3. Getting Around

The Japanese transit system is a modern wonder that makes other cities look like the town of Bedrock. And by transit system I really mean the trains. There. Enough said. Jump on a train.

I cannot overstate the relative pleasure and comfort of traveling by train in Japan. The sardine-can rush-hour journeys are not enjoyable, but getting from A to B in no time at all makes it worth it. I'm going to have you jumping on a train a lot.

Changing trains can be a daunting experience the first time, but trains run frequently for the most part, so take your time buying your ticket, finding your platform, etc. and you'll be fine. There are plenty of helpful signs posted at most stations, so when in doubt, look around or look up. If you do these two things, you'll never get (completely) lost while on the rail network itself.

Buses are also convenient but at times less fun. A lot of Kyoto outings will tempt you with direct bus trips to temple such-and-such, but Kyoto City traffic and the constant stopping can make you appreciate the joys of walking. Many Japanese buses don't have much in the way of leg room, and despite being a modestly not-short-not-tall 5'11", I'm sometimes scared I'll kneecap myself if the bus goes over a bump. Though I like big butts and I cannot lie, I'd be lying if I said your long legs and fat ass won't prevent anybody else from sitting next to you on a two-person seat.

Taxis. I used to think taxis were expensive when I first came to Japan, but on a sweltering hot day a taxi can start to look mighty good. If you are traveling with a couple of friends, a taxi can be comparable in price to public transportation for shorter trips. I definitely don't recommend taking a taxi from one end of a city to the other, but if you're in, say, northern Kyoto City wanting to visit a site in the East, you might feel refreshed after a cab trip rather than drained by another slow-moving bus. This is particularly the case in the middle of summer.

As for cars, motorbikes, and bicycles, these can be impractical or unnecessary for the short-term traveler, though they can be a lot of fun. If you really enjoy one of these methods of transportation, by all means look into it, but I apologize that I don't have the space to discuss them in detail here.

Driver Gragma (yokaitourbus "at" mail "dot" com)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yokaitourbus/


The Master Lists
Osaka:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-the-master-list-osaka.html
Hyogo:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-b-master-list-hyogo.html
Kyoto:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-c-master-list-kyoto.html
Shiga:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-d-master-list-shiga.html
Nara:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-e-master-list-nara.html
Mie:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-f-master-list-mie.html
Wakayama:  http://yokaitourbus.blogspot.com/2015/08/6-g-master-list-wakayama.html