The nationwide rail pass is not automatically the cheapest way to cross Japan. How to choose between it and point-to-point tickets, what an IC card quietly covers, and the oversized-baggage rule that catches visitors at the Shinkansen gate.
When to take the high-speed train, when to fly, when a night train saves a hotel night, and when a rental car is worth the hassle — a mode-by-mode guide for a first European trip.
