Find the right service.
Check the company, destination and direction, as well as the route number. A stop can serve several operators.
FUMI JAPAN · BUSES, TAXIS & RIDE APPS
Beyond
the station.
A bus into the hills. A taxi to your ryokan. A little confidence for the next part of your journey.
Trains do much of the travelling. Here is a helping hand for the connections in between, with bus basics, taxi customs and two useful ride apps.
Find your next step
THE BUS BASICS
A little preparation.
A simpler ride.
Japan has many bus companies and several ways to board and pay. These are the useful habits; the signs and instructions for your particular service come first.
Look at the door signs.
Boarding and payment differ by service. Follow that bus’s entrance, exit and fare signs; ask before tapping or paying if unsure.
Keep the ticket or tap.
On a distance-fare bus you may take a numbered ticket, or tap an accepted IC card on boarding and again when leaving. Other services work differently.
Watch for your stop.
Keep the Japanese stop name handy. Follow the display and press the stop button when your stop is announced.
Pay as instructed.
Some buses charge on boarding, others on leaving. Carry coins and a ¥1,000 note; a Suica card or bank card will not work on every bus.
Keep the way back.
Save the return timetable and boarding point before setting out. The last bus, a hotel dinner time and mountain weather can shape your day.
Airport coaches, hotel shuttles and larger bags
Airport & highway coaches
Check the exact terminal, ticket / reservation rules and baggage allowance. Some are reserved; others use a queue. Leave time for traffic and flight check-in.
Hotel & ryokan shuttles
Some require an advance booking, some ask you to call after arrival. Confirm the meeting point, last pickup and return arrangements with your own property.
City buses & luggage
Keep aisles and doorways clear. For large cases, consider luggage forwarding, a suitable coach or a taxi. Ask about step-free boarding and space before travel if needed.
A SHORT RIDE CAN HELP
Taxis, without
the guesswork.
A useful choice for a hotel’s last few kilometres, an awkward suitcase or an evening return. Start at a signed rank, ask your hotel, or use an available taxi app.
Have the destination ready.
Keep the Japanese name, full address and hotel map on your phone. A station name alone may leave you on the wrong side of town.
Let the driver handle the door.
The rear passenger door is often operated by the driver. Wait for it, wear your seat belt and ask for help with large bags.
Check the total and payment.
Metered fares can have pickup, late-night, toll or other charges. App bookings can add service fees. Confirm payment options; keep a receipt for anything left behind.
Think about the return.
Tipping is not customary. In smaller towns and mountain areas, ask the hotel to arrange a return taxi rather than relying on an app finding a car later.
TWO APPS TO KNOW
Yes, there’s Uber.
And meet GO.
Set up your account before you need a ride. Check your pickup pin, destination, vehicle and full fare details before confirming.
UberTHE FAMILIAR OPTION
Your usual app.
A local taxi option.
Uber Taxi connects visitors with licensed local taxi drivers in participating areas. Open the app to see the products, cars and estimates available at your location.
Availability and ride types vary. Check the actual product and fare terms, especially for an airport journey.
Uber Taxi in JapanGOJAPAN’S OWN TAXI APP
A Japanese favourite.
Useful for visitors, too.
GO is a major Japanese taxi app with an English interface and visitor account options. It supports overseas phone numbers and selected international payment methods.
Read the displayed fare breakdown: dispatch, app and international service charges can apply. Check your location’s coverage and account requirements.
GO’s English visitor informationBEYOND THE STATION
The details belong
with your journey.
In the Fumi tour transport plans, look for the onward connection cards: which service, where to board, your hotel’s final approach and the way back.
BUS + HOTEL APPROACH
Up to Zao Onsen.
Yamagata’s bus stop, station tickets and the return journey.
See the tour connection ↗CABLE CAR + TEMPLE BUSInto the Koyasan hills.
The Saizenin stop, the final walk and the station-bound bus.
See the tour connection ↗RESERVED GUEST SHUTTLEA Kirishima welcome.
Book the railway-station pickup and plan your airport departure.
See the tour connection ↗A FEW WORDS FOR THE WAY
Ask a question.
Make the connection.
Listen to the recorded phrases, or show the large Japanese text to a driver or member of staff. Keep your destination address ready alongside it.
Where is the bus stop?
バス停はどこですか。
Basu tei wa doko desu ka.
Say it bah-soo teh-ee wah doh-koh deh-soo kah.
Do I need a reservation?
予約が必要ですか。
Yoyaku ga hitsuyō desu ka.
Say it yoh-yah-koo gah hee-tsoo-yoh-oh deh-soo kah
I have a reservation.
予約しています。
Yoyaku shite imasu.
Say it yoh-yah-koo shee-teh ee-mah-soo
Can I use this IC card?
このICカードは使えますか。
Kono ai shī kādo wa tsukaemasu ka.
Say it koh-noh ah-ee shee-ee kah-ah-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mah-soo kah
Can I pay by card?
カードは使えますか。
Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka.
Say it kah-ah-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mah-soo kah
A receipt, please.
レシートをお願いします。
Reshīto o onegai shimasu.
Say it reh-shee-ee-toh oh oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-soo
Could you write it here?
ここに書いていただけますか。
Koko ni kaite itadakemasu ka.
Say it koh-koh nee kah-ee-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-mah-soo kah
A little more slowly, please.
もう少しゆっくりお願いします。
Mō sukoshi yukkuri onegai shimasu.
Say it moh— soo-koh-shee yook-koo-ree oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-soo.
Please take me to this address.
この住所までお願いします。
Kono jūsho made onegai shimasu.
Say it koh-noh joo-shoh mah-deh oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-soo
Text to show
Could you call a taxi?
タクシーを呼んでいただけますか。
Takushī o yonde itadakemasu ka.
Say it tah-koo-shee oh yohn-deh ee-tah-dah-keh-mah-soo kah
Text to show
Keep the operator’s page close. Timetables, fares, pickup points and accepted cards change. The linked operator and hotel instructions are the place to check your actual travel date. Information checked 27 October 2026.
Fumi can help you prepare Japanese questions and understand a conversation. Confirm live departures, disruptions and reservations with the operator or hotel.
BEYOND THE STATION · A LITTLE HELP ALONG THE WAY
Your next stop.
A warmer connection.
A question for the driver. A pickup to arrange. Take Fumi along for the Japanese that helps you on your way.
The film couldn’t load. Please try again.
- Prepare the question.Find the words for your destination, a pickup or a payment question.
- Understand the reply.Get help with the Japanese in a conversation; confirm service details with the operator.
- Keep the human connection.Ask before bringing Fumi into the conversation, and enjoy the welcome along the way.
Get the Fumi app
A little conversation. A lasting memory.