Transport in Japan: public, rail, air, sea

Metro

Most subway routes in Japan are above ground. His system is complex and confusing. The largest networks with an abundance of branches are located in Tokyo and Osaka. The principles of their operation are similar. In the morning and evening hours, Japan's underground transport is overloaded. Despite the crush in the carriages, the metro is recognized as the most accessible and reliable way to travel in a metropolis.

The relatively high cost of the ticket is justified by the lack of traffic jams. It is worth taking into account the extensive system of stations. The metro is the best way to get from one end of the city to the other. Instead of the usual transfer hubs, the country has implemented special hubs that simultaneously use various types of transport in Japan. At such stations, after leaving the metro car, you can transfer to an electric train or bus.

Travel documents must be purchased at terminals and ticket offices located in the lobby. The average cost of a trip on the metro is 120 rubles. All information signs are duplicated in English. The entrance to the subway is blocked by ordinary turnstiles. To exit the lobby at the desired station, you will need to show your ticket.

Municipal message

Ground transportation in Japan is represented by regular buses. In small cities of the country they replace the metro. True, their routes are no less difficult. This is due to the fact that several operators are responsible for the transportation of passengers. The confusion arises because travel on the same route can cost differently.

The logo of the service company is printed on the bodies of the buses. Each vehicle is painted in the color of the line on which its route is located. The number and exact name of the terminal stations is indicated on a plate mounted on the windshield. In Tokyo, buses do not go long distances. The length of their journey is limited by metro stations. The cost of a ticket for land transport in Japan is approximately 100 rubles.

In populated areas of the country where there is no subway, bus traffic is regulated by zones. This division determines the cost of the trip. Up-to-date information on vehicle traffic and directions can be found at the stop information boards. During rush hour in Tokyo, buses move very slowly. They are used to cover short distances.

The movement starts at 07:00 and ends at 22:00. The stop names are in Japanese and translated into English. According to the rules, passengers enter the cabin through the front door. There is a turnstile in its opening. If you don’t have a ticket, you can purchase a pass from the driver. There are no additional sales or service fees. The ticket price is the same as in the terminal.

Transport Japan

First, I’ll tell you about the airport itself: Narita International Airport
, located in Narita, in the eastern part of Greater Tokyo, 60 km from the suburbs of Tokyo.

Narita handles most of Japan's international passenger traffic, and Narita is also a transit airport for passengers traveling from Asia to North and South America and back. The last time my neighbor during the flight was a girl who was transiting through Tokyo to Australia. It is the second busiest passenger airport in Japan, the busiest cargo airport in Japan, and the third busiest cargo airport in the world. Under Japanese law, Narita is classified as a first class airport. The size of the airport is amazing. There was a lot of controversy and unrest over the land on which the airport was located. Even people died. Currently everything has calmed down. The airport itself is divided into two terminals, which are called: 1 and 2. Terminal 1

made in the form of satellites.

The terminal is divided into North Wing, Central Building and South Wing.

Two circular satellites, Satellites 1 (gates 11-18) and 2 (gates 21-24), are connected to the North Wing, Satellite 3 (gates 26-38) is a hall connected to the Central Building, and Satellite 4 (gates 41-47) located at the far end of Satellite 3.

Check-in takes place on the fourth floor, and the waiting rooms and immigration control are on the third floor. Arriving passengers enter immigration on the second floor, then go through customs on the first floor. Most of the shops and restaurants are located on the fourth floor of the Central Building. The South Wing contains a duty free shopping area called Narita Nakamise, the largest duty free shopping area at an airport in Japan. So if you arrive by Aeroflot, you end up in the first terminal. If you are flying from Moscow JAL, then you will arrive at terminal 2. I’ll tell you more about it: Terminal 2 is divided into the main building (“honkan”) and satellites, which are built around halls with gates.

Check-in, departure halls and immigration control for arriving passengers are located on the second floor, baggage conveyors and customs are on the first. This is where the transport miracles begin: the terminals are connected by a shuttle designed by Japan Otis Elevator, which was the first vehicle of its kind in Japan. The shuttle is an unmanned, fully robotic vehicle.

It is a large transparent carriage, which, as it fills with passengers, determines that there are already enough passengers and, warning with beautiful melodic music, closes the doors. After this, SAM, without a driver, travels with passengers to the main building. You can imagine the size of at least one terminal, if you need to travel 4-5 minutes from one satellite of this terminal to the main building.

The shuttle trailer itself has large transparent windows. Since there is no driver in it, you can therefore stand at the “windshield” and enjoy the genius of Japanese engineering. Not only children, but also adults are completely delighted with this trip! When you remember the Russian airport with ancient buses, in which people are stuffed like sardines into barrels and driven along a broken runway, it becomes very sad.

The best way to get from the Airport to the city is by high-speed express trains: Narita Express

and Skyliner:

Narita Limited Express (N'EX)

- the fastest, most expensive and most convenient of the options.

What amazed me most was that 90% of the passengers on this smoking carriage were women! Moreover, unlike men, they smoked incessantly. Moreover, such rubbish (in the sense of the smell of tobacco smoke) that I could not get rid of for about a week.

In terms of comfort and speed Skyliner

Almost as good as Narita Express, it departs every 30-40 minutes from 9 am from Narita Airport station. The main disadvantage of Skyliners is that they only go to Ueno Station. If you specifically want Tokyo Station, you'll have to make a long transfer to JR Ueno Station and travel four more stops to Tokyo. Let me clarify: Ueno is also the center of Tokyo. It may happen that you don't need Tokyo Station at all. You may need it if you plan to travel further - away from Tokyo to the wide open spaces of little Japan. Skyliner trains, on the other hand, have the big advantage of being cheaper. The regular train costs 1,000 yen; the Skyliner Express requires an additional ticket, which costs 920 yen. The Skyliner takes exactly one hour to reach Ueno.

Japan's railway system is rightfully considered the safest and most punctual in the world. Railways literally run right through Japan; one gets the impression that almost the most remote village can be reached by rail. Japanese railways are omnipresent and inescapable, as integral to the Japanese landscape as Mount Fuji. Everyone has probably seen a poster, photograph or calendar where a high-speed Shinkansen train rushes past Mount Fuji at great speed.

It is unclear how Mount Fuji existed before the railroad was built at its base.

All railways in Japan are privately run. In 1987, the state-owned JNR was divided into 6 companies that became private:

— JR EAST (Eastern Railway)

- JR WEST (Western Railway)

— JR HOKKAIDO (Railways in Hokkaido

— JR KYUSHU (Railways in Kyushu)

— JR SHIKOKU (Railways in Shikoku)

— JR CENTRAL (Central Japan Railways)

Nevertheless, on both Japanese and non-Japanese maps, “JR” and “private railways” persistently appear in the legends. It is possible that this is a tribute to tradition.

Most of the railways in Japan are narrow gauge (1067 mm), in Russia such railways are. exists only on Sakhalin. A significant exception is the Shinkansen (literally "new gauge") train system, which uses the European 1435 mm gauge. All railways in Japan are electrified; there are no diesel locomotives.

Passenger trains in Japan can be divided into four categories: local trains ( local

), express trains (
rapid
), long-distance trains and Shinkansen bullet trains

Long-distance trains are not popular and are few in number. Shinkansen of the Tokaido Line,

for example, in turn they are divided into those that go with all “Shinkansen” stops (the so-called “Kodama”), those that go with almost all stops (“Hikari”), and those that go without stops or almost non-stop (“Nozomi”). A ticket for Nozomi is more expensive than for “slow” super express trains, and in real life all Nozomi still make one stop - in Nagoya.

The fare ranges from $15 to $440 depending on the travel distance and class of train. A ticket from Tokyo to Toyota City costs approx.

90 dollars. A ticket for a short distance trip can be purchased in the same way as a metro ticket - from special ticket machines. Tickets for long-distance travel are purchased at special ticket offices at large stations (in Tokyo, for example, this is Tokyo Station). The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip.

Railway stations in Japan are separated from the outside world and from railway stations of other companies by turnstile gates. To enter the station you need to buy a ticket - either to the destination station, or the cheapest ticket (in the latter case, you may have to pay extra when leaving!) At any station you can buy a ticket to any other station of the same railway. company, and at “private railways” stations you also get a ticket to many neighboring JR stations (but not vice versa!). To travel on the Shinkansen, a second ticket is required (to enter and exit the Shinkansen area). Tickets are sold both from vending machines and by cashiers who, as a rule, do not understand English at all. Above the machines hangs a diagram of the “local” zone indicating the cost of travel (local is, for example, from Kyoto to Himeji, a distance of about 200 km). The cost of a round-trip fare is exactly double the cost of a one-way fare, and the cost of a child ticket is half the cost of an adult ticket. You can buy a card for a certain amount, for example 1000 yen, 2000 yen, from which money will be withdrawn when passing through the turnstiles. You have to pay extra for the last time before leaving.

"Shinkansen"

They have their own tickets, their own stations, their own safety rules. The Shinkansen is operated by three companies: JR Central, JR West and JR East.

The Shinkansen line network consists of 6 routes: Sanyo (from Osaka to Hakata), Tokaido (from Tokyo to Osaka) and 4 radial lines diverging from Tokyo to the north and northwest. These are legally different companies, the trains never run from one line to another and are painted in different colors (exception: trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines). An interesting fact is that in Tokyo the paths of different directions are not connected, although they are neighboring.

The frequency of movement is from 15 minutes (“Tokaido”) to half an hour (“Sanye”). Trains do not operate at night (from 24:00 to 05:00). The average speed is about 200 km/h (average!), but the slightest bad weather, for example, light snow, reduces it to 30-40 km/h, and then the super express trudges slower than a local train on a parallel track. At the same time, trains are easily delayed by 20 minutes or more, and at stations the tracks and switches are sprayed with special reagents from special installations.

Super express cars are divided into general (without numbered seats) and with numbered seats (a ticket with an additional payment is required, which is checked by the conductor). It happens that people travel 200 kilometers or more while standing. Station names are announced in Japanese and English and are duplicated in the ticker. A girl with a cart is constantly scurrying back and forth, selling all sorts of snacks and drinks. It is typical that both the girl and the conductor bow when entering the carriage and politely ask the passengers to excuse them for the intrusion, and when exiting the carriage they apologize and bow again. Shinkansen and other long-distance trains usually have a car where you can buy snacks and drinks, as well as a bento box and edible omiyage (souvenirs). You can also choose to use a Western (sitting) or Japanese (squatting) toilet. Toilets and washrooms are sometimes equipped with an electronic system where water drains automatically when you move your hand in front of the remote control, and water starts flowing from the tap when you move your hand underneath it. Now you can see this in Russia, but 5-6 years ago it made an impression on all Russians.

JR trains

Electric trains run on average every 5-10 minutes. The timetables in general are rather bad for the Russian tourist: they, of course, are posted at every station, but are written exclusively in Japanese; in addition, it is almost impossible to get hold of schedules for the line (there are leaflets with schedules for each specific station, but you can only get them at that specific station. However, you can buy it in any bookstore for 5-10 dollars (depending on the format) a huge directory with a diagram of all the railways in Japan (including “private” ones) and with complete schedules for them (of course, also entirely in Japanese).

To satisfy my curiosity, I asked my translator how she manages to know this schedule at any time without carrying around a reference book of impressive size. The answer turned out to be indecently simple:

Her communicator contains a program with a schedule of all flights for all types of transport! Moreover, this schedule is adjusted in real time.

In the carriages of electric trains, citizens passengers maintain cleanliness and public order, do not smoke, do not litter and... do not give up their seats to women or the elderly.

On the platforms, by the way, they also smoke only in designated areas, but on each platform there is a kiosk (that’s what it says - kiosk!) with all sorts of food products, including the Japanese version of “Russian yogurt” - sake in appropriate packaging.

In the carriages, there are “pendants” hanging from the ceiling - handles and handrails hanging on leather straps, like in ancient trams, and advertising posters hung across the carriage. All announcements in the carriage are accompanied by a variety of music and other sound signals and are made both by the conductor in the tail carriage and by a pleasant female voice, clearly of tape-recorder origin.

Mobile phones are used exclusively in vestibules (where there is a vestibule; many cars are of the metro type, without vestibules). In many electric trains, the rear wall of the driver's cabin is transparent, which allows everyone to enjoy the views from the cabin.

In the schedule and in reality, there are quite “long-distance” trains that go from one end of the “local” zone to the other. There are specialized express trains, for example, going from Tokyo to Narita Airport (Narita Express). In them, as a rule, the seats are numbered, and tickets are sold “with a seat.” Many trains have so-called “green cars” (“green cars” - this is considered first class) - there are also seats with numbers, and an additional fee is charged for travel. It is interesting to note that, despite the fairly short traffic interval, there are still a lot of people driving, and you often have to drive while standing in the middle of the working day.

For those passengers who cannot fit themselves into a crowded carriage during rush hours, there are “pushers” at some stations. These are people who specifically “compact” passengers.

On the diagrams of the suburban area, all lines have strictly fixed colors, and electric trains are painted according to the color of the line. This greatly facilitates navigation and orientation in the railway space, as well as the fact that the names of stations are written not only in hieroglyphs, but also in Latin and Japanese alphabets.

The Yamanote Line (green or silver with green stripes) is a 35 km loop around central Tokyo. The train makes a circle in an hour, passing 29 stops, including important transport hubs of the city (Yurakucho, Shinbashi, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ueno).

The Chuo Line (orange) runs from east to west Tokyo to the suburb of Takao. During the day, trains pass through the city center almost without stopping. To travel around the city center, take the Sobu Line (yellow).

The Keihin Tohoku Line (blue) runs from the north (Omiya area in Saitama Prefecture) to the south (Ofuna area in Kanagawa Prefecture). Between Tabata and Shinagawa, this line runs parallel to the Yamanote Line and trains depart from the same platform, so do not mix up trains on different lines.

The fare starts from 100 rubles. You can get to any station along the ring road for 200 rubles. Please keep your ticket as it must be returned at the end of your trip. At most stations you can find a stand with information about the stations in English. If you don’t have it, just take the cheapest ticket; you can pay extra at the end of the trip when returning your ticket. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase.

Trains on the Yamanote and Sobu lines run from 4.30 am to 0.30 am. “Rush hours” are from 7 to 9.30 a.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. During this time, smoking is not permitted at stations and platforms.

BUS

There are a great variety of bus routes, like any other transport in Japan, buses as transport are quite convenient and affordable. Transportation services are provided by numerous bus companies and therefore ticket prices vary slightly from each other, but usually the cost of travel on an intracity route is about 150 rubles. There are intercity bus routes. Most intercity buses arrive and depart from JR Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Bus Station.

Compared to rail and air transport, the bus is more suitable for travelers who prefer to save on ticket prices and are not bound by time constraints.

For example, you can travel from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen bullet train in 3 hours, and a regular bus covers the distance between these two cities in 12 hours, but the cost of a bus ticket is five times lower. Japanese bus drivers must wear white gloves:

Intercity bus

Buses run between major cities. The negative points are, as mentioned above, that traveling by bus takes much longer than traveling on high-speed trains, that travel time often depends on traffic jams, and that the bus makes a large number of stops. Despite this, there are also positive aspects: the cost of bus travel is much lower than for high-speed trains and planes. By traveling by night bus, you can save on hotel costs.

City bus

Both large and small cities in Japan offer numerous city bus routes for travel. Buses in Japan are very convenient and easy to use. On some routes in large cities or popular tourist destinations, stops are even announced in English. In all other cases, the name of each stop may be in Japanese, but it is certainly announced, without gaps. The names of stops written in Japanese are usually duplicated in English. The final destination of the bus and its number are written on the illuminated board above the windshield. If you have the name of the place or stop you want to go to written on paper in Japanese, then either the bus driver or other passengers will tell you when to get off; ignoring questions from foreigners is not the Japanese custom. Once, a Japanese man, whom I approached before getting off the bus, with a question about how to quickly get to the metro from this bus stop, asked the bus driver to wait two minutes, got off the bus with me and showed me the entrance to the metro. I tried to imagine such a good Samaritan in Russia, and alas... I couldn’t. The entire bus route is divided into zones, on which the fare depends. You must pay for the fare when entering the bus from the driver. Next to the driver’s seat there is a ticket office where you need to throw coins or put down bills; a ticket is issued automatically when you indicate the area of ​​your final stop. In some cases, the driver himself accepts payment and issues the change and ticket himself.

School buses are very interesting. When I saw a Japanese school bus I felt a little shocked:

But we will talk about studying in Japan separately.

METRO

The first subway line in Japan and all of Asia opened in December 1927, the line was very short, only 2.2 km, from Asakusa to Ueno in Tokyo. There are currently 13 subway lines in Tokyo with a total length of 286.2 km. The Tokyo Subway is the world's third largest subway system.

Nine of the thirteen lines are managed by the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (Eidan), a special corporation created by the national government and the Tokyo municipal government. The remaining four lines are managed by the Tokyo Municipal Government (Toei). There are 224 subway stations in 23 administrative districts of Tokyo, with an average of one station per 1.66 sq. km. metropolitan area. Of course, in the central areas of the city, some lines converge and intersect, so that the stations are even closer to each other.

Such a large number of lines, as a rule, allows you to get fairly close to the desired location. You can transfer from one subway line to another, or from subway lines to private commuter trains and JR trains. This makes commuter travel convenient, except that the network configuration and transitions between lines are tortuous and confusing. A number of guides have been published with recommendations for transferring from one line to another in this convenient, if confusing, metro network. Tokyo's Shinjuku station is the largest in the world, with several others located in Tokyo and a number of large cities not far behind it. Finding a specific line or exit during rush hour can be difficult, especially for someone unfamiliar with the city with heavy luggage. Therefore, it is better to find out in advance, before disembarking, which exit, having a name or number, is most suitable for you. Signs in English are not available at all stations or are not always clear. For example, I remember the first time I found myself at Tokyo Station, where I had to change from the subway to the shinkasen. I got off the metro on the 2nd floor of the station (the station has 5 floors in total). After looking at the diagram, I realized that I needed to go up to the 1st floor - to the third. It's good that I had an hour to spare. After 30 minutes of unsuccessful attempts to get from the 2nd to the 3rd floor, I gave up and turned to the police. He smiled sweetly, pretended to understand me and began pointing to the escalator leading down to the first floor. For another 5 minutes I tried to explain to him that I needed to get to the 3rd floor. Finally, I figured out how to get a Shinkasen ticket and showed it to the policeman. He smiled sweetly again and motioned to follow him down. I surrendered to the will of the winner and rode down the escalator, following the smiling policeman. At the same time, the brain frantically tried to calculate the time remaining until the departure of the shinkasen.

Imagine my surprise when, having gone downstairs, the policeman led me to the next escalator and we went up! This escalator took us straight to the shinkasen. But the policeman, apparently realizing that in front of him was a “particularly stupid Russian,” escorted me straight to my carriage and did not calm down and did not leave until I sat down in my seat. Some new stations, such as Kyoto Station, are equipped to cater to the needs of tourists, both Japanese and foreign; in most places visited by tourists, they try to help guests. Shinkansen lines are clearly marked even at major stations, while other lines are color coded. The yellow markings on the floor should help guide the blind, but they pose a problem for suitcases with wheels, as does the lack of sequential escalators. Please note that trains, especially Shinkansen, only make short stops to maintain schedules. Therefore, you should stand in line on some platforms: be guided by the marks on the floor opposite each door of the carriage. There may also be signs indicating the numbers of cars with reserved seats. This is very, very convenient - there is no wild crowd gathering on the platform, but everyone stands behind the yellow line, exactly at the place where your door will be!

In some places, the metro lines coincide with suburban lines (often “private”, not JR). By the way, this may explain the fact that many “private” lines are underground, for example, the Kintetsu line from Kyoto to Nara.

The cost of travel on the subway is comparable to the cost of ground urban transport (for example, in Tokyo - from about 100 rubles and above, depending on the distance; by the way, in New York, travel on the subway costs exactly the same). The payment system is the same as on electric trains (magnetic ticket at the entrance and exit). Escalators, of course, are also left-handed (stand on the left, pass on the right!) The metro compares favorably with the railway. because at each station you can easily get free diagrams and even schedules.

The metro is open from 5:00 am to 1:00 am.

Contrary to the popular belief among Russian tourists that the Japanese metro is very confusing, we will take the liberty of saying that this is not so. The fact is that the metro and railways are linked into a single system in such a way that, having bought one ticket, you can go to your destination station, changing, if necessary, from a metro train to an electric train and back, without buying a new ticket for this. Even externally, electric trains and metro trains are practically no different from each other.

When first considering, for example, the Tokyo subway map, which

The JR (Japan Railroad) train traffic pattern is superimposed, giving the impression of a chaotic interweaving of multi-colored lines. All this confuses Russians who are accustomed to the fact that the metro is separate and the trains are separate.

Just don’t try to figure out where the electric train is and where the metro train is, take a diagram and be guided by the color of the lines.

How to buy a ticket.

At each station you can see large maps of the JR train (electric train) and metro traffic patterns; on the map next to the name of the station - the fare.

Near the diagram there is a large table where all available stations in the zone are listed in alphabetical order; the fare is written opposite the name of the station.

Find the station you need on the map or in the table, understand how much the journey costs. The fare depends on the distance of the trip. Remember the fare. After that, go to the cash register, it looks like a small TV next to which there is a slot for accepting coins and bills. On the TV screen there are touch keys indicating different trip costs; enter the cost of your trip and insert money or bills. The machine issues the ticket and change automatically.

To enter the platform you must go through the turnstile.

On some trains, illuminated boards show the name of the next station in hieroglyphs and in English. The names of the stations are always announced by voice, but if you are not used to it, you may not understand it - count the stops or ask one of the passengers.

If along the way you decide to change your route and get off at another station, you need to exit into the city not through the turnstile, but past the window of the station employee, give your ticket and pay extra, if necessary.

If you don’t know exactly which station you need, buy the cheapest ticket and calmly go on your way - pay extra at the exit.

During rush hours, the Japanese metro is very similar to the Moscow one:

TAXI

Japanese taxis are among the most expensive in the world.

It is curious that a green light behind the windshield means that the taxi is busy, a red light means it is free. When I didn’t know this, I couldn’t understand why a free taxi refused to take me and sent me to an obviously “busy” one. Taxis are private and public. Taxis take a maximum of 3 people, but if you are going to take a taxi with four of you, then a state taxi may not take you; you can negotiate with a taxi driver from a private company. To stop a taxi on the street, raise your hand. Do not try to open or close the car doors yourself - they are automatic. It is impossible to get into the car from the roadway; the doors are tightly closed.

Taxi drivers rarely speak English. As with searching for any Japanese address, it's best to have a map of the route to your destination written in Japanese. After 22.00 or during heavy rain, when stopping the car, you should raise 2 or 3 fingers, which means: you are ready to pay double or triple the price.

Taxi rates in Japan are among the highest in the world. The counter starts at 650 yen and then adds 80 yen for every 280 meters. If you're stuck in traffic, the meter charges 90 yen for every 135 seconds of idle time. During this time, you can watch TV or DVD to calm your nerves:

From 23:00 to 6:00 am the tariff increases by 30%. High prices are compensated by excellent service: taxis are clean and comfortable, the doors open automatically. A polite driver will take you the shortest route and will not expect a tip. On the contrary, one driver did not open the taxi door for me until I took the change from the plate that I wanted to leave him as a tip. If you forgot something in the car, you are entitled to compensation of almost 100% of the value of what was lost. The number of taxis is amazing:

CAR RENTAL

Russian citizens have the opportunity to travel around Japan by car if they have an international license. To obtain an international driver's license, you do not need to pass any exams at the traffic police. It is enough to have your national Russian “rights” with you. They are valid for three years, but if the domestic driver’s license expires earlier, the international driver’s license becomes invalid at the same time. It is valid only abroad. In Russia, our citizens with an international license cannot drive vehicles. For them, only Russian “rights” are valid here.

And although many people prefer to rent a car and travel, in the case of Japan, I do not recommend this method of transportation. I do not recommend driving in the city, and, in general, in large densely populated areas, especially on roads in the Tokaido area (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka).

You can look at these pictures and everything will become clear.

Add to this driving on the left and you will understand why Russians in Japan try not to drive. By the way, I’ll add that finding something in Japan without a navigator is very, very problematic, just like a Russified navigator with a map. High-speed trains, metro and JR will cope with this task much faster and more efficiently. Both municipal roads and expressways are congested, gasoline is expensive (about 140-150 yen per 1 liter), and tolls are high (tolls on the Kyoto-Tokyo expressway will cost almost 90 USD). On local roads, as a rule, it is allowed to drive at speeds of up to 60 km/h, but sometimes there are restrictions of up to 30-50 km/h. On highways (highways), the maximum permitted speed is from 80 to 100 km/h. Unlike some other countries, you cannot make a left turn on a red light in Japan. Although in general the Japanese drive carefully and without accidents, some reckless drivers have a habit of entering an intersection when the light is red. Do not follow their example; when approaching a traffic light, pay close attention to the cars in front and behind you. In cities, the signs are clearer, but high traffic intensity and complex junctions at different levels can “finish off” even an experienced foreign driver. Give way to cargo trailers, whose drivers are paid by the volume of cargo they carry and therefore are forced to drive quickly; Stay away from the numerous gangs of hooligan bosozoku (“crazy drivers”) who gather on weekends for the sole purpose of waking up the surrounding residents.

Parking in a big city can be a real nightmare. Parking in Paris is child's play compared to parking in Tokyo. A Russian car enthusiast may encounter a large number of technical innovations, for example, underground and above-ground elevator parking,

Moreover, the fact that this is a parking lot can be understood from the inscription in hieroglyphs, etc.

When driving in Japan, you must keep in mind that you are responsible for any damage caused to someone else's vehicle or health. In accidents involving a pedestrian or cyclist, the driver of the car is always at fault. Speeding over 180 km/h is a criminal offense.

Car rental is offered by world-famous companies HERTZ and AVIS. The prices are as follows: to rent an economy class car you will have to pay 70-80 dollars per day. When you rent a car and want to leave it in another city, check how much a one-way car rental service will cost; the surcharge can be significant. Don't forget that some companies charge a fee for returning the car before the deadline specified in the contract.

For an empty tank, they charge a significant surcharge; we do not recommend refueling the car immediately before delivery; gas stations at the rental point inflate the price of gasoline. On major highways, signs and indicators are duplicated in Latin, on municipal and secondary roads - only in hieroglyphs. For your trip, it’s a good idea to buy a detailed bilingual (Bilingual Kanji-Romaji) road atlas of Japan.

The car is good for exploring remote corners of Japan. It is best to go to the province by train and rent a car on the spot.

Airplane

I already wrote about airplanes in the first part. I will add that Japan does not have its own aviation industry, so Japanese aircraft are not distinguished by any special technical delights, but they are extremely interestingly painted, which is an attempt to attract the attention of consumers, because There are as many as 28 airlines in Japan, therefore competition is extremely high. And I already wrote about the internal filling above.

Many companies give a significant discount if, for example, you fly somewhere in the month of your birth. It is no secret that if the travel time is more than three hours, then the Japanese, choosing between a train and a plane, will choose the plane.

OTHER

Among other modes of transport, it is worth noting the only tram line that has survived in Tokyo. It is approximately the same as those that still exist in Moscow. Its length is 12.2 km, the movement interval is about 15 minutes. In some places the line runs along special “tram” streets, in others in the middle of the roadway. The carriages are quite new, but there are also ancient dinosaurs. The fare is exactly the same as the metro.

The “Other” section undoubtedly includes monorails, which in Japan multiply like mushrooms after rain. The monorail lines have separate stations that do not overlap with JR and subway trains. You need to buy a separate ticket. Trains on monorail lines run on one rail and oncoming trains pass only at stations, which is surprising, since the trains are controlled automatically, that is, there is no driver at all. The rails can be located both under the cars and above them.

Useful information. The first monorail train appeared in Japan in 1957 in the Ueno area. Today, the longest monorail is the monorail in Chiba (pictured).

This concludes the third part of the article. In the next part we will talk about education in Japan.

Gordeev Sergey Nikolaevich Sverdlovsk region, Beloyarsky district, village. Kochnevskoye st. Sadovaya 33 tel.

Nick on the Legion-Avtodata forum

FERMER

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With the wind!

A taxi driver stands out from other types of transport in Japan. He wears a formal business suit. Definitely dressed in an ironed shirt. He wears spotless white gloves on his hands. The look is complemented by a tie. The driver's shoes are always in perfect condition. Foreign tourists who use taxi services for the first time are surprised by the abundance of lace that decorates car interiors.

Headrests, armrests and even seats are covered with openwork knitted capes. You won't be able to open the car door yourself. This is the driver's privilege. Therefore, you need to wait a little until the lock is unlocked.

The rules of public transport in Japan are strikingly different from European norms. The green color of the icon on the windshield of the car means that the taxi is busy. Red signals that the driver is free. Special areas for boarding taxis are equipped in the largest areas of Tokyo and other metropolitan areas. In the provinces, cars are caught right on the roadway.

Despite the comfort, taxis are still inferior in popularity to the Japanese subway. Cars often get stuck in traffic jams. Sometimes the number of waiting passengers exceeds the number of available vehicles. In these cases, queues accumulate in the parking lots.

Taxi

Taxis
are easily available from hotels, stations and airports. They can also be caught at intersections, except in some places (such as Ginza) where taxis only stop at parking lots. The cars are usually bright yellow or green and equipped with a beacon on the roof. If the light in the lower right corner of the windshield is red, the taxi is free, if green, the taxi is busy. The rear doors are controlled remotely by the driver; do not open or close them yourself.

Few taxi drivers speak English, so carry a piece of paper with your address written on it. After 23.00 the fare increases by 30%. If you can't get a taxi, queue at the taxi stand, which in most cases you will find near the main train station. There is no need to tip the taxi driver.

There is an alternative!

Monorail is another popular mode of transport in the country. Japan's monorail railways have covered most populated areas. They are also available in Okinawa. In the capital, this type of transport is represented by fully automated trains, which are controlled by intelligent systems. They have no drivers or stewards. This type of transport is considered one of the safest.

Despite its similarity to the subway, in Japan the monorail is a completely independent transport complex. Tickets are sold at robotic terminals and ticket offices located on boarding platforms. When entering the carriage, tourists strive to take the first seats. The panoramic windows of the salon offer futuristic views. The most popular excursion route runs through Tokyo Bay and leads to Odaiba Island, a man-made landmass.

Monorail in Japan

Monorails in Japan exist in many cities; for example, in addition to Tokyo, such systems are common in Osaka and Okinawa. However, they play the main role in transport communications in Tokyo.

The Tokyo Monorail is a fully automated train system with no drivers in the cars. The monorail lines do not intersect with the metro and commuter trains; they have their own stations and tickets, which must be purchased separately.

In the west of Tokyo there is the Tama Toshi Monorail line, in the city of Chiba, a Tokyo suburb, there are two Chiba Urban Monorail lines.

The most popular monorail is the Tokyo Monorail, which connects the city with Haneda Airport. The terminal stations of the monorail are Hamamatsucho Station and Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Station.

Classics of the genre

Trams in Japan are considered exotic. You can count them on your fingers. One branch operates in Tokyo. Others serve the suburbs of the country's megacities. They are designed for curious tourists. Their speed is low, but the trams do not get stuck in traffic jams. Trolleybuses have also been preserved in Japan.

Unlike Russian models, Japanese ones run underground. They head to the top of Tate Mountain Peak. They are used to serve tourist groups. These are modern and comfortable cars that are a worthy example of environmentally friendly transport. Japanese trolleybuses move in a tunnel reminiscent of a subway.

Trams and trolleybuses in Japan

Tram lines, despite their advanced age, have survived in many cities in Japan. They are mainly used as commuter transport and are a popular attraction for tourists.

Thus, only one line remained in Tokyo, operated by Toei. Tram intervals are about 15 minutes.

The cost of a trip on the Tokyo tram is about 160 yen (60 rubles), a day pass is 400 yen (160 rubles). The fare is paid at the exit in a machine next to the driver. You can see a map of the tram line in Tokyo.

Trolleybuses in Japan are very unusual - these are the Kurobe and Tateyama underground lines. They serve the mountain hiking route between the cities of Tateyama and Omachi.

Railways

Electric trains that serve the suburbs of megacities account for the main passenger flow. Long-distance trains are also popular. They are preferred to airplanes. The railway transport system in Japan is surprising in its simplicity and simplicity. The following types of trains are distinguished:

• "Shinkansen";
• express trains;
• electric trains.

"Shinkansen" can be compared with the Russian "Sapsan". This is a convenient and fast way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto and other localities in the country. The train network covers the entire territory of Japan. The maximum speed of trains reaches 300 kilometers per hour. They do not slow down on intermediate platforms.

The Mizuho and Nazomi trains travel from one point to another almost without stopping. Similar trains “Sakura” and “Hikari” are served by stops, so the cost of travel in them is much cheaper. Plus there is a single pass. Tariffs on express trains are even lower, and the number of stops is greater. Long-distance trains are used by the Japanese and visitors.

Electric trains travel slower. They consist of several comfortable carriages. The difference between economy and first class is insignificant. It is expressed in the distance between the rows of seats and in an expanded range of options.

general information

Public transport in Japan is very well developed. The unified transport system makes it possible to transport huge flows of passengers. Every major city in Japan has several modes of transportation with convenient schedules and single tickets for all types of transport.

The transport system is thought out to the smallest detail, from signs to interactive maps of routes at stops, which can sometimes confuse tourists a little with the abundance of information. However, this allows you to do without taking a taxi or renting a car.

Buying tickets

The cost of train travel in Japan consists of two parameters. The price is affected by distance, and the category of composition is also important. A trip from Osaka to Tokyo by express will cost 12,000 rubles. The route from the capital to Sapporo, the length of which is 830 kilometers, is estimated at 20,000 rubles. The most popular type of rail pass in Japan is the JR Pass.

Each subscription has a validity period and an unlimited number of trips. Green cards require first class travel. All others are designed for budget-conscious passengers. Children also need to purchase a card. Special subscriptions have been developed for them. Students over 11 years old need to buy a regular ticket. Tourists need to remember that the subscription is personalized. It is issued on the transport company’s website, and then the printed coupon is exchanged at any JR office.

The travel pass can be issued for seven days, two weeks or 21 days. The cheapest one will cost about 35,000 rubles, the most expensive costs almost 80,000 rubles. This pass allows you to use all express trains except Mizuho and Nazomi. Plus, it is accepted on ferries calling at the port of Miyajima, as well as on trains heading to Narita Airport.

A worthy alternative to JR is Seishun 18. This subscription is not personalized. It will not always be possible to arrange it. It is only valid during holiday periods, which fall in March, April, July, August and September, December and January. The validity period of Seishun 18 is exactly five days. It is accepted on all express trains except the Shinkansen. The ticket price is 12,000 rubles. You can buy a subscription at the terminals and ticket offices of stations.

The standard fare for a trip between Nikko and the Japanese capital is 1,300 rubles, between Yokohama and Tokyo is 500 rubles. To get from Kamakura to Tokyo you need to pay 900 rubles. The journey from Osaka to Kyoto will cost 500 rubles.

There are several other passenger programs operating in Japan. The list of the most popular ones includes “Kansai”, “Sanyo”, “Kuishu”, “Hokkaido”. Discounts are provided not only to children under 12 years of age, but also to pensioners and students upon presentation of the appropriate documents. The average speed of trains in Japan is 200 kilometers per hour.

Intercity buses

Cheap, but at the same time the least convenient and comfortable way to travel around the country. If you are willing to spend three to four times more time on the road than on trains, then the money savings can be approximately the same three to four times relative to the price of a Shinkansen ticket (provided that you buy the train ticket at the station ticket office, and do not use a pre-purchased JR Pass or one of its regional variations). For example, a ticket for an intercity bus, if purchased in advance, can cost 3,000-4,000 yen. There are day and night buses (if saving is more important to you than everyday comfort, then the latter can be used for overnight stays instead of a hotel).

The most extensive network of bus routes is that of Willer Express, covering the area from Matsuyama in the south to Aomori in the north. There are also local bus companies operating within one region or island, such as Sun Q in Kyushu. As a rule, all major bus carriers offer travel passes to their regular customers - for example, you can buy a Willer Express Pass for three (10,000 yen), four (12,000 yen) and five days (14,000 yen).

If you have a choice between train and bus, it is better to choose the train - it will usually be faster and significantly cheaper. Buses in Japan are relatively expensive - for example, an hour's trip from Takayama to Shirakawa-go costs about 2,000 yen, and an hour and a half from Gotemba to Lake Kawaguchiko costs one and a half thousand.

Aircraft

Aircraft in the country operate local and international flights. The largest airports in Japan are in Tokyo and Osaka. Seventeen years ago, the cost of air travel was controlled by the state. In 2000, private air carriers received the right to set tariffs. In most cases, all fees are included in the ticket price. Local flights are operated by JAS, ANA and JAL.

The main contingent of local flights are businessmen, for whom travel time is a priority. The cost of traveling by plane in Japan is only ten percent higher than the price of train tickets. The government is actively involved in the development of transport infrastructure. The area of ​​existing airports is increasing, new terminals are being put into operation. The checkpoints of the country's leading air hubs are being modernized. Reconstruction of the complex in Narita is planned.

Sea communication

Traveling by water is an option for leisurely tourists. The shipping system serves all islands of the state. From Kobe (Japan) you can get to almost anywhere in the country. The most common type of sea vessels are ferries. They not only travel between remote landmasses, but also depart from Tokyo to Osaka and other coastal communities.

According to statistics, there are about 6,900 islands in Japan. The main sea gates are Kyushu and Hokkaido. The latter is a port city. Bridges, tunnels and ferries have been built where ferries cannot pass.

Passenger and cargo ships serve not only local destinations, but also international ones. They call at Russian cities and provide sea connections with South Korea, Taiwan and China. There are four classes of ferries:

• special;
• first;
• the second with a bed;
• the second without a berth.

In the first case, the passenger pays for the trip in a cabin with one or two beds. When sailing first class, he has the right to count on a shared room, which has several beds, but no more than four. Tourists traveling second class are accommodated in dormitory rooms with fourteen beds. When choosing the cheapest sea ticket in Japan, you will receive a tatami cabin. The room category selection service is available only to those customers who travel long distances.

Tickets for passenger ships are purchased at carriers' offices, berths and travel companies. You can get from Osaka to Beppu for 3,500 rubles. A ferry ticket from Tokyo to Tokushima will cost 4,000 rubles. The cost of the trip depends on the distance and the chosen category. A trip from Kobe (Japan) to Kitakshu costs only 2,500 rubles. Travel time is twelve hours.

The largest ferry operators in the country are Sunflower Ferry and Tokyo Ferry. The Eastern Dream ship runs from Japan to Vladivostok. It makes a stop at the port of South Korea, which lasts nine hours. The final destination is Sakaiminato, located in the province of Tottori.