by Meagan Scott
One of the most common questions I get asked as a ‘local’ living in Japan is how to travel cheaply. We live in a foreign country after all. It is expected that we would leave the safety of our houses to explore the world outside. Here is a guide on how you can get around Japan on a budget and make the most of our long vacations.
By Bus
Willer Express is a company that offers day and night bus services with the booking process done entirely in English. With buses going as far as Aomori in the north all the way down to Miyazaki in Kyushu prefecture, you can cover some serious ground but it may take time (and a lot of it) or more than one bus. As the company changed hands not too long ago, they have been doing more flash sales where tickets to Osaka will cost as little as ¥1,500, or ¥2,000 for Tokyo. While it isn’t luxurious, it will get you from A to B without breaking the bank. Bookings can be made and paid for by credit card online or by cash at your local convenience store.
Meitetsu Bus Co. Ltd. is another highway bus company that offers day and night bus trips but with a larger range of locations and times available. While their website is in English, it does not show all the possible locations. If you go into the Meitetsu Bus Center (located on the third floor of the Meitetsu building, a five-minute walk from Nagoya Station), they have a wall showcasing all the travel options in English with a price listed next to it. Tickets can be bought up until 15 minutes before the bus’s leaving time for those who like to leave things until the last minute.
JR also adds their own bus company into the mix. While the other two companies are competitive on price and times, JR buses usually offer bus trips to smaller cities and off the beaten track towns that the other companies ignore like Tottori or Matsue. It is easy to check their online website for options in English and payment can be made at their bus station just outside of Nagoya Station.
By Train
While most of us know this hack, some of our newer teachers may be surprised to learn about a cheaper way to ride JR trains. Called the Seishun Kippu 18, this ticket allows the user unlimited transportation on JR lines (not the shinkansen or express trains requiring a seat fare) for the low price of ¥2,370 for the day. That includes all JR trains country-wide including ones in Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Kyushu. While the tickets are available to use for a limited time only, these times fall in our Golden Week, Summer, and Winter vacation periods, making trips further afield much cheaper if you can spare the time. The catch is that the ticket must be bought in a set of five (costing ¥11,850), but you can use them anytime during the specified period. The good news is that you can also have more than one person use the ticket on the same day. They simply stamp the ticket for the number of people travelling.
By Ship
Most ships do not look like this but it is fun to imagine it this way. Photo by Meagan Scott.
Did you know that the Port of Nagoya is the largest and busiest trading port within Japan? Luckily for us, this opens up another mode of travel for those who love to sail on the seas (or ocean). While the Nagoya to Okinawa route is no longer available, there are a few companies that offer travel to various ports around the country (and beyond). Taiheiyō Ferry is one of the most well known and offers passage from Nagoya to Sendai (options to continue on to Hokkaido available) overnight for less than the shinkansen or the overnight bus (depending on the package purchased). If you can’t find a ferry from Nagoya, check out the other ports as they will have options to other parts of the country. For those who have a car, this is a great way to take your car with you when you go travelling. It’s a good idea to compare air fares and cruise options before booking though as fares change regularly depending on the time of year and sale periods.
By Bicycle
In some of the more rural parts of Japan, the availability of public transport is minimal and can run infrequently. Hiring a bicycle and whizzing through the local streets is a cheap way to make the most of the area without the long wait times. Bicycle hire can be by the hour or for the day usually starting from ¥500 to around ¥3,500. Depending on the time of year and location, most bicycle stores do not require advanced reservations.
By Air
When it comes to flying, it pays to do your research. There is a plethora of airlines that fly within and outside of Japan. The differences between the carriers can be startling. Airlines like ANA and JAL (which are the biggest) usually come with all the trimmings—checked luggage, meals provided, no cancellation fees—but come with a hefty price tag. Airlines like Jetstar Japan and Air Asia offer cheaper flights but checked bags and onboard meals cost extra. Skymark is a low-cost airline that comes with 20 kilograms of checked baggage for free and will even give you a complimentary coffee and Kit Kat simply for flying with them.
Pro Tip
While our manaca cards are pretty quick and easy to use when in a new city, they may not be the cheapest option. Make sure to see if the city offers a one day pass, unlimited rides pass, or a regional pass. Not only could you save on transportation costs but these tickets can also save you a few bucks on attractions too.
ChuMedia 