Almost all public transportation including rails and buses are run by private companies compared to the US. It used to be run as a government entity until they all became privately held.

Fairs used to go up every year and tax mony was usa to substitute the losses. Since it became pubic, fairs rarely go up and the there is no tax money used any more. JR (Japan Rail) is one of the wealthiest public traded companies in Japan.

US should lean from it.