Buy a JR Pass or IC Card for Trains

The Japan Railways Pass (¥7,650 for 7 days) provides unmatched value, covering the entire country for less than the cost of a single Tokyo–Osaka bullet train round-trip (¥14,000 each way). This nationwide pass includes Shinkansen, local trains, and buses, outperforming #2's separate IC card costs for long-distance travel. Pre-ordering before arrival is mandatory for foreign visitors, and even basic Suica or Pasmo IC cards remain reloadable for over a decade, eliminating ticket-line hassles. With trains departing precisely on the second, setting mobile alerts prevents missed connections. The 30% discount over buying individual tickets makes the JR Pass essential for any multi-city itinerary.