You can get around this by buying an SF Metrocard which automatically deducts the fare when you go through the automatic tickets gates. The minimum fare is currently 160 yen, making it a bit more expensive than the train. Bus Many people spend their entire time in Japan without using busses. Especially in the cities, the train and subways systems are so good that the busses are not often necessary. But if you happen to live in the suburbs or countryside, a long walk from the nearest station, then the local bus comes into its own.
Most city busses charge a flat fare, making short journies expensive and long ones cheap.
Suburban and rural busses show their fares above the inside front window. Taxi Taxi fares have become a little cheaper in recent years due to increased competition. But they are still expensive, usually starting at 600 yen or more for the first 2 kilometers plus 80 yen for each further 400 meters or so. After 11pm, rates go up by 20 percent. So if you miss the last train, be prepared for an expensive trip home.