As people have ever lived in Tokyo area may know, getting on a train could be the worst experience.
I, as a person who grew up in a rural area of Japan where you can only catch a train every one hour, hates getting trains in Tokyo area, especially in the commute time.
Here is some things you should watch out when you get a train in Tokyo area.
1. Kind pretender
If you get offered to help buying right train tickets, you should be watch out.
The person could be a “kind pretender”.
There are people who talk to foreigners who don’t seem to get used to Japanese transportation system.
They ask if you need help to get a right train ticket for you.
They seem like a very kind person but they make you pay money after they help you out.
So I recommend to get a prepaid card that enables you to take trains/buses without thinking about fares called Suica or PASMO.
You can get one on a ticket machine but if you are not sure how to get it, you can always ask station staff.
You can use this prepaid train/bus card at many shops such as convenience stores too.
2. Pushing bums / bags
I see that Japanese people are not as nice and polite as you hear through media, especially on trains.
In a crowded train, people use their bums and backpacks to just get on a train.
They do not care whether some people are already standing close by the door, they just push and push backwards.
I’m always like
“Come on, the next train will come within 5mins!!”
Those people are the cause of train delay in the morning.
3. Sleepy heads
Japan is one of the safest countries in the world.
Some people sleep deeply on a train. You will definitely one day run into someone sitting next to you swinging his/her head or trying to lean on you if you live in Japan.
Additionally, you also need to watch out for people standing too. I don’t know how but they can even sleep while standing and dribbling…
4. Ending
Trains sometimes get really packed in Japan. It is not a great thing to run into people introduced here, but if you should, I would say welcome to Japan.
