Tokyo sardine commuting culture

hk_ayu · 30 Jun 2006

Tokyo sardine commuting culture has a very long history. Nowadays, the trains can be 200% full (>250% full in the past). Foreigners may feel sick of it but local people have got used to it. Together with the giant population, Japanese culture "Late is the worst thing in the world" lead to their sardine commuting culture.

At the same time, you may appreciate their stations' good order even under human tsunami. Commuters line up one by one like army at the waiting regions on platform. This order can only be a dream of many western cities.

So, now let's start our commuting trip in Tokyo. (Turn the sound on to get max reality)
Enjoy!

Commuter tsunami at Shinagawa Station - 1

Commuter tsunami at Shinagawa Station - 2

"Get set! Run!!" Yamanote Line Shinjuku Station

Sardine train on Yamanote Line at Shibuya Station

Sardine train on Keio Line

Inside a sardine train on Sobu Line at Shin Koiwa Station

Last train of the day

nice gaijin · 1 Jul 2006

the phenomenon you are referring to is called 満員電車 man in densha, but it does indeed feel like being in a sardine can. I remember holding the handles above my head so no one would confuse all the grinding for intentional sexual contact.

100% capacity just means that the seats are all taken and there's one person standing for each hand loop. It's amazing and not very comfortable, but 200% capacity isn't all that bad, for short trips.

Lastly, Shinjuku station itself is quite an amazing place; over 1.2 million people transfer through that station daily!

GodEmperorLeto · 1 Jul 2006

Holy crap, that's worse than Grand Central Station! Another reason why I do not want to live in Tokyo. If parking spaces weren't harder to find than the Holy Grail, I'd want a car.

hk_ayu · 2 Jul 2006

GodEmperorLeto said:
Holy crap, that's worse than Grand Central Station! Another reason why I do not want to live in Tokyo. If parking spaces weren't harder to find than the Holy Grail, I'd want a car.

There is convenient railway system.
Why do you still want to drive?

GodEmperorLeto · 3 Jul 2006

hk_ayu said:
There is convenient railway system.
Why do you still want to drive?

I love driving, especially in the countryside or on the highway. I've driven 8+ hours to visit family and I really don't mind it. I just hate driving in the city, which is the primary reason I probably won't have a car when I come to Japan. I'll miss driving, though, I can guarantee that.

Mike Cash · 3 Jul 2006

hk_ayu said:
There is convenient railway system.
Why do you still want to drive?

Here is a post which answers your question wonderfully:

http://tinyurl.com/gegqy

Mike Cash · 3 Jul 2006

GodEmperorLeto said:
I've driven 8+ hours to visit family and I really don't mind it.

Driving 8 hours is what I call "a short day at work".

Carlson · 3 Jul 2006

Ive got used to it now. Ive almost learned to sleep standing up when i didnt manage to get a seat.

Not sure how much driving you have done in Down town Tokyo there Mike... I know the first time i thought i could just drive around I ended up lost and stuck in traffic most of the time. I have learned it can be fun if you just fork up a lil money and pay a toll pass or 2 to move things along.

Tokyo sardine commuting culture

hk_ayu

後輩

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

GodEmperorLeto

先輩

hk_ayu

後輩

GodEmperorLeto

先輩

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Carlson

Stay At Home Mom!

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