Travel in Japan

Travel in Japan Chapter 9 こうつう交通 Kotsu- - Japan has a very advanced public transportation system, with various modes of transportation available depending on the area. It has bullet trains, trains, subways, buses, taxis, cable cars, monorails, ferries, ropeways, etc. to help residents and tourists get around. This section will give an overview of the major modes of transportation and how to use them. Trains でんしゃ電車 Densha With the exception of very countryside towns, trains are prevalent throughout Japan. Understanding the train system is essential for any travel within Japan. There are several companies that operate trains in Japan, but the “main” operator is Japan Railways, or JR. Japan Railways consists of seven different companies (JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Shikoku, JR Hokkaido, JR Kyusyu, and JR Freight). Other railway companies found in the Kansai region include the Hankyu and the Kintetsu (both found in Kyoto). Fares are determined by distance travelled. There is a map of the railway lines posted above the automatic きっぷうば ticket machines, or 切符売り場 kippu uriba. Find your destination on the map. The fare listed by it is the fare from the station from which you first board the train. Buy a ticket for the posted fare. Even if you are transferring, you should buy the ticket through to your final destination. If you cannot read the kanji and there is no map with English or kana, you can buy a ticket for the lowest fare and then adjust the fare at your destination at a fare adjustment せいさん machine, or のりこし精算 norikoshi seisan. Ticket Machine Turnstiles Fare Adjustment Machine There is only one train line running through Kameoka, which is the JR Sanin Line, also known as the Sagano Line. This line runs from Kyoto Station to Sonobe. There is also a transfer to the Subway Tozai Line at Nijo Station. To avoid having to spend time looking up fares or buying tickets, you can also purchase a pre-paid ICOCA card that will track your fare. These cards can be bought and re-charged at the automatic ticket machines and used in the place of paper tickets. Pre-Paid Card Ticket To get to Kyoto Station from Kameoka costs ￥400. However, if you want to get to downtown Kyoto, such as Kawaramachi Street or Sanjo, it is best to take the Sagano Line to Nijo Station (￥320) and then transfer to the subway Tozai Line and go to either Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae or Sanjo Keihan station (￥200). To get to Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Shiga Prefecture, etc. take the train to Kyoto Station and transfer to the appropriate train. You can also get to Osaka by taking the Hankyu Line, which is slower but a little cheaper. There are several categories of trains based on the number of stops made along the line. ふつう 1普通 futsū: This is a regular train that will stop at each station along the line. It will take longer but is the safest bet when you aren’t sure which train to take. かいそく 2快速 kaisoku: This is a rapid train. It is faster than the regular train and will skip some stations. きゅうこう 3急行 kyūkō: This is an express train. It is faster than the rapid train and skips several stations. とっきゅう特急 tokkyū: This is a special express train. It is faster than the express train and skips all of the smaller 4stations. There is often an extra charge for this train. You should double check that the train will stop at your destination before boarding. There is often a diagram on the platform that will help you figure this out. Train Diagram Only 3 kinds of trains go through Kameoka Station; the futsū, the kaisoku, and tokkyū special long distance trains (the はしだて Hashidate Express, まいづる Maizuru Express, たんば Tanba Express, きのさき Kinosaki Express, and たんごディスカバリーTango Discovery Express). These special express trains all require an extra surcharge and a special ticket you can buy at the Green Ticket Window. If you accidentally board one, a conductor will come around to check your ticket and you will have to pay the fee directly on the train. You should also be aware of when the trains stop running. A taxi ride home from Kyoto to Kameoka costs しゅうでん around 7000 yen, so it is quite expensive if you miss the last train. The last train 終電 shūden toward Kameoka leaves at 12:06 a.m. from Kyoto Station and at 12:13 a.m.from Nijo Station. The earliest train leaves at 5:33 a.m. じこくひょう from Kyoto Station. You can get a copy of the train schedule 時刻表 jikokuhyō at the train station. Subway ちかてつ地下鉄 Chikatetsu In addition to an above ground train system, most major cities also operate subway systems. Kameoka does not have a subway, but Kyoto has two lines, the Tozai Line and the Karasuma Line. The easiest transfer point to the subway from the JR train line is at Nijo Station. Exit the ticket gates, turn right, and go down the stairs to the subway station. The two subway lines in Kyoto interestect at Karasuma Oike station. The subway system is not all that different from the train system. Tickets are sold at automatic ticket machines, and you can use an ICOCA card on the Kyoto subway lines. However, you cannot buy or charge an ICOCA card on the subway ticket machines. If you are traveling during rush hour, you should be aware that some subways, and in some cities, trains, have cars that are designated as Women じょせいせんようれっしゃ Only 女性専用列車 josei senyō ressha. This is posted on the side of the car, usually in pink, in both Japanese and English. Buses バス Basu For foreigners, the bus is probably the most intimidating of the main modes of public transportation in Japan because it tends to have the least amount of English support. You can pick up a bus map from the bus office at Kameoka Station. For a detailed map of Kyoto bus routes, visit the bus office out in front of the Central Exit of Kyoto Station. They offer some very detailed English maps, as well as daily bus passes for ￥500. These can be great for when you want to go sightseeing and save a little money. When riding the bus, board from the rear entrance, not the front, and take the numbered ticket that indicates what stop you boarded at. This determines the fare. There will be a lit up board at the front of the bus that will have different numbered boxes. The fare in the box that matches the number on your ticket is the fare you must pay when you get off. However, some buses have a flat rate of ￥220. Note that the bus may not stop if the driver does not てい see anyone at the bus stop バス停basu tei. When your stop is next, push one of the buttons that can be found on the walls, hand rails, or seat backs to indicate to the driver that you would like him or her to stop. Exit from the front of the bus and put exact change in the opening on top of the fare collection machine at the front of the bus. If you need change, you should try to get to the front of the bus before your stop to make change. You can insert a bill into the fare collection machine and it will break the bill into coins. However, five and ten thousand yen bills cannot be changed. Some buses will accept the use of a pre-paid ICOCA card. Taxis タクシー Takushii The easiest way to get a taxi is from a train station. As with Kameoka のば Station, there is usually a special taxi lane タクシー乗り場 takushii noriba where the taxis line up and wait for passengers. However you can also flag them down off the street by standing on the corner and waving your hand at them. In the front passenger window there will be a little sign indicating whether くうしゃちんそうかいそう the taxi is empty, 空車 kūsha, carrying a passenger, 賃走 chinsō, or out of service, 回送 kaisō. The back door of the taxi will open and close automatically. Most taxi drivers do not speak English so it might be a good idea to have the name or address of your destination written out in Japanese, or have a map to show the driver. Also, taxi drivers are not tipped in Japan. Bicycles じてんしゃ自転車 Jitensha It is fairly convenient getting around Kameoka on bicycle. Bicycles are sold at major department stores or at local bicycle and motorcycle shops. Most bikes come with a key and lock, generally around the back wheel. If you have a bicycle, you need to register it when you buy it, and write your name and phone number somewhere on the bicycle You should always lock your bicycle and store it in a safe place. Japan has a very safe image, but bicycle theft is quite common so you should take care to avoid leaving your bicycle unlocked or in a place where it could get stolen. Also, do not park your bike ちゅうりんきんし someplace where it is illegal. If you see a sign that says 駐輪禁止 chūrin kinshi, then you cannot park your bike there. When riding at night, be sure to use your headlight or you may be stopped by the police. Japan also has various laws regarding riding bicycles. For example, it is illegal to carry an open umbrella while riding, or to ride with two people on one bicycle.

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