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TRANSPORTATION
TOURISM
LIVING IN JAPAN
Railroad
Shinkansen
Bus
Taxi
Car
Transportation in Tokyo
Rush hour
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The following is a description of how to use local trains and subways:
This description refers to the JR situation in Tokyo. There are minor differences between different companies and to the situation outside Tokyo and in other cities.
- Buying a ticket: Tickets are sold at vending machines. You have to find your destination on a map above the machines. The fare is written beside the station name. Pay this amount, and press the bottom with the correct fare. The maps are very difficult to read since there are many different lines, and worst of all: the station names are almost always written in Japanese characters only.
If you really cannot find your destination station on that map, you may just buy a ticket for the lowest possible price. In that case you have to pay the balance later at the destination station.
ticket vending machine with map above
- Barriers: With a valid ticket you can now proceed through the barriers. You have to put the ticket into a slot to open the barrier. Don't forget to take the ticket with you on the other side of the barrier.
- Platform: Fortunately most of the signs are written in Japanese and Roman letters.
On the platform there are marks to show where the doors of the train will be located. Waiting passengers will line up in two lines behind those marks. The train drivers are trimmed to stop exactely within centimeters.
Some platforms may be used by trains of different categories. Local trains stop at every following station, but rapid trains do not stop everywhere. Be careful concerning this fact.
passengers waiting in a line
- Ride: Inside the train most of the passengers are either sleeping or reading comics or magazines.
The "silver seats" are reserved for the elderly.
sleeping passengers
- Get out: All station names are written in kanji, hiragana, and romaji (Roman letters). Furthermore, the signs always tell you which was the last and which will be the next station.
- Destination station: Leave the station through the barriers. You won't get back your ticket now if it is a singel ticket.
If you have not paied the correct fare for this destination station you have to pay the balance at a "Fare Adjustment" machine before leaving through the barriers.
fare adjustment machine
There is a special page about rush hour.
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