View Survival:Getting Around
Planes
Narita Airport, near Tokyo, is the world’s fifth busiest international airport and the one that most foreigners use to enter and leave the country. It is about a two-hour journey from Tokyo, so I don’t recommend using a taxi to get into the city. All of the airports have trains and buses linking them to the nearest city centre. Check at the information desks.
Trains
Japanese people travel further on trains than any other people in the world. The extensive rail network is run by Japan Railway (JR) and several private companies. Most have signs and maps in English and Japanese. Trains are clean, frequent, on time and, in Tokyo, can be crowded beyond belief. In the highly unlikely event of a train being late, there will be ‘late’ slips handed out for you to give to your employer.
Buses
Japan has an extensive network of bus routes, both local and long distance. Local buses tend to be crowded, but take much longer than trains due to traffic. Although buses are numbered, the destination signs both on and in the buses are rarely in English.
Cars
To drive in Japan you need both your regular driving licence and an international driving permit from your own country. However, if you are staying for longer than six months, you need to apply for a Japanese driving licence from your ward office. Ownership of cars must be registered with your local ward office. Contact the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) for an English-language brochure explaining the traffic rules.
The Japanese are generally careful, polite drivers, quite happy to let you go first and might even bow to you as you cut in front of them. Gas stations provide impeccable service, cleaning everything in sight and stopping all the traffic to allow you back on the road.
Parking can be extremely expensive in the cities. Car rental is approximately ¥8,000 per day and you must have an international licence.
Traffic accidents
If you are involved in a traffic accident you should call the police (110) and, if necessary, an ambulance (119). In order to avoid increased insurance premiums, most people choose to deal with accidents privately with a cash payment. Should you choose to contact your insurance company, the police in charge of the area where you had your accident must be notified on the day of the accident because they are required to provide a certificate.
Motorbikes
Motorbikes are popular in Japan, especially in cities. You need your own country’s motorcycle licence and an international driving permit unless your bike is 50cc, in which case a regular car licence will suffice. Crash helmets must be worn at all times. Bikes of 250cc and under are exempt from the Japanese inspection system. Bicycles Cars tend to keep a respectful distance and pedestrians tend to leap to one side when they hear that bicycle bell. Bicycles are fairly affordable and must be registered with the police upon purchase. The shop at which you buy your bicycle can do this for you. If you buy the bicycle second-hand, register it with the police yourself.
Taxis
Taxis can be easily found lined up near any train station or cruising about the roads at most times of the day or night. Taxi drivers are usually polite, do not rip you off (but taxis are not cheap), and do not accept tips. It’s best to be familiar with the area around your home and to learn some basic directions in Japanese.