Transport in Japan. Transport in Japan: public, rail, air, sea Public transport in Japan

In most cities in Japan, the public transport system includes trains and buses. Taxis are also used to transport passengers, but they belong to the category of expensive transport. In major cities of Japan, the metro system is widely developed, but still the bulk of transportation occurs by ground transport, including such types of transport as trams and monorail systems.The largest railway company in Japan is Japan Rail (JR).

All trains in Japan are:

• Shinkansen bullet trains
• special express trains
• limited express trains
• ordinary passenger trains (electric trains).

Shinkansen are characterized by high speed and a minimum number of stops between destinations. The speed of the Shinkansen reaches 300 kilometers per hour. Other types of trains do not differ significantly from each other, only the number of stops varies. These trains are also a high-speed mode of transport, as they move at a speed of 130 kilometers per hour. The most popular mode of transport for the Japanese is limited express.

Train tickets can be of several types, in particular with or without seat reservation. A ticket with a reserved seat is more expensive and guarantees you travel on the train in a comfortable seat, otherwise you may end up standing around the entire journey. If you purchased a ticket for a limited express train and boarded a special express train by mistake, you should not worry, since it is possible to pay the difference in tickets to the conductor when checking the tickets. All trains are equipped with soft chairs, you can drink coffee or soft drinks on the train, and all amenities are provided. In Japan, it is not customary to give up your seat on transport (when purchasing a ticket, it is already assumed that the seat has been paid for) and each carriage has special seats for the disabled and children, which are not recommended to be occupied. A ticket for children under 6 years old is not purchased, but for children aged 6 to 12 it costs 50% less than an adult.

A Japan Rail Pass is specially provided for tourists, with which it is possible to make an unlimited number of trips on trains of the Japan Railways Group, including on shinkansen.

When using the metro, you must remember that the ticket purchased from the machine must be kept until the end of the trip, since when exiting it must be inserted into the machine again in order to be released; if you do not have a ticket, you will have to purchase it again. The ticket price depends on the distance of the trip. It’s easy to navigate the metro, since both the trains and the stations contain information about the route and station names, including in English. You can familiarize yourself with the rules for using the metro

The cost of travel on buses depends on the distance to your stop. The minimum cost is 120 yen (1-2 stops) and as you move further from the landing site it can reach 1000 yen or more. Once on the bus, you need to look at the illuminated board in the front part of the cabin, above the driver’s cabin, and remember the number; when you get off, you also need to look at the board and subtract the difference between the two numbers. You need to pay yourself by inserting banknotes or throwing coins into the slot of a special machine, and the driver will display the amount you paid.

If you come to Japan for a long time (not a tourist excursion) and you have to travel often, it is better to buy a bicycle, it is inexpensive and significantly reduces transport costs. Japan has special bicycle paths, and if they are not available, you can ride on the sidewalk. If you plan to travel a considerable distance, then instead of a bicycle you can buy a moped, which is also inexpensive. These two types of transport can be parked almost anywhere and you don’t have to worry about them being stolen; in extreme cases, you can write your name on the (moped) and then the thing will always find its owner.

Japan's transport system is one of the most advanced in the world. Railways make it possible to get to almost anywhere in the country. In addition, the highway system is as well developed as the country's air transport. In cities transport connection provide buses and taxis (24 hours a day); Ferries connect Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe with the main ports of Hokkaido and Kyushu. Moreover, 2 Japanese airlines (Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways) provide international transportation services. Japan also hosts flights from foreign airlines that fly to almost every corner of the planet.

Net highways length - 1,203,777 km, paved - 961,366 km, of which 7,560 km are highways. Unified network of high-speed toll roads connects big cities countries.

Last changes: 24.02.2013

Public transport

There are a great variety of intercity bus routes. The bus is more suitable for travelers who prefer to save on ticket prices and are not bound by time limits. 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.

Last changes: 13.06.2010

Taxi

Taxi rates in Japan are among the highest in the world. The counter starts at 650 yen upon landing 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. From 23:00 to 6:00 am the tariff increases by 30%. High prices are compensated by excellent service: a polite driver will take you the shortest route and will not wait for a tip. If you forgot something in the car, you are entitled to compensation of almost 100% of the value of what was lost.

Last changes: 13.06.2010

Metro

The metro is developed not only in Tokyo, but also in other large cities, and often covers nearby settlements, which is expressed in the division of lines into zones.

Last changes: 13.06.2010

Aviation transport

Domestic flights within the country are operated by JAL, ANA (All Nippon Airways) and JAS (Japan Airlines System). Domestic flights are available to all major cities of the country.

Last changes: 13.06.2010

Railway transport

Japan's seven railway companies, state-owned until 1987, cover most of the country. There are also rail services provided by private companies, regional governments, and companies founded by both sides. Japanese trains are known for always running on schedule.

Five stations (Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Umeda, Yokohama) each serve 2 million passengers per day, making the Japanese the nation's largest rail user per capita.

Passenger trains in Japan can be divided into four categories: Local trains, Rapid trains, long-distance trains and Shinkansen bullet trains. Please note that this is not an official classification. Long-distance trains are not popular and are few in number. The fare ranges from $15 to $440 depending on the distance and class of train. A ticket for a short distance trip can be purchased in the same way as a metro ticket - in special ticket machines. Tickets for long-distance travel are purchased at special ticket offices at major stations. The ticket must be kept until the end of the trip.

"Shinkansen"

"Shinkansen", although literally translated as "new track", more popularly called "bullet train", is a completely separate realm. It rests either on overpasses or on the surface, but fenced off from the outside world by meter-high fences. They have their own tickets, their own stations, their own safety rules. 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). The frequency of movement is from 15 minutes ("Tokaido") to half an hour ("Sangye"). Trains do not operate at night (from 24:00 to 05:00).

The average speed is about 200 km/h, 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 ones, without numbered seats, and with numbered seats, where an additional ticket is required, which is checked by the conductor. It happens that passengers travel 200 kilometers or more while standing. Station names are announced in Japanese and English and are duplicated in the ticker.

Electric trains JR (Japan Railways)

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” - they are considered first class - there are also seats with numbers, and an additional payment is charged for travel.

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.

Fare starts from 120 yen. You can take the ring road to any station for 250 yen. 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 most cheap ticket, you can pay extra at the end of the trip when returning your ticket. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase.

JR Rail Pass

Japan's transport system is one of the most advanced in the world. Railways make it possible to get to almost anywhere in the country. In addition, the highway system is as well developed as the country's air transport. In cities, transport links are provided by buses and taxis (24 hours a day); ferries connect the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe with the main ports of the islands of Hokkaido and Kyushu.

Moreover, 2 Japanese airlines (“Japan Airlines” and “All Nippon Airways”) provide international transportation services. Japan also hosts flights from foreign airlines that fly to almost every corner of the planet.

Railways in Japan are owned by the Japan Railways (JR) group of companies, which consists of 6 companies operating throughout the country, as well as other companies that operate in most major cities. JR's railway services are renowned for their high precision. In Tokyo, a city with heavy rail traffic, commuter trains make stops every 1.5 minutes during periods of peak traffic.

Shinkansen, or “bullet trains,” provide ultra-fast and highly reliable service throughout almost all of Japan. The Shinkansen road network includes the following lines: Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu, Tohoku, Nagano, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu.

JR long-distance trains: super-express, courier high-speed trains, express trains with sleepers and reserved seats. The fare varies depending on the distance and type of service. In cities, tickets for local lines can be purchased from special vending machines located at each station.

Japan Rail Pass - train pass for Japan

The Japan Rail Pass is a great price and convenience for tourists. The pass, available only to travelers, allows unlimited travel on JR roads, buses and ferries (with some route restrictions). Until recently, reservations could only be made at the Japan Railways office (all shinkansen are operated by Japan Railways), but since June 2017, the carrier has introduced the ability to reserve seats online on all high-speed trains in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. For JR Pass holders, seat reservation is a free service available 30 days before your travel date.

JR Pass - obligatory thing for a foreign tourist if he plans to visit at least Tokyo and Kyoto within a week - the most popular cities among travelers in Japan. The pass covers not only the Shinkansen (with the exception of the Nozomi and Mizuho express trains), but also many other trains, including the Narita Express, which runs between Tokyo and Narita Airport. By using the pass only on routes from the airport to Tokyo, then to Kyoto, back to Tokyo and to the airport, you will already save money.

You can purchase a JR Pass valid for 7, 14 or 21 days in advance outside Japan or already on site - at Tokyo and Osaka airports and Japan Railways headquarters. The travel pass contains the traveler's passport details, so you cannot transfer it to another person. Upon arrival in Japan, you must exchange the coupon purchased outside the country for a JR Pass card at the Japan Railways office.

JR provides Japan Rail Pass holders with special discounts for accommodation in hotels belonging to the JR group. If you show your Japan Rail Pass upon check-in, you will receive a 10% discount.

In accordance with the strategy of scientific and technological development, the priorities for innovative development of transport in Japan were set in such a way that railway, road and sea transport acquired paramount importance. With the opening of the world's first high-speed railway, Tokaido, in 1964, Japan laid a good foundation for the development of passenger rail transport. As a result, in 1970, the Law on the National Development of Shinkansen Superfast Lines was promulgated, according to which the total length of the network was to reach 7,000 km. However, unlike the Tokaido Shinkansen, other shinkansen lines serving less populated areas, turned out to be unprofitable. Therefore, the construction of new high-tech high-speed lines slowed down sharply towards the end of the twentieth century.

Keywords: transport in Japan, innovations in the field of transport, Japanese transport development strategy, development of the Shinkansen network.

The rapid economic development of Japan in the 50s - early 70s. The twentieth century forced the whole world to talk about an “economic miracle”. From a moderately developed country with a war-torn economy, it turned into a highly developed industrial power. The state faced new problems related to the need for structural restructuring. But the global energy crisis of 1973-1974. significantly hit the country's economy rising sun and, being the end of a twenty-year period of high economic growth in Japan, pushed back the time of structural adjustment to the 80s. Already in the 1990s. The country's economy was once again caught in a cyclical recession, from which it only emerged in the early 2000s. began to be published right up to the global crisis that arose in mid-2008. The catastrophic earthquakes and tsunami of 2011 dealt another significant blow to the Japanese economy.

However, despite sporadically arising economic problems, the country overcomes them quite effectively thanks to (primarily) the harmonious interaction of the state and business, as well as innovative development. The question of priorities for innovative development became particularly acute in Japan by the early 70s. As rightly noted by the Russian specialist in the development of science and technology in Japan, Yu. D. Denisov, “... as a result of the analysis of the global economic situation, Japan’s resource capabilities and its position in the system of world economic relations, the Economic Council of Japan concluded: a strategy for overall development, implemented in the USA, when attention is simultaneously paid to the growth of almost all industrial sectors and, therefore, to an exceptionally wide range of scientific and technical areas, is unacceptable for Japan... The most correct way seemed to be another way - to concentrate national resources on individual scientific and production areas, that is, to choose the so-called selective strategy economic development, implemented on the basis of carefully selected priorities" (Japan 2008: 148-149).

Priorities had to be identified in the field of scientific and technological development in transport and transport engineering. By this time, in a number of indicators of the scientific and technical level of transport development, Japan had caught up, and in some indicators had overtaken economically developed countries. But all the created potential and resources for further development were not sufficient for the country to equally develop the existing transport complex and become a world leader in all types of transport engineering. Therefore, a selective approach was put at the forefront of Japan's transport policy, which included highlighting the main directions of scientific and technological development and identifying those types of transport that will receive priority government support. In other areas, the transport strategy included the borrowing of foreign scientific and technical achievements, that is, the acquisition of patents, licenses, as well as the purchase of finished equipment.

In accordance with the transport strategy, research and development work in aviation industry and, accordingly, aircraft production. It seemed impossible for the creators of the strategy for the development of transport and transport engineering in Japan to catch up with the world level with the existing (or, rather, absent) scientific and technical potential in the field of the aviation industry. They believed that raising the production of aircraft and aircraft engines from scratch (after the Second World War, the occupation authorities eliminated it) with limited qualified human and financial resources would be inappropriate.

At the same time, priorities in the field of transport (and transport engineering) were given to road, sea and, most importantly, railway transport. Indeed, by the 1970s, when the priority strategy was formed, railway transport there was already enormous scientific and technical potential. By this time, the world's first ultra-high-speed trains had already been built. railways. Let's look at how the Tokaido Railway, which was super-technological at that time, was created.

The revival of the economy and its subsequent rapid growth since the mid-1950s. raised the question of the need to reconstruct the main road - Tokaido. It was decided to supplement the existing main railway with a new railway and highway. The construction of a new railway became the subject of heated discussions among professionals, which was also reflected in the media. Two positions on this issue have emerged: the first is to build a road similar to the existing one, that is, a narrow-gauge one, the second is a new generation road with a wide gauge. The second point of view was supported and actively defended by Sogo Shinji, president of Kokutetsu. He brought in the retired head of the rolling stock and mechanical equipment department, Shima Hideo, appointing him vice president of Kokutetsu for technology.

In 1957, the Railway Engineering Research Institute (Tetsudo sogo gijutsu kenkyujo) prepared a technical feasibility study for the creation of a new standard gauge railway, according to which high-speed electric trains could cover the distance between Tokyo and Osaka (515 km) in 3 hours. In August 1957, the Ministry of Transport formed the Kokutetsu Mainline Railway Research Committee (Nihon Kokuyu Tetsudo Kansen Tosakai), which was tasked with conducting a thorough analysis of railway proposals and selecting the best one. As a result of the analysis and with the active position of the leaders of Kokutetsu S. Sogo and H. Shima, the Commission, after much hesitation, came to the final conclusion about the prospects of building a high-speed shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka. Construction of the Tokaido Shinkansen began in 1959, and the world's first super high-speed shinkansen line was opened in time for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

In 1964, the maximum speed of trains on this line was 210 km per hour. Thus, the Kodama Shinkansen covered the distance between Tokyo and Osaka in 4 hours, and the Hikari, which appeared in 1965, in 3 hours 10 minutes. With the advent of this line and increased competition for passenger transportation with road transport, changes began in the train schedule. Back in 1961, Kokutetsu was forced to revise its schedule due to the introduction of Limited Express trains on an additional 34 tracks, as a result of which their number increased to 54. These high-speed trains were very comfortable: they had air conditioning and a seat reservation system etc. Before the advent of the Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka, only four "Limited Express" operated in each direction.

From the very beginning, the Shinkansen line began to use 14 twelve-car “Hikari” and 12 of the same “Kodama” daily in both directions. Train frequency has increased. During the 1970 Osaka International Exhibition, three sixteen-car Hikari and six twelve-car Kodama departed hourly. At the close of the exhibition, three Hikaris and three Kodamas departed hourly in opposite directions. The length of the high-speed Shinkansen line grew, and the number of passengers carried increased: from 100 million people in July 1967 to 200 million people in March 1969 and 300 million people by July 1970. Already in the third year of operation of this line, revenues exceeded expenses (including interest on borrowed capital and depreciation charges).

The economic impact of the Tokaido Shinkansen superhigh-speed line stimulated the start of construction of the 554-kilometer San'yo Line, running from Osaka to Hakata (Fukuoka, Kyushu). The maximum speed on this line was 260 km per hour. The line passed through many tunnels, including the 18.7 km Sin-Kammon Tunnel under the Kammon Strait. Interest and demand for shinkansen has increased in many areas of the country. As a result, the National Shinkansen Development Act was promulgated in 1970. In accordance with this law, the 497-kilometer Tohoku Shinkansen line (Tokyo - Morioka, north of Honshu) and the 270-kilometer Joetsu line, running from Omiya station (30 km north of Tokyo) to Niigata (coast of Japan) were built. seas). According to the law, a total of 7,000 km of tracks of such lines were supposed to be built (including the already built Tokaido and Sanyo). But all lines except Tokaido and Sanyo were unprofitable. The construction of some of them was suspended (Satoru Sone 1994: 4-8). Nevertheless, the creation of the Shinkansen network was a revolutionary change in Japanese railway transport, which subsequently influenced the development of railways. passenger transportation in Europe and then Asia. Much credit for this achievement of the twentieth century. belongs to the management and engineers of Kokutetsu.

The Land of the Rising Sun will forever go down in history as the creator of the world's first superhigh-speed roads - the Shinkansen. They were the crown of scientific and technical creativity in the field of railway transport in the last century. However, their invention and launch would have been impossible without scientific and technological progress in other fields of knowledge, including electronics. The Japanese experience in creating high-speed railways is being applied in many advanced countries of the world. But XXI century. will undoubtedly witness the widespread adoption of a new generation of magnetic levitation trains, reaching speeds in excess of 500 km/h, and Japan is successfully conducting R&D in this direction.

Japan has other, although less well-known, but no less impressive scientific and technical achievements in the field of railway transport. All four main Japanese islands- Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido - have rail connections via bridges or tunnels. The world's longest seabed tunnel (53.85 km) connects the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. The construction projects for railway tunnels and bridges, which are expected to be built in the near future, are even more ambitious.

Created almost half a century behind the advanced countries of Europe and the United States, Japanese railway transport historically not only quickly reached the European level of development of this sector of the national economy, but already in the 1960s. was able to become one of the world leaders. Japan became the first country in the world where qualitatively new high-speed trains appeared, which were the result of scientific and technological progress in the field of passenger transportation and technical re-equipment of railways. Japan was followed by Holland, France and a number of others European countries. It took Asian countries - China, South Korea, Taiwan - a little less than half a century to also begin building highways.

The meaning of shinkansen, mini-shinkansen and others high speed trains for the Japanese economy is difficult to overestimate. Super express trains, running regularly at intervals of 10-15 minutes at an average speed of 200 km/h, have become a common means of transport for business trips and commuting for millions of Japanese. They contributed to the unification of cities along the Tokaido transport line into one oligopolis.

When considering the strategy for innovative development of transport in Japan in a broad sense, one should not lose sight of such an aspect as modernization in the field of industry management. The scope of this article does not allow us to dwell on this problem in detail, but it seems appropriate to at least identify it.

In the context of the globalization of the world economy and the liberalization of national markets, Japan was one of the first to embark on large-scale privatization of state-owned railways. The Japanese model of privatization turned out to be very successful. After a ten-year decline in the activities of the Kokutetsu state corporation, the seven largest railway companies that were newly formed in its place quickly reached self-sufficiency. The privatization of state-owned railways has increased competition in transportation. But the development of Japanese railway transport even after privatization remains under the control of the state, which regulates transportation tariffs, makes recommendations, and partially finances new construction on a commercial basis. This flexible combination of state and market instruments for regulating the industry produces noticeable positive results (Avdakov 2011).

In conclusion, I would like to note that in the Asian transport space the influence of other actors besides Japan, and above all China, is becoming more and more noticeable. China is the first country in the world to build (with the participation of the German oligopoly Siemens) a magnetic levitation railway connecting the center of Shanghai and the airport of this city. China has achieved significant success in the field of railway engineering. At the end of 2010, the CRH 380A train, manufactured in China, set a world speed record of 486 km/h. By the end of 2010, the length of high-speed railways in China reached 8.3 thousand km, which is also the highest global achievement. By 2012, it is planned to increase the length of these highways to 13 thousand km (Tomberg 2011). In the context of tightening global competition in the field of transport and transport engineering, Japan faces an even more pressing problem of advanced innovative development, improving the system of priorities in research and development work, and choosing new directions for technology development.

Literature

Avdakov, I. Yu. 2011. Features of the privatization of Japanese state railways. Eastern analytics. Yearbook 2011. M.: IV RAS.

Tomberg, I.R. 2011. China's railways: global economic experience. Railway technology 4(16): 22-25.

Japan. Yearbook. 2008 (pp. 148-149). M.: Russian Academy of Sciences, 2008.

Satoru Sone. 1994. Future of High-speed Railways. JapanRailway & Transport Review 30: 4-8.

Shinji Sogo (1884-1981) was born in Ehime Prefecture (in the north of Shikoku Island). After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo in 1909, he began working for the Railway Agency, where his views were shaped by big influence rendered by Goto Shinpei. In 1926, Shinji Sogo became director of the South Manchurian Railway, then after World War II - chairman of the Railway Association, and in 1955 he was appointed president of Kokutetsu.

Shima Hideo (1901-1998) graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1925 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was the creator of steam locomotives 2-8-2 class D-51 and D-52, and in the post-war period 4-6-4 class CG2. At the same time, he actively defended the technical direction of development of electric motor trains, emphasizing the limited capabilities of locomotive technology given the narrow gauge nature of Japanese railways. He is rightly called the “father of the Shinkansen.” From 1969 to 1977 he was president of the National Space Research Agency.

Japan's transport infrastructure is considered one of the best in the world. It covers all types of passenger and freight transport. Municipal carriers serve thousands of citizens and tourists every day. In any large populated area of ​​the country there are several types of public transport.

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 towns countries 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. Ticket price to ground transport 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. Stop names are in Japanese and translated into English language. 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.

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 and other megacities. 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.

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. Most in demand excursion route runs across Tokyo Bay and leads to Odaiba Island, a man-made landmass.

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.

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". It's convenient and quick way 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 the 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.

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 travel pass used for rail transport 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.

Aircraft

Aircraft in the country perform 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. Airplane travel in Japan is only ten percent cheaper more expensive than prices on Railway 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. Most common type sea ​​vessels- 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 serve not only local destinations, but also international ones. They come in Russian cities, 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 to passenger ships 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 Hanku Ferry, Ferry Sunflower, and Tokyo Ferry. The Eastern Dream ship runs from Japan to Vladivostok. It makes a stop at the port South Korea, which lasts nine hours. The final destination is Sakaiminato, located in the province of Tottori.

Car rent

For those who are used to moving around the country on their own, there are car rental centers in Japan. Any driver who presents an international ID can get a car. You will also need to take out an insurance policy from a local company. The main disadvantages of the rental service are the high cost and complexity of the registration procedure.