Navigating

Overview

Tokyo Subway Linemap

Yveltal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Transport in Japan is modern and highly developed. Japan's transport sector stands out for its energy efficiency: it uses less energy per person compared to other countries, thanks to a high share of rail transport and low overall travel distances. Transport in Japan is also very expensive in international comparison, reflecting high tolls and taxes, particularly on automobile transport. Japan's spending on roads has been large. The 1,200,000 kilometres (750,000 mi) of paved road are the main means of transport. Traffic in Japan drives on the left. A single network of high-speed, divided, limited-access toll roads connects major cities, which are operated by toll-collecting enterprises ^[1].

Travel Methods

Shinkansen

Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Shinkansen, colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. It was initially built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond long-distance travel, some sections around the largest metropolitan areas are used as a commuter rail network. ^[2].

Rail Transport

Train arriving at train station — Train station

Ctny, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rail is the primary mode of transport in Tokyo. Greater Tokyo has the most extensive urban railway network and the most used in the world with 40 million passengers (transfers between networks tallied twice) in the metro area daily, out of a metro population of 36 million. There are 882 interconnected rail stations in the Tokyo Metropolis, 282 of which are Subway stations,with several hundred more in each of the 3 surrounding densely populated suburban prefectures. There are 30 operators running 121 passenger rail lines, 102 serving Tokyo and 19 more serving Greater Tokyo but not Tokyo's city center itself, excluding about 12 cable cars ^[3].

Additional transport

Transit Bus

Suikotei, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Public buses in Greater Tokyo usually serve a secondary role, feeding bus passengers to and from train stations. Exceptions are long-distance bus services, buses in areas poorly served by rail (not many exist), and airport bus services for people with luggage ^[4].

Taxis also serve a similar role to buses, supplementing the rail system, especially after midnight when most rail lines cease to operate. People moving around the city on business often choose taxis for convenience, as do people setting out in small groups ^[4].