Musa's Traveling In Asia: How to ride the subway in Tokyo

Hi all! Well, I am back. I had to deal with many issues and it took a while for me to post a new blog. Well, here I am now.

Today, I want to talk a little about how to take a subway in Tokyo. If you know how to take a subway, most likely, you can go almost anywhere in Tokyo.

I was born in Tokyo, I so I do not have much anxiety taking subways, but even Japanese people who are from outside of Tokyo always tell me taking a subway in Tokyo is too complied.

Well, it must be very complicated because Tokyo is such a big city, and there are 13 different subway lines running through the city of Tokyo.

Each subway line has its own "hub" stations which are connected with other subway lines, as well as to many different trains on the grounds which is owned by many private train companies, such as JR East, Tobu Railway Company, and Tokyu Railway. The entire map looks like this!

Shocking right? Well do not worry, I will tell you how to take a subway step by step. GET A SUBWAY MAP! Since subway system in Tokyo is too complicated, I recommend you to download subway map or obtain subway map at train station nearby you.

You can download subway map HERE!

BUT A TICKET

You buy ticket at the ticket vending machine at at the airport. It is usually situated next to ticket gates. It usually look like this.

Ok, do you notice that you see the map above the machines? The map will tell you the fare to your destination.

In Tokyo, subway are varies depend on the destination. You need to buy the right fare to ride subways in Japan?

Do you think you can fake it? NO I will tell you later why you can't.

So how can you choose the right fare of the ticket.

Here is the screen of the vending machine.

The machine will give you a choice to display in English or Japanese. You choose English, and the rest follow the instruction of the screen, Then you are good to go.

TICKET GATE

In order for you to get to the subway station, you need to get through ticket gates. You insert the ticket yo purchased in the machine, and if there is not anything wrong, they will let you in.

The thing is you need to get through the gate at your destination to get out from the subway station. I you did not pay the right fare, you are going to be stopped by the machine, and will be asked to pay the right are by the staff at the station, whose office is locate right next to the ticket gates on the way out.

The gate looks like this.

I guess you see the pink booth. They are the customer service, as well as, where you will fix your are, if your are is short.

So now you are about to take a subway. You may lost or wander in the subway platform, because it is so large. I recommend you to follow the direction boards. It look like this.

Or like this...

You will get where you need to get to. GETTING ON THE SUBWAY CAR Ok, you get to the platform, which look like this...

SUBWAYS IN JAPAN IS SUPER PUNCTUAL If you know the timetable of the subway, you cal always get to your destination on time. All the trans including subways, trains on the grounds and Bullet Trains are all punctual. You can also see how soon your train will come by checking the display above you.

You do not have to worry about running late, because 99% of all time time.

But just in case, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR TOKYO SUBWAYS PLANNERS AND FARE FINDER.

STAND ON LINE BEFORE WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR TRAIN

You NEED to stand on line to wait for you to board on the train. The line looks like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTjuI6A8mZQ

（courtesy of Omiya Express)

As you saw on the Youtube video, people will be on line while waiting. When the trains comes, you will let the passenger out first, then you get in later. This rule applies all the time, and as you saw on Youtube, the rules are strictly enforced.

BE AWARE OF "LADIES ONLY" CARDS. There are some "Ladies only" cards among all the cars connected.

For prevent women from groper, in Japan, Ladies only cares are available during the rush hours in subways of Tokyo. Gus, do not get in there, you will be in trouble.

NO CELL PHONE PLEASE!

Lastly, it is strictly prohibited to use cell phone either in the car or in the platform of subways in Japan. This rule is extended to most of the public transportation, maybe except taxis.