Suica cards are more for a country-wide travel, correct? What would I need to look into if not Suica for say, Tokyo-area only transit? And is there any other kinds of transport I should consider looking into while in the city? I asked about travel here earlier in the year for a sabbatical vacation in 2024, but my friends and I want to do a week test trip to Tokyo to feel things out before a longer stay. The kind people here recommended a Suica card, but I don’t think that’s probably the same card I’d use for city-wide travel, correct?
On top of this, one place I have interest in checking out is the Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest. Is the Tokyo subway system workable in going that far out, or will this need to be gone to through a different way?
Sorry, but as someone from Boston, a city with literally only 4 train lines and all of them incredibly linear, the maps of Tokyo’s transit system looks pretty intimidating.
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You are getting it backward. Suica is for local travel, not for long distance travel. But it’s compatible with allmost all systems in Japan so you can use it for local travel in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, etc. For long distance travel, You will want paper ticket (or Rail Pass).
As for how to get from A to B, just use Google Map public transit option. Japan has multi model transit that can get you almost everywhere.
>Suica cards are more for a country-wide travel, correct?
Naw, they’re fine for Tokyo. JR has agreements with most (if not all) local rail companies in Japan, but they also operate a ton of trains themselves.
>one place I have interest in checking out is the Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest.
Suica will be fine for the Jr train to Sagamiko station and the local bus that will take you the rest of the way.
Check out [JapanGuide.com. ](https://www.japan-guide.com/) Enter any topic into the search bar (such as Suica) and it’ll give you a good basic run down of how things work. You can also find pages on almost all locations in Japan and if you click on the Getting There/Access page it’ll tell you the best options and approximate cost.
1. Yes, Tokyo transit can seem complex as it’s made up of subway lines, train lines, and buses and owned/operated by various companies. But, they all interconnect and if you use Google Maps it will easily route you and even tell you which platform number to go to and what number exit yo use to leave the station so you’re closest to your destination. You can use Suica to scan in/out on most in-city transit all throughout Japan – not just in Tokyo. All the different types of IC cards (like Suica) act interchangeably throughout the nation (with only a few minor exceptions).
– [JapanGuide: Getting To and Around Tokyo ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html)
– [JapanGuide: Before You Go ](https://www.japan-guide.com/planning/before_you_go.html)
– [JapanGuide: Destinations in Japan ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623a.html)
– [JapanGuide: Transportation in Japan ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e627.html)
2. For long-distance travel you wouldn’t use a Suica as you’re likely taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) or an express train with seat assignments. Long distance here would be Tokyo to Kyoto or Tokyo to Sendai for example. There are various passes/discounts available for foreign tourists that are usually cheaper than buying individual tickets but it really depends on where all you’re going and for how long.
See the Transportation link above and the Shinkansen and Rail Pass pages.
3. Tokyo to Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest would be a mid-range trip. You could use your Suica for this as you’d take the Chuo line from Tokyo Station to Sagamiko Station and then a bus or taxi to the resort. Departing at 6:30 pm cost is 1,365 yen (~$13) which is easy enough to use a Suica card for. It will take you about an 1 and 40 minutes. There may be other route options earlier in the day that get you there more quickly so play around a bit with your departure time to see. If you put the start as the station you plan to stay by and end trip as Sagamiko Pleasure Resort into Google Maps you’ll see what I mean. Just be sure to select an appropriate time. For example if the Google Maps departure time defaults to 1 AM as that is the time you’re using the app you won’t find any route options then. Be sure you use a likely departure time when using Google maps to get the best estimate.
In sum, if you’re just in Tokyo itself a Suica card suffices for almost all sightseeing needs for a week. If taking a day/overnight trip then maybe there is a pass that is useful but it depends on where you want to go.
– [JapanGuide: IC Cards (including Suica) ](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html)
Google Maps is your friend. You can find most any info through a search of Google-sensei and JapanGuide.com is a really helpful, basic way to start investigating info about travel in Japan. Lots of other videos and sites out there too but for a newbie to Japan I like how JapanGuide links to various other pages/info and they have basic overviews of every region/city you’re likely to visit in Japan. The Get There links under the destination pages are especially helpful. For example, see the [Hakone page](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html) and click on the Get There link under the picture.
+1 here. For transporting around the Tokyo wards I heavily used my Suica or Pasmo card. For traveling to different prefectures I had to purchase a Japan Rail Pass – https://japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html#anchor01
What’s also great about the Suica or Pasmo card is that you can use it like a debit card at convenience stores to pay for items, and some vending machines accept them as well!
Are you getting a JRpass? If so Chuo line (goes to Sagamiko) is included. Also check out 24/48/72hours ticket for Tokyo metro, depending on your itinerary, it could be a major money saver.
Suica/pasmo/icoca etc can be used on local trains, regional trains, busses, convenience store etc etc. Very few transport methods won’t accept suica etc.
To go to Sagami pleasure forest, JR trains and then bus. Subways are very local, but trains are also very local, but also go further than subway.
Using Google maps to plan roughly works well. They may have some mistakes in the time table, but the routes are accurate. For better time tables, use Hyperdia.
Technically, no, Suica is not a “country wide” card, but almost.
Since Suica have been introduced by JR East, the compatibility was increased to include more and more area, so it can be used outside of it’s original region. This is true for 10 main IC cards that are, at least for as tourist point of view, the same. So you can use Suica in Hokkaido, or in Kyushu, no problem. So in that regard, yes, we could say that it is “country wide”.
However, it does not cover everything.
There is some train/bus company that would either not use and IC card or use their own card that is not compatible with Suica, for example if you want to take the bus in Matsumoto.
There is also train station that do not accept IC card at all, even within the network of company that do have an IC card. This can obviously change, but there is/was a small line in Chiba prefecture that do not have IC card, but it a JR East line.
You also cannot pay for everything with your IC card, right now, you cannot ride the shinkansen or limited express train with only your IC card and seat reservation cannot be done on IC card either. There is also some limitations that you cannot cross between two IC cards regions in a single ride. For example if you were to take local train from Tokyo ( JR East) to Nagoya (JR Central), then it does not work because you change or region.
The place you named would be easy to access (well, it’s not super close to the train station), it’s on the JR Chuo line, so technically, it’s not a subway but a train, but no problem going with a Suica, just use Google maps to know how to get there.
I have gotten by fine pretty much everywhere in Japan with my pasmo card (using for the last 7 years). The few instances I couldn’t use it I bought single tickets at the station. Japan’s transport system is amazing and if you get lost the train staff are helpful in my experience.
I dunno if my suggestion can help but theres a Shuttle service from Narita or Haneda airport thats between 2500-6000 yen that will drop you off stations and even hotels. Its called Limousine Bus https://webservice.limousinebus.co.jp/web/en/BusStopList.aspx
This majorly helps when you have a lot of luggage and you need a hassle free ride to the airport or to your hotel (if one of them is the drop point)
Theres some major drawbacks though as I am finding out now- Im also planning a 2022 trip and one of the drop off points : Ginza station, Park Hyatt Tokyo- is no longer available 🙁
Im emailing the company right now to figure out how to get to Ginza since they cancelled the route…we may just take the train or do private charter.
Theres other shared and private shuttles like greentomato you can try.
One thing I will spend money on will be a taxi or private charter on my return drive to the airport. At this time My luggage is full and heavy, i have a long flight and I just want my transition to the airport especially if we are a group to be as hassle free as possible.
Great thread.
A couple of years ago I created a travel plan for a friend going sightseeing for 32 days (I thought longer when first typing this). She wanted to see as much rural life as possible with a few days in the main cities. This was all planned using the Japan Rail Pass as the main means of getting about.
It was during the cherry blossom 🌸 season so she wanted to travel with the blossoming (mostly).
The trip was from Southern Kyushu, Toinomisaki, south of Miyazaki, right up to Otaru, just northwest of Sapporo in Hokkaido, and so many places in between.
We still chat about her experience and the many many photos she took. Definitely an experience of a lifetime.
I’ve used suica card extensively within Tokyo and other japanese citys. It’s the metro card, essentially
Just get the JR Pass for trains and a Suica or Passmo for the subway, and you will be able to able to get to quite a lot of popular destinations. You may have to buy side tickets here and there, but I would say for most travelers not wanting to travel by car, those are probably the more essential ones. Pro tip: don’t activate your JR Pass until you plan to take a train for the first time; otherwise, you just waste days.
One thing I would suggest is to use takuhaibin luggage transport service such as Yamato Transport if you are staying in hotels or hostels and don’t want to mess with your luggage on the trains. They forward your luggage within a day in most cases, so you can just throw your toiletries and a change of clothes in your backpack or just keep wearing your same clothes if it suits you. I used Yamato extensively and had zero issues. Very convenient, if you have the budget (usually ~$25-$30 USD per move).
Hey, I’m originally from Boston too. Everyone gave you good advice, so I’ll just say that I was intimidated by the trains when I first moved here, but you’ll get used to them quickly even on a trip. And at least you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your wallet on the Orange Line : )