Outside of the local area, using the shinkansen (bullet trains) to travel to cities throughout Japan like Tokyo or Kyoto is popular on long weekends and holidays. Japan Airlines (JAL) has recently started something called the JAL Japan Explorer Pass, in which foreigners staying short-term (who have proof of a return flight out of Japan) can purchase lower-cost domestic flights throughout Japan. It makes traveling by plane cheaper than riding the shinkansen. From Akita to Tokyo, a flight takes one hour, whereas a bullet train takes four hours.
One form of transportation that should not be overlooked is taxis. Companies like Uber and Lyft tend to take much of that role in the States nowadays. In Japan, however, taxis are common, but expensive. A less than 10 minute ride in a taxi cost me $20. They are not ideal, but if you need to go somewhere off of the bus and train routes, they are sometimes the best option.
The first flight I took domestically was from Tokyo to Akita, after I entered the country. The whole time, I was worried about how I would get to the hotel. I knew there would be taxis, but I was not sure of the method of procuring one. Would I have to call one or would they be waiting outside the airport? Thankfully, it turns out taxis are regularly parked in places like the Aeon Mall and Akita Airport and I successfully showed the driver the address I had written down in Japanese.
I was nervous being in a taxi for the first time ever. The driver's seat is on the right side in Japan because they drive on the left side of the road, so it was my first experience with that outside of airport grounds.
