Let's be honest – getting to Japan isn't exactly a quick hop. Unless you happen to live in East Asia, you're looking at a long-haul flight, and yes, you'll want to budget for it. Most of us are flying in, and the main international gateways are Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports, or Osaka's Kansai International if you're heading to the Kansai region. Haneda is closer to central Tokyo, which your future jet-lagged self will absolutely thank you for. A handful of cruise lines also dock at Japanese ports, so if you've got the time and the sea legs, knock yourself out.

Now, once you've landed and successfully located your luggage (fingers crossed), Japan opens up in a way that'll make you deeply disappointed with public transit back home. Seriously. We're warning you now – you will come back ruined.

The bullet train, or Shinkansen, is the crown jewel of getting around. These things are fast, punctual to an almost suspicious degree, and will whisk you between major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto in the time it would take most countries to find a bus schedule. If you're planning to travel between cities, the Japan Rail Pass is your best friend and a genuinely good deal – grab one before you leave home.

Within cities, the subway and local train networks are dense, efficient, and yes, a little overwhelming at first. Tokyo's metro map looks like someone sneezed spaghetti onto a piece of paper, but give it a day and you'll be navigating it like a local. Get yourself an IC card like a Suica or Pasmo – it's a rechargeable card that works on trains, subways, buses, and even some convenience stores, because Japan decided why not.

Buses fill in the gaps where trains don't go, and for the budget-conscious traveler, overnight highway buses are a perfectly reasonable (if slightly back-achy) way to cover long distances. Taxis exist, are comfortable and reliable, but will drain your wallet faster than you'd like.

Bottom line: getting around Japan is an absolute pleasure, and we're only a little smug about telling you that.

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