Tips for Getting Around in Japan

The sight of a Westerner squinting at a self-service kiosk in a Japanese subway station with a confused look on his face is not an uncommon one. Japan boasts one of the world's best public transportation systems, but many visitors find that system confusing because until recently, the Japanese public transportation network was designed with no thought to assisting foreign visitors.

The main complicating factor is Japanese script, the logographic kanji. In destinations from Argentina to Vietnam, a visitor can usually muddle through the public transportation network without knowing the local language by referring to place names. It was only in recent years, however, that the Japanese began posting signs with place names in both Japanese kanji and Latin script, or installing vending machines programmed to operate in foreign languages. This adaptation is far from universal, and even in bustling Tokyo, older signs and ticketing machines remain in place in less-traveled stations.

Work With People, Avoid Machines
The best way to avoid finding yourself in a confusing situation and without linguistic support is to plan ahead and transact all foreseeable transportation business with a real person. Most major Japanese train and subway stations have a travel services office, usually in the from of a green-bordered counter or a desk with a green sign.

The staff at the green travel office might not speak English, and even if a member of the staff has studied some English, that person might have difficulty understanding your accent (a common problem among the Japanese). Always carry a pad and a pen around, since writing train and place names down is usually the best way to make yourself understood.

Of course, major stations are also where you are most likely to find English-language ticketing machines, but it is best to stick with people until you understand the system. A travel service clerk will point out if you need seat reservations and additional points common in train travel, but usually missed by confused and harried tourists.

Carry Cash
A further complication is that many older train and subway ticket vending machines, including some with English-language capability, do not accept debit or credit cards. Always a cash reserve large enough to cover your transportation expenses.

Reading a Metro Map
A useful trick for reading a Japanese metro system map is to use its codes, rather than its place names. Tokyo's subway system is organized so that every subway line has a color and a Latin script letter code, and every station has a number. Other systems in Japan have a similar arrangement. Signs with this code system are posted in every station, even where older signs in kanji remain. Other Japanese subways use a similar system, so linguistic hazards can be avoided simply by thinking "I'm taking the M train to station 16" instead of "I'm taking the Marunouchi line to the Ginza."