How to Take the Train in Japan
Knowing how to ride a train in Japan is an important thing to know when we want to travel to the Land of Sakura.
This mode of transportation is very reliable for exploring various prefectures and is a cheaper option than transportation such as taxis or online taxis.
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However, some stations in Japan, especially in big cities, are very busy, especially during peak hours, such as commuting to and from work.
For that, make sure you know the basics about how to ride trains in Japan so you don't get confused when traveling.
How to ride the train in Japan
Here are the steps on how to ride trains in Japan that you can practice:
1. Set goals
Before boarding, make sure we have set the destination to be addressed, especially for beginners.
Because, although riding the train in Japan is very practical and easy, taking the wrong train will waste time, causing our trip to be not optimal.
In addition, some large stations have multiple routes, so it can be quite confusing to choose a boarding point if you haven't set a destination.
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Having an itinerary or itinerary will be very helpful. It's a good idea to know the itinerary before arriving in Japan, so you can prepare the travel card needed when you get there.
For example, if you are in Tokyo and plan to go to Shibuya, then make sure you line up to take the train to Shibuya. Not another route or the reverse direction.
2. Buy a travel card or ticket according to the destination
After setting a destination, make sure you buy a travel card or ticket according to your destination.
There are two card options that we can have to travel in Japan, namely the Japan Railways Pass (JR Pass) and IC Card.
JR Pass is only available for temporary visitors and is available for various regions in Japan or all of Japan.
So, you don't need to buy additional tickets, including if you want to take the Shinkansen.
However, not all stations can use the JR Pass.
In Tokyo, for example, you can't use your JR Pass to ride the Tokyo Metro Lines and Toei Subway Lines. So, another card is needed, namely an IC Card, such as Welcome Suica or Pasmo.
To make things easier, IC cards can be purchased at the arrival airport, or major stations, such as Tokyo Station. The JR Pass can be purchased online, which is then exchanged into a physical card at the arrival airport.
Welcome Suica or Pasmo can be topped up and can be used to ride the bus and shop at various outlets, such as electronic money that we have in Indonesia.
If you don't have a JR Pass or IC Card, you can also buy a one-way ticket at the machines at each station.
The trick is to find the destination station, and then buy tickets with the required amount.
If it turns out that the contents of the ticket are lacking, at the arrival station we can go to the Fare Adjustment machine to adjust the ticket according to the required rate.
3. Tap the card or enter the ticket
If you already have a JR Pass or IC Card or purchased a ticket, go to the ticket gate.
The IC Card can be tapped in the available area, while the JR Pass and IC Card can be inserted into the hole or slot provided, then will exit again at the hole on the other side of the ticket door.
4. Pay attention to signage
If you are already logged in, make sure to read the signs carefully.
No need to worry about getting lost, every train station in Japan has installed in detail every route and direction of the train.
However, make sure we remember the intended destination. Because, besides being able to ride the wrong train, we can also take the wrong direction of the train.
Almost all stations include English subtitles, making them easier to understand for tourists.
In addition to paying attention to the route and direction of the train, also make sure to read the departure time and at which point to stand while waiting for the train.
If you want to transfer to another train, be sure to read the route boards in each train car and listen to announcements.
5. Wait for the train
If you are waiting on the right track, we just have to wait for the train to arrive.
Make sure not to block the train door to let passengers get off first, and then get on.
After arriving at the destination station and about to exit, do the same as when entering, namely tap the IC Card again.
If using a JR Pass or ticket, insert it back into the hole provided. However, for a one-way pass, the ticket will no longer come out of the hole on the other side.
That's information about "how to ride the train in Japan". Hope the information is useful.