I’m three days into traversing Tokyo, and it’s already become painfully obvious that Japan loves the Dodgers and that Uber and I are not in a long-term financial relationship. Both are pretty annoying, to be honest!
In general, Tokyo isn’t expensive—it’s just allergic to lazy logistics. Every Uber/taxi ride feels like a polite, impeccably clean mugging.
The city is basically daring me to learn its transit system, and after a few receipts, you realize it’s not a suggestion. It’s a survival strategy.
This place doesn’t financially reward Uber convenience.
It rewards commuter train competence.
The Uber system worldwide is so efficient that it’s borderline daring you to be lazy. You tap, ride, arrive—no drama, no chaos, just silent competence moving millions of people like it’s nothing. Every time I used it in the past, it felt good as the prices are low, but Tokyo is the total opposite.
I’ve taken the train a few times already, and it costs just a few dollars each trip. 
Suddenly, traveling the city feels infinite instead of expensive.
And then there’s me below in the station, standing in front of the map with a full deer in the headlights stare, trying to decode a web of lines that looks like a beautifully designed stress test.
Equal parts awe, confusion, and
“I absolutely need to learn the local transportation system.”
It’s humbling to look lost AF.
It’s hilarious walking in circles.
But it’s way cheaper pretending I’m good at public transit.
Google Maps is doing the heavy lifting out here. Walking, driving, trains—it doesn’t matter how you move, it just makes you look relatively competent, which is a game-changer for me.
The train feature is the real hero here in Tokyo!
It tracks you in real-time, updates at every stop, and tells you exactly how close you are to your destination. No guessing. No panic. Just a calm little voice saying, “Not yet. Not yet. Okay, now.”
It turns a subway system that looks like abstract art into something you can actually use.
All of these local rides are basically training wheels—once I grab my Japan Rail Pass, these short hauls getting to the bullet train become “free” as they are included in the $50 a day pass.
That’s when the country really opens up. Tokyo today, Kyoto tomorrow, Hiroshima the next at high speed—no Uber surge pricing, no second-guessing getting ripped off, just show up at the train station and go.
You can read my full breakdown of how I’m planning on using the Japan Rail Pass blog.
Click HERE to see the potential plan
It’s not just transportation.
It’s financial leverage keeping me in the Tokyo Grand Theft transportation game!
Another problem, I suck at games too! 😐