Your ticket is punched by hand at the wicket or inserted in a punching machine. Please keep the ticket, since it must be returned at your destination.
All JR train and subway lines display station names in both Japanese and alphabet leftering on platform sign- boards, The name of the station is in large lefters in the center of the sign; names of adjacent stations appear below or to either side.
Most other rail lines are convenient only for commuters, but may offer speedier, more economical and more convenient routes than JR from nearby urban centers to popuiar spots such as Nikko, Hakone, Nara, Toba, and so forth. Please note, however, that the JR Pass is not honored on these lines.
JR operates long-distance lines as well as trunk lines to major suburban centers. Private railway lines ordinarily extend less than 100km, connecting cities with suburbs and popular resort areas.
In Tokyo and Osaka, the combinations of trains and subways can take you virtually anywhere you want to go. However, try to avoid riding on subways and commuter trains during the morning (7:30-9:30 a.m.) and evening (5:00-6:00 p.m.) rush hours. All mass-transit system stop operating around midnight. Taxis may then be difficult to flag down, and the charge after 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. is 30 percent higher.
One-day open tickets can be purchased for unlimited railway and subway travel in some cities.
Your bus ticket is numbered to indicate the fare zone where you boarded. An illustrated sign at the front of the bus shows a changing fare schedule. If your ticket shows the number 3, for example, the fare you pay is indicated under column 3 on the sign. Put the fare in the cash box beside the driver's seat when leaving the bus. In a few instances, a flat fare is charged.
The name of the final destination of each bus is wriften in Japanese above the windshield, but also often includes a route number. Have a hotel clerk write down your destination in Japanese so that bus drivers or other people waiting for buses can direct you to the right bus. Buses in Nikko and Nara have taped announcements for each stop in English, but that is exceptional.
