How to Travel Japan by Train Without Whole JR Pass, Best Alternatives

What this video shows

From the guide “Japan IC Card Guide for Tourists: Which Card to Buy, Where to Get It and How Refunds Work”: A Japanese IC card lets you pay for many train and bus rides by tapping a card, phone or watch. You can also use the stored balance at participating convenience stores, vending machines and other shops.

From the guide “Japan Shinkansen Tickets: How to Buy the Right Ticket”: For the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, smartEX is an official way to book online before you arrive in Japan. You can travel with a QR code, a linked IC card or a paper ticket collected at a station.

Video by Kensho Quest on YouTube. Watch on YouTube