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| Talk about travelling around in Tokyo, and JR or Japan Rail comes to mind. Unless you're filthy rich or travelling on company expense, you'll probably want to avoid the notoriously expensive cabs, and just travel exclusively on the rail system.
The Japanese rail system has a sterling reputation for being always on time, highly efficient, and extremely use-friendly. In our tour of Tokyo, we tried the JR trains to see if this reputation is justified. |
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| First step, of course, is to buy tickets. Ticket machines are conveniently found near the station entrances.
One trick about buying tickets is that you do not have to buy the exact fare. You can simply buy the minimum amount, then top-up your fare at the destination. Top-up machines are conveniently located at station exits for you to top-up. This proves to be a great time and money saver, especially if you decide halfway to check out that fancy restaurant you saw on your way to your destination.
For the seasoned traveller, stored value tickets and tourist passes are also available at station offices. These give you even greater convenience, as you do not have to keep buying tickets. |
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| Ticketing machines (left), JR tickets (center) and Top-up machines (right) |
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| Japan is widely regarded as a polite society, and you better believe it! Forget those stories you hear about sardine-packed trains and people squeezing you in, the real deal is - Japanese people are polite and considerate, even in the crowded trains.
While waiting for the train, what you'll notice first of all is that everyone is actually queuing for the trains. Neat queues form up, and people respectfully stand in line and get ready to board the train... totally civilized behaviour! Don't make the mistake of cutting queue, it's really frowned upon here.
Once you enter the train, first thing you'll notice is the absolute silence. People do not talk loudly in the trains.... if they even talk at all. Conversations are kept to a whisper, mobile phones are put to silent mode, and no one even talks on their mobile phone. The result - a very peaceful and pleasant train ride.
The people are hugely considerate too! Even in jam-packed trains, people who are standing near the doorways will make sure that they are not blocking your way when you want to exit. Even with our large shopping bags, it was never a problem in the crowded trains.
Needless to say, no one eats or drinks in the trains, and there is virtually no litter around. |
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| Crowded trains don't have to be noisy trains. There's always a sense of peace on Japan's trains. |
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| Train stations are conveniently located amongst the main shopping areas in Tokyo. The most popular line is the Yamanote Line, a circle line that brings you to popular shopping districts - Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Ikebukero, Harajuku and Ueno.
The rail system is a little complicated, so it's best to have a rail map with you. You can download one below. |
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| Download this JR map for your convenience. |
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| There's lots of climbing to be done at train stations, so better keep yourself fit! Most stations are accessed by stairs, with lifts available for the handicapped. There's lots of stair climbing involved, which goes to show why most of the people you see around Tokyo are so slim and fit.
Outside the stations, there are usually lockers for you to rent. These prove to be a godsend, especially if you do a lot of shopping like us. From 100 yen for a small locker, you can get a place to put all your stuff while you go shopping for more. Lockers are emptied overnight, so make sure you remember to collect your stuff. |
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| Lockers for your convenience (left) and the reason why Japanese people stay slim - lots of stairs! (right) |
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| We must admit, the train experience in Tokyo is great. It certainly lives up to it's reputation, and definitely makes our Tokyo Fantasy more enjoyable. The ease of taking trains and the peace during the journey makes taking trains here pure pleasure. |
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| Well, that's all the space we have this month, join us next month, as we explore more of Tokyo and take a walk around the shopping areas!
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