By Bus

The only transport in many cities. Hakodata (Hokkaido), Hiroshima (Honshu), Matsuyama (Sikoku), Nagasaki and Kumamoto on Kyushu run trams.

In subway-rich cities buses supplement the underground, while in Kyoto with its 2 subway lines buses form the main transport network. Japan's railroad terminals are hubs for most city buses whose fares depend on distances.

Noticeable bus stops show routes and timetables. Some may have hi-tech e-boards and announcements. Buses write their numbers and destinations on the front. Few buses have their routes written in Latin letters, so carry a paper with wanted names written in kanji hieroglyphs

In Tokyo and some cities you pay a fixed price getting on a bus, but in most other places for buses or trams you take a coupon from a ticket machine with the stop N you entered from. An indicator panel above the driver's seat shows the stop N and fare you're to pay on exit.

1-day passes for both the subway and city buses are available in Nagoya. Kyoto, for example, provides the elderly with free passage.

In Tokyo passengers enter buses through the front door, while most other cities make passengers enter through the rear door to exit via the front door.

City buses and distant buses usually differ in color. Kyoto city buses are green and suburban buses are white. Most cities hardly have night bus services. After buses and the subway close for the night (around midnight), there're only taxis left.