Getting Around

Trains, passes, ferries and whether they are worth it.

• Japan Luggage Forwarding, Coin Lockers, or Shinkansen Storage: Which Should You Use?

  A practical decision guide for Japan luggage forwarding, same-day airport delivery, coin lockers, and oversized baggage rules on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen.

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• Miyajima Ferry Fares: Why the Outbound Costs More Than the Return

  The ferry to Miyajima costs 300 yen out and 200 yen back. The difference is the visitor tax introduced in 2023, which most English guides still do not mention. What you pay, who is exempt, and which ferry your JR Pass covers.

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• Welcome Suica: Get It Before You Land, Not in the Airport Queue

  The physical Welcome Suica lasts 28 days and is limited to one per person. The mobile version lasts 180 days, can be issued and topped up with a credit card before you fly, and skips the airport counter entirely.

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• JR West Kansai-Hiroshima Pass: When It Pays Off and What It Actually Covers

  The Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is not automatically the best ticket for every Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Miyajima trip. Here is when the 5-day JR-West pass makes sense, when a discounted one-way ticket is better, and what the pass does not cover.

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• Sending Luggage to the Airport in Japan: It Must Arrive the Day Before

  Airport takkyubin is not a same-day service. Your bag has to reach the airport counter the day before you fly, and you collect it in a narrow window before boarding. The deadlines, in English.

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• Japan Rental Car License Rules: IDP, JAF Translation, Passport Stamp, and Return Mistakes

  Before you rent a car in Japan, check whether you need a 1949 Geneva International Driving Permit, a Japanese translation, a passport entry stamp, and how return-time and full-tank rules work.

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• Japan Coin Lockers: Storage Period, Extra Days, Large Bags, and What Happens After 3 Days

  Japanese station coin lockers are not unlimited storage. Learn the common 3-day limit, when extra daily fees are charged, what happens after removal, and when to use staffed luggage storage instead.

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• Osaka to Hiroshima by Shinkansen: Pass, One-Way Ticket, or Regular Fare?

  The best Osaka to Hiroshima Shinkansen ticket depends on whether you are going one way, returning to Kansai, visiting Miyajima, or booking after arrival. Compare the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, Sanyo Shinkansen discounted one-way ticket, and regular SmartEX or station tickets.

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