Page 385 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  383

There are often bicycle-rental
companies in tourist areas. A
good option in the capital is
Rent a Bike.jp. Sidewalks are
frequently used by cyclists,
despite the fact that it is illegal
to do so. However, this is not
strictly enforced and some
towns prefer cyclists to use
Tourists aboard a Shiretoko sightseeing boat side walks rather than roads.
Addresses drivers speak much English,
Addresses in Japanese start with so it is best to carry a map Long-Distance Buses
the name of the prefec ture and marked with instructions in The efficiency and extent of
work backward through various Japanese and the phone the rail network in Japan is
districts to the number of a small number of your destination. such that few foreign tourists
block in which the particular tend to use long-distance
building is located. When Ferries and Tourist Boats buses. However, the bus
Japanese addresses are written network is comprehensive,
in Roman letters, the order is Tickets for some ferries can be and for those without a JR Rail
reversed, so that the block bought at the ferry term inal on Pass, a bus is a much cheaper
number comes first, following the day of departure. Usually, option. While styles and services
Western convention. In an there is a form to fill in, which vary, buses are uniformly
address, the first num ber of, for enables the ferry company to comfortable, and often have
example, 2-3-4 Otemachi refers compile a list of passengers. toilets. Local information
to the chome (main block). The JNTO’s travel man ual details the centers have time table details
second number points to a main services. There are many or see JR Bus Kanto.
smaller block of buildings within long-distance ferry routes,
the original chome. The last is the including ones to mainland DIRECTORY
number of a yet smaller block of Asia (see p379).
buildings. On city streets, the Walking
block address numbers are Bicycles City of Tokyo Walking
sometimes given on utility Tours
poles and lampposts. As indicated by the often large ∑ gotokyo.org/en/tourists/
Local koban (manned police bicycle parks outside big sta- guideservice/guideservice
boxes) are often used to help tions and the huge numbers of
people reach their destina tions. bikes parked on the streets of Hiroshima Walking Tour
Telephone operators will not Japan’s cities, the bicycle is an ∑ hiroshimatours.info
supply an address, even if a extremely popular way of Kyoto Walking Tour
number is known. Diddlefinger getting around – even though ∑ web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/
is an easy way to look up there are few cycle paths to people/h-s-love
Japanese addresses exclusively speak of. Rickshaws (jin-riki-sha) Nagoya Walking Tour
in English. are also back in fashion in ∑ geocities.jp/aichiguide/
predominantly tourist areas walk-e.html
for those who prefer a more
Taxis
leisurely and traditional way Addresses
Taxis come in various colours, of getting around.
but all have a “taxi” sign on the Diddlefinger
∑ diddlefinger.com
roof. A red sign to the left of the
driver indicates that the taxi is Bicycles
free. You can flag a taxi on the
street or look for a stand: they Rent a Bike.jp
are invariably located near main ∑ rentabike.jp
stations. The cost to hire one
is expensive with rates starting Long-Distance Buses
around ¥600–¥700 for the first JR Bus Kanto
mile. Fares increase per mile, ∑ jrbuskanto.co.jp
and are higher at night and
on weekends. Fares also
increase in standing traffic.
Drivers operate taxi doors
electrically from inside so you
do not need to bother opening Rickshaw, an old-fashioned, but popular,
and closing them. Few taxi mode of transportation

382-383_EW_Japan.indd 383 08/08/16 3:10 pm