Here are several transportation systems in Japan.
1, JR: Japan Railway that was a national service and now privatized.
Nationwide services.
JR issues Japan Rail Pass for foreign visitors.
https://japanrailpass.net/en/
2, Shitetsu: Private sector railway services
Many private sector railway services have been deployed for suburban areas from central cities.
3, Subway system: Major cities have their subway system.
4, Tram services: supplemental tram services are available for special area
5, Bus services: many bus services are available. Long range service from the city to city.
Area service in a city. Narrow area service in a community.
Here are two general use transportation passes, SUICA is issued by JR, PASMO is issued by non-JR railway companies.
This can be purchased at the station with a 500 yen deposit, and you can top up as you like, this is called “CHARGE”.
These two cards are equivalent to each other.
You can use either of these for 1,2,3,4 and 5 above, and also used for taxi fee, Soda vending machine and at convenience stores.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html
https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/normalpasmo/
JR and the Subway system have 24 hours or one day passes for a limited area with very economical fees.
Guides sometimes use such passes.
※Japan Rail Pass is valid on Shinkansen except for one exemption.
The Shinkansen bound for Kyoto has 3 type services.
Nozomi : it takes about 2 and a half hours from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Hikari : it takes about 3 hours from Tokyo to Kyoto
Kodama : it takes about 4 hours from Tokyo to Kyoto
Japan Rail Pass is accepted for Hikari and Kodama , but invalid for Nozomi.
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