Over 200 travelers told me their biggest Japan travel mistakes. Here are the 5 that kept coming up.

Japan is often seen as easy to get around, thanks to its efficient trains.

However, when you arrive at places like Shinjuku Station with its 200 exits and layered underground walkways, you’ll quickly realize that’s not entirely true.

Although efficient, Japan’s train network isn’t always intuitive to navigate at first. Living here without a car, I’ve relied entirely on trains and still occasionally miss stops or fumble scanning QR codes at ticket gates (quick tip: turn your screen brightness up).

Many travelers also told me they regret buying the JR pass, a once-popular option for multicity travel.

Significant price increases in recent years have changed the rail pass’s value, and many commenters admitted they bought it out of habit without checking whether it would actually save them money.

It may still be worthwhile for some, but it’s worth crunching some numbers based on your itinerary before deciding whether to purchase it.

Otherwise, to save time and reduce the stress of navigating Japan’s public transport system, use taxis where possible, especially in cities like Kyoto, where buses can get crowded and move slowly.