Japan tips: getting around

By the Japan Travel Costs team. Each tip links to an official or reputable source, last checked 2026-10-22. Anything we could not verify is left out or labelled. About us.

A Shinkansen bullet train waiting at a platform at Tokyo Station

Japanese trains are easy once you know a handful of rules. Most of these come straight from JR or JNTO, and the luggage one can save you a fee.

  1. 1.Book a luggage seat for big suitcases

    On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, bags with three sides totalling more than 160 cm and up to 250 cm need a reserved "seat with an oversized baggage area". It costs nothing extra on top of a reserved seat. Turn up without one and you pay a ¥1,000 baggage fee. Anything over 250 cm is not allowed on board.

    Sources: JR Central: Oversized baggage, JR West: Oversized luggage. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  2. 2.Send your bags ahead

    Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports offer luggage delivery straight to your hotel, many hotels can send bags between hotels, and some convenience stores take bags for delivery. Coin lockers at stations cover the rest.

    Source: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF). Last checked 2026-10-22.

  3. 3.Keep it quiet on trains

    Put your phone on silent, skip phone calls, and use headphones. Japanese public transport is calm, and locals notice when it is not.

    Sources: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF), JNTO: Custom and manners. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  4. 4.Only take green-plate taxis

    Licensed taxis in Japan carry green number plates. JNTO warns visitors to avoid illegal white-plate cars, known as shirotaku.

    Source: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF). Last checked 2026-10-22.

  5. 5.Look at regional passes, not just the JR Pass

    Regional passes can cover a lot of ground for less. Check exactly which lines and areas a pass covers before you board. For the national pass, run our JR Pass vs tickets calculator.

    Source: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF). Last checked 2026-10-22.

  6. 6.Pick a side for Mount Fuji

    On the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo toward Osaka, sit on the right when facing the way you are travelling. Heading back to Tokyo, sit on the left. This is a traveller tip, not an official JR statement, and the mountain is often hidden by cloud.

    Traveller tip, not from an official source. Last checked 2026-10-22.

  7. 7.Do not block the gate

    Have your IC card or ticket ready before you reach the ticket gate. Tapping and walking straight through keeps the line moving at busy stations.

    Source: JNTO: 10 Smart Travel Tips for Japan (2026 PDF). Last checked 2026-10-22.

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