What associations do you have when do you think about the Japanese metro? Before the trip, I presented him like that.
Thousands of people merge into a general stream. Around chaos. People do not fit into the wagons, so special employees push them. Scream. The noise of a departing train. Which station to go? Nothing is clear! On the signs are solid hieroglyphs …
If your ideas about the Japanese metro are like mine, then relax. Everything is not so scary. In this text, I will tell you how to use the Japanese subway using the example of the metro c.
I want in Tokyo!
To get from point A to point B, you need to perform 7-8 simple actions, depending on whether you need a transplant or not.
1. Find the desired entrance to the metro station.
2. Buy a ticket at a machine or checkout.
3. Go through the turnstile.
4. Choose the right direction.
5. Go out at the right station.
6. Make a transplant and repeat points 4-5.
7. Go through the turnstile.
8. Find the desired access to the city.
Everything is simple and clear. In any metro, we perform a similar sequence of actions, but Japan has its own specifics. Let’s figure it out.
How to find the right entrance to the metro station
We lived next to the Sinjuku station – the most popular in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Every day he accepts more than 3 million people. Huge transport hub: 36 platforms and 200 outputs to the city. Diving under the first sign and immediately buy a ticket is a mistake that will take time.
At the stage of acquaintance with the city, first of all, you need to find the entrance that leads to your station. It’s not about going to the subway from the street, but about the entrance to a specific station. There are turnstiles, and above them there is a pointer in Japanese and English. The pointer is either highlighted by the color that is assigned to this line, or on it there is an icon of your line with an arrow-designer. Why is it important to find your entrance?
1. Next to the entrance to the station are machine guns where you need to buy tickets. The terminals on different branches are very similar. In the bustle, you can get confused and buy the wrong ticket. Once I did so, I had to go to the on -duty at the entrance and explain the situation. Fortunately, there were no problems with the return of money.
2. The stations of different branches are naturally interconnected, but it is much more convenient to immediately approach the right entrance than to go through another station and make it to the desired platform.
How to buy tickets in a machine
Tickets in the subway and on JR trains are sold at the box office and machine guns. Automatic machines are faster and more convenient and located right in front of turnstiles. A metro card with prices hangs above them, most often it is duplicated in English. If there is no desired stop on the map, then on the side of the terminal on the information shield there will be a full list of stations with the cost of the fare.
The red mark on the map is the station where you are now. Find the destination. There will be two digits next to him. Large black – the usual price of a ticket. Little color – preferential. Remember the black digit and approach the machine.
1. Press the English button.
2. Select Ticket.
3. Find and click a button with a price that coincides with a black number on the map.
4. Bring the money. Buildings and a trifle from 10 yen are suitable.
5. Take a ticket and change.
Be sure to save the ticket until the end of the trip, because at the exit the turnstile will take it back.
What will happen if you buy the wrong ticket
It’s OK. The turnstile will not miss you either at the entrance or at the exit of the subway. There is no need to be afraid of this. A English -speaking employee will always be on duty next to turnstiles, you can approach him and explain the situation. I said something like this:
“Good afternoon, we wanted to drive from X station to Y station. We bought such a ticket, but there was a problem. Tell me what to do? “
The employee will either ask to pay the difference, or return the money and show how to buy it correctly, or maybe just miss it. It also happened. If there is no desire to communicate with the duty, then there will be terminals for automatic surcharge. It is necessary to insert a ticket into the terminal and he will show how much it is required to add.
An important point. Since you buy a ticket with an sight to a specific station, be careful in adjusting the plans. If you suddenly decide to drive one stop more, then at the exit you may be asked to pay the difference in the cost of tickets.
What’s the fare
Metro in Tokyo is represented by two competing systems:
- Tokyo Metro – 9 lines that are privatized in 2004;
- TOEI Subway – 4 lines contained at the expense of the city budget.
In addition, the city has several more monorail lines and JR trains-an analogue of our electric trains.
The fare in different systems differs, but usually depends on the distance between your station and the final stop. There are several intervals. Here is an example of gradation for the Tokyo metro.
- 1-6 km. – 170 yen (86 rubles);
- 7–11 km. – 200 yen (101 rubles);
- 12–19 km. – 240 yen (121 rubles);
- 20–27 km. – 280 yen (141 rubles);
- 28–40 km. – 310 yen (157 rubles).
Each railway system has its own travel. They can be used in different conditions and with different benefits for the owner. In our journey, we made only 2-3 trips to the subway and often moved from city to city by bus, so buying travel was unprofitable.
Only Coumpon Tickets would come in handy – wholesale purchase of tickets. For example, 14 pieces at a price of 10. This option is suitable for large companies, and there were just six of us, but we did not know about this option.
It is best to read about travel on official sites of railway systems right before the trip.
How to navigate the subway
At the station
In Tokyo, each station has its own unique designation. It consists of a letter assigned a line, and a serial number of the station. Examples: C12, M14, E25.
Signs work in the same way as in any other metro. When searching for a platform, it is important to monitor the color of the line and the direction indicated on the sign. For these purposes, it is good to have a metro card at hand or phone, so as not to constantly run to information stands.
The main difficulty for a tourist is to sit on the desired train. They differ among themselves in that high -speed trains pass small stations without stopping. You can determine the type of composition according to the data on an electronic board, a plate on the first car and inscriptions on other wagons.
You can find out the route using the scheme that is placed on the platform. Trains are assigned a certain color. Several color lines are drawn on the diagram, which pass through all the branches of the branches. If a circle is drawn near the station, then the train of this type stops on it. If not, he passes by.
Planting in the car – an organized process. In any case, in those hours when the metro is not clogged with a bit. On the platform, signs are drawn where the doors will be. People line up in neat queues and calmly release passengers from the car, after which they come in. Quietly and without fuss.
In the carriage
The main task of the tourist at this stage is not to miss your station. To do this, follow the route in order to go out in time in time. You can use different sources of information:
1. Ads.
They are duplicated in English. The arrival station is called the next in the direction of movement.
2. Electronic display or interactive card.
They display relevant data on the trip and the following stations.
3. Map.
Usually a line diagram hangs above the door. The whole card can be viewed at the stations or search in the car.
4. Signs at stations.
When you pass the platform, the sign says not only the name of the station, but also those that were before and will be after it.
Once I was driving towards the gynza, but missed the train. He sat on the high -speed. He safely drove my station, I had to go out at the next. There was a surprise. You just can’t go to another platform. We must go to the city and pay again or communicate with the duty officer, so that he misses just like that. I preferred a walk to the destination. Lost 30 minutes. Such a system is not at all stations, but keep in mind.
Interesting observations
- It is not accepted to give way. Be prepared for the fact that your courtesy will not understand or appreciate.
- At the peak hours, when the metro works at the limit, one car is allocated in the compositions only for women. It is written on it: “Women Only.”
- You can move from one car to another. This is fine. The doors are not locked.
- During a stop, the driver is protruded from the cab and monitors the landing. When everyone went into the car, he closes the doors and starts the engine.
- There is a free and clean public toilet at each metro station. A lot of machine guns with drinks and snacks.
- There are usually several exits to the city. They are numbered. In order not to miss, it is better to study the card, which is immediately behind the turnstiles.
That’s all. If you defeated the metro in Tokyo, then the subway in other cities of Japan will seem very simple and intuitive to you. Good luck!
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