Stored-value transit cards
The single most useful transport tool in most Asian cities is a rechargeable contactless card. You tap it on the gate when you enter and again when you leave, and the correct fare is deducted. It removes the need to read a fare chart in an unfamiliar script, and in many places it also pays for convenience-store purchases and lockers.
In Japan, the main cards are Suica (JR East, Tokyo area), PASMO (Tokyo private railways and subways) and ICOCA (JR West, Osaka and Kyoto). They work interchangeably on most city networks nationwide. Welcome Suica is a tourist version without a deposit, valid for a limited period. Availability of physical cards has varied in recent years, so check current sales points before you go.
If you use an iPhone, you can usually add Suica, PASMO or ICOCA to Apple Wallet even if the phone was bought outside Japan, and top it up with a card in the Wallet app. Most Android phones sold abroad lack the FeliCa chip these cards need, so Android users should plan on a physical card.
| Destination | Transit card | Maps that work well | Ride-hailing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Suica, PASMO, ICOCA | Google Maps, Japan Travel by NAVITIME | GO; Uber in some cities |
| South Korea | T-money | Naver Map, KakaoMap | Kakao T |
| Hong Kong | Octopus or contactless bank card | Google Maps, Citymapper | Uber, local taxi apps |
| Taiwan | EasyCard, iPASS | Google Maps | Uber, local taxi apps |
| Singapore | Contactless bank card (SimplyGo) | Google Maps, Citymapper | Grab, Gojek |
| Mainland China | Transit QR codes in Alipay or WeChat | Amap, Baidu Maps | DiDi |
| Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia | City-specific cards or contactless | Google Maps | Grab |
Navigation apps
Google Maps is very reliable for public transport in Japan, showing platforms, transfer times and even which carriage is closest to your exit on some routes. Japan Travel by NAVITIME is a useful alternative written for visitors, including rail pass coverage.
In South Korea, Google Maps shows transit but gives limited walking and driving directions because of local map data rules. Install Naver Map or KakaoMap, both of which offer English interfaces. In mainland China, Google services are generally blocked and map data is less accurate; Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps are the local standards, though largely in Chinese.
Whichever app you use, download offline maps of your first city at home. Offline maps will not show live train times, but they will show where you are and where your hotel is, which is often all you need.
Ticket machines and reserved seats
Ticket machines in large Japanese and Korean stations nearly always have an English button, usually on the start screen. If you are unsure, look for a staffed ticket office; in Japan these are often marked with a green sign. For long-distance trains such as the Tokaido Shinkansen, you can reserve seats online through the operators' official services, and many visitors find it calmer to book the day before. If you hold a Japan Rail Pass, check carefully which trains and seat reservations it covers, as the rules and price were revised in 2023.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Ride-hailing is the best backup when trains stop for the night. Grab covers much of Southeast Asia and shows the fare before you confirm. In Japan, the GO app calls licensed taxis, and Uber operates as a taxi dispatcher in some cities. In mainland China, DiDi is widely used and is available inside Alipay. In South Korea, Kakao T is the main app; check whether it accepts your foreign card before relying on it.
Caveat: card balances and refunds
Transit card balances are usually non-refundable or refundable only with a fee. Top up in small amounts towards the end of your trip.
Caveat: last trains
Metro systems in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul generally stop running around midnight. Check the last-train time in your app, not just the route.
Desk tip: screenshot your route from the airport, including the station name in the local script. Station staff can point you in the right direction even without a shared language.