located to Nara and Kyoto. However, we will be using the pasmo passports as well since we need those for the metro/subway, etc.
@@maureenseel118 no bad options...Japan has really laid out everything very well. Enjoy your trip to the fullest
Going to Tokyo next week. Thank you for this! 💜
My pleasure nochaser!
Great tips, thank you. Can’t wait to start my trip in Tokyo!
Thanks! Enjoy your trip!
A very informative video. Thank you. Just what I was looking for.
Thanks Rob!
Very good video. I am still nervous about my upcoming first trip to Japan, but your video helped alleviate some stress!!!
This video Was incredibly helpful, thank you so very much for making it!
My pleasure Ash Catchem!
3:32 Hello Christopher! At date of 2016-04-09 to 04-23 we were in Japan too!!! I had a big smile i saw your Arch Pass...
Neat!
You make a very clear explanation and great demonstration. I wish i had found your video b4 I headed to Tokyo last time. It was like a mazed and I got lost in these underground stations!
I stayed in Tokyo for a week and bought 2 3-day-pass which is only available to foreign tourists. Of course these passes are for JR only but as I was on my first trip to Tokyo, the JR line basically covers all major tourist attractions I wanted to visit.
This is a really informative video, and also gives me a newfound appreciation for how simple the London Underground fare system is.
Thanks Harry!
I have my first trip to Tokyo coming up in April so this video and a lot of your other ones have been very helpful!
Have subscribed x
+Cliffy D Awesome! Thanks Cliffy! I hope you have a great time in Tokyo!
Same here! Leaving the 30th of April. I have an itinerary set up. Only thing I'm concerned about is using the trains. Good Luck on your trip.
ill be there as well for two weeks at the end of april, this helped me alot!
I remember my first time going to Japan, there wasn’t any SUICA cards. So if my friends and I weren’t sure what fare to buy, we’d buy the cheapest ticket and when we’d arrive at our destination, we’d put it in the fare adjustment kiosk, pay the difference and be on our way! Times have changed for sure!
Wow!! Such an awesome video. Thank you so much. You have a great easy to follow style. I am only two weeks away from my first visit to Japan. Subscribed.
Thanks Clayton! I hope you have a great trip to Japan!
The Suica card sounds a lot like the Octopus card from Hong Kong. We used the Octopus card and it was so much easier with the different bus companies and also to load more money. We'll probably get a Suica card on our trip to Tokyo in 2020. Thanks for all the info!
Love this Video- thanks for putting this together- so informative and helpful.
Thanks Bron!
Very helpful. The detail is much appreciated! Thanks
My pleasure Prateek!
Thank you so much I did a lot of research for this but I was still confused before I saw your video!
Hopefully my video helped! :)
Awesome!! I am going on a holiday in Tokyo next month. This was the information that I needed.
Thanks Rob! I hope you have a great trip to Tokyo!
Thanks for a great video and resource! I'm going to Japan in 2019!
Thanks Badado! Enjoy your trip to Tokyo!
thank you! very good video. lucky that I am already used to Berlin S- and Sub- rails, The Tokyo rail map doesn't scare me too much anymore hahaha
I wonder if something has changed since this was recorded. Anyhow, I loved this video, so useful, thanks!
It's all pretty much the same. Only new twist is you can use a suica card with Apple Pay
@@YellowProductions awesome, thank you!
Wow.. Great sharing on the rail pass. I had quite hard time trying to understand but after watching t
Your video definitely help me a lot.
Thank you for the tips. Just wanna let you know that your channel is awesome. Keep it up!
Great video, you really went into such detail. But one MAJOR topic you forgot to mention is etiquette inside the train:
- Don't talk on the phone. Ever.
- Switch phones to silent mode. That means no music, no games, no notification alerts.
- Don't eat or drink.
- Don't blow your nose.
- Don't man-spread.
You could probably make a whole new video about these and other "rules" of train etiquette!
It means headphones, not no music or no games.
@@redfish337
My bad. I didn't mean that you can't do those things at all, just that you have to do them silently in consideration of other passengers, unlike in other countries. For example in London, people on trains and buses will talk on their phones, play music out loud or constantly let notification sounds come from their phones, but in Japan this is an absolute no-no.
Thank you. This video was really helpful.
My plan is to buy both a SUICA card and a 72 hour subway pass. I think if I have a route that uses both the subway and the Yamanote line I can use my subway pass, exit, and then use my SUICA card to get on/off the Yamanote line.
Yup! Sure can!
Finding out which direction a train will be heading is a difficult task even for a Japan born guy like myself because destination stations shown in electric boards are often unfamiliar city or town to me. This is because many commuting trains start from near by prefecture and go to another near by prefecture through Tokyo. Unless you are commuting with these trains, you have no idea where these destinations are. So, I always ask a passenger if the train will go to the station I want to go and stop there before getting in.
+づんく Dzunku Great tip! Thanks! I guess you just have to hope the people on the train actually know :)
My brain is going to explode.. if I went to Japan I am definitely in my apartment waiting for my end of the visit.
😂😂😂, me too. I need to travel long distance only, from NY to Tokyo! 😁
Thank you for making this video, very informative and well explained.
My pleasure jeplan! Thanks for the note!
Loved your explanation. You made it seem a little less confusing. Thank you very much 😃
Thanks Catharina!
Very useful video, thanks a Lot for taking your time doing it :)
My pleasure Laura!
Just love your videos men ..this will help me on my upcoming trip
Awesome Paolo!
Great content and very detailed, thank you. Any tips though for families with babies and strollers re: travelling w the trains etc?
Oooh. Thats tough in Tokyo because there are very few elevators. They exist. But there aren't many
Wish we had seen this video before we went you explain things so well!!
+theuniplex Thanks theuniplex!
great video super informative
Glad it was helpful!
going to tokyo next week - thank you! x
Hi Chris, thank you so much for this amazing tip ! It makes more sense to ride the subway in Tokyo now, and hopefully it will be lot easier in the future.. 😊
+Jo Jo Awesome! Glad I could help :)
Thanks for the helpful tips!
My pleasure Jer!
Great Video. Thank you so very much for being so clear and direct, the best Tokyo trains/subway information I got.
This is an extremely well done. Thank you!
Thanks Andrew!
Thanks so much! I just booked a trip to Tokyo so I’m excited and this video and many others is very helpful
Hi Chris. Great useful information. I went thru Shinjuku Station when they were doing some renovations and got totally lost. I want to go on the Yamanote Loop one day. I did go on the Osaka Kanjo Loop that goes around Osaka Castle and it was a nice ride.
The Yamanote line is a classic!
7:40 I think you got confused. The Chuo Main Line is coloured blue. The one coloured orange is the Chuo Line (Rapid). Yellow is for the Chuo-Sobu Line
+FrostyCreeper10 Thanks! Maybe I did! I usually take the Chuo Rapid :)
Great video it's amazing how easy they are to travel around the city
Thanks Traveling Breeze! Tokyo is an amazing city to travel around!
Very good guide thank you so much. Will check out others.
Thanks Gay!
Great video, very informative. Great job!!!!!
Thanks Yohanan!
fantastic explanation. thankk you so much
My pleasure Farida!
Extremely helpful, thank you
Thanks Drinky!
That is a great video - thank you very much. I understand how the bullet trains work and have purchased a JR Pass for 14 days of our 21 day trip coming up in October. I also understand it will benefit me to get a Suica card that I can re-charge along the way for the subway. In looking up HyperDia to get myself from Uno to Sakuragawa (Osaka) I'm just a bit confused about which pass to use where. I would reserve seats on the Sakura Shinkansen, so that part would be okay, but the itinerary shows: Uno - JR Uno-port line for Chayamachi, Chayamachi - JR Marine Liner 44 for Okayama, Okayama - Shinkansen Sakura 558, Shin-Osaka - JR Kyoto Line Rapid Service for Aboshi, Osaka - arrival track 5 then walk to Umeda Subway - Umeda (Subway) Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line for Tennoji, Namba (Subway) Osaka City Subway Sennichimae Line for Nodahanshin, Sakuragawa (Osaka). I was hoping to take the 15:42 from Uno as I will have a suitcase and want to try and avoid the worst of rush hour. In looking at Hyperdia - are only the trains marked as either JR Uno-port Line/JR Marine Liner/Shinkansen Sakura/JR Kyoto Line Rapid Service accessed by the JR Pass and and all the others paid for by the Suica card? Sorry it's such a long question!
Hi, I don't have your exact itinerary, so... this will just be my interpretation of a possible itinerary.
You start in Uno, presumably getting off of a ferry from Shikoku or a cruise through Setouchi.
You show the attendant at Uno Station your JR Pass.
You get on the Uno-port line.
Now, there are two kinds of trains here. Some trains go direct to Okayama. And some go to Chayamachi. If you can get on a train that just goes straight to Okayama, take it! Not transferring costs you 7 minutes. Transferring means you probably lose your seat and add extra ways to screw things up- keep it simple if possible!
But if the schedule doesn't allow it, you'll have to transfer at Chayamachi. At Chayamachi, you can either take the JR Seto-Ohashi Line or the JR Marine Liner. The JR Marine liner is slightly faster. This train has reserved and unreserved seats. It's only about a 15 minute trip- so I wouldn't bother reserving anything- just make sure you get in an unreserved car. The Seto-Ohashi Line is a 20 minute trip... if it leaves first, take it instead since the difference is negligible.
Arriving at Okayama, you will likely have to pass another ticket gate to enter the shinkansen line area. So show your pass again.
You will get on a Sakura Shinkansen. This is a 45 minute journey. You can reserve a ticket if you like. For only a 45 minute trip it may not be worth the hassle. If the line doesn't look very long, then reserve one in advance, as there are few sakura shinkansen so they have a higher chance of selling out than other trains and these are twice as fast as kodama shinkansen on this route, so you definitely want the sakura. However, there are several unreserved cars on each sakura shinkansen- if the line to reserve is long or you don't get around to it, just get in an unreserved car. There are usually enough seats anyway and in any case it's only a 45 minute trip.
At Shin-Osaka, you will exit the shinkansen portion, again showing your pass.
NOW, we come to our next decision. Faster, or free? (there's an intermediate choice as well, which seems to be the one on your itinerary... but I'll omit since savings are minimal vs increased pain in the butt, IMHO)
At Shin-Osaka, we can take either the Midosuji Subway Line or the JR Line.
The Midosuji Line will cost 280 yen because it's a subway line, and not covered. You would use a suica card, or buy a day pass. Depending on where you're actually staying, you either get off at Namba, or transfer at Namba to Sennichimae Line, and get off at Sakuragawa.
ALTERNATIVELY, you can take a JR Kyoto line to Osaka, then the Osaka Loop Line to Imamiya or Shin-Imamiya, and then the JR Yamatoji Line 1-2 more stops to JR Namba. This station is about 500 meters from Sakuragawa- and depending on where you're actually going, may be about as close anyway. This route would be free with JR Pass, but since you are taking a loop line instead of a direct route, and the JR Yamatoji local service can be fairly rare, this route can take a lot longer
For reference, the JR route takes about 25-40 minutes from Shin-Osaka to JR Namba, depending on if the trains line up right or not, and would be free. The subway takes about 20-25 minutes, for 280 yen. The exits are again, about 500 meters apart, so your actual lodging location is probably a factor in your choice.
BTW, Taisho Station on the Osaka Loop Line may also be a valid free exit point and much less of a hassle to get to than JR-Namba. I assumed you're on the Namba side because that's the tourist area, but if you're to the west, Taisho may be preferred. Again, it just all depends on what your actual location is.
redfish337 Thanks for the tip about Taisho Station. My Airbnb is near to Namba and they list it as part of their directions for finding the apartment, so that's why I included it. I will consult the maps more closely to see if there are any work-arounds for that!
Yeah, you'll have to check where you're actually staying. Accommodations list their closest station- not necessarily the best one for everyone. West of Sakuragawa is already getting pretty far out from Namba though, so I'd be surprised if that's actually your best station. I'd imagine it would be Sakuragawa or one of the Namba Stations. But again, I don't have the address so it's up to you to decide. Good luck!
Great video, nice info, going to Japan on February 2019
Great video and advice
Very helpful, thank you for the tips...
My pleasure! Thanks Nita!
Well done, and instructive info, about trains and subway trials and tribulations/movements around Tokyo -- thanks as I will be in Tokyo Apr. 3, 2019 and travelling Japan solo for up to 5-6 weeks and then onward to ... Taiwan and more/less? Will be buying JRPass for 21 days and a Suica card for getting around metro Tokyo (also a SIM card for 30+ days/data and internet) from my Shibuya hostel (Ottawa Canada native). Ginza, alleyways, temples/pagodas, cherry blossoms, onsens, hanami, sushi, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Kinosaki, Osaka, Kagoshima by JR pass .... and much, much more. Sure to still encounter troubles but, at least I am now better armed.
I will see if this really help me since im going next week..
Let me know if it did help ika ika!
You are the man! Very well done and thank you for the valuable video.
Thanks Ed!
Very informative
Thanks Sally!
very nice explanation👍
Thanks!
The problem I had a few years ago while in Tokyo was finding which exit to go out once you get out of the train. Tokyo station especially has so many exits.
Absolutely agree on the exits being confusing! I had the trouble at Shinjuku station... my hotel was out of the "Southern Terrace Exit" so I saw an exit that said "South Exit" -- gee that must be the same! Well it turns out it's like a 20 minute walk from the "South Exit" to the "Southern Terrace Exit" -- and then there's also the "New South Exit" -- gotta love it :)
Got a tip about riding the trains and subway in Tokyo that I missed? Leave a comment and let your fellow travelers know!
Great training aid for my upcoming trip!
+Aaron L. Thanks Aaron!
When I am a tourist in Tokyo, I enjoy riding the trains during rush hour once or twice. It is amusing for me to watch the Tokyoites on their way to work when I am not on my way to work. Is this cruel? Maybe.
hi.
One thing I was looking for and probably was missed in your video was the fact that subway platforms in Japan have indicators that show what a specific train door is close to when it stops at different stations. So for example you are traveling from Ueno to Ikebokuro on the Yamanote, you would know using the guide in Ueno station what gate is close to a specific train door when it arrives at ikebukuro station for reasons like going out to a specific landmark or transferring to another line.
+Needto Know Good addition! Thanks! That is one thing that I've pretty much only seen in Japan :).
Yellow Productions according to other TH-cam videos I've seen, a Japanese housewife came up with the idea
It's a pretty neat idea! Leave to the Japanese to be super efficient :)
You can you do a video on hotels in Tokyo and the different price ranges with the amenities?