Traveling in Japan: Trains, Lanes, and Airplanes

One of the bicycle garages at my college in Tokyo.

I've been in Japan for some time now, so I might as well explain how it is I got here. Usually, that sort of thing isn't noticed, but when you are traveling without a car, everything about transport is important because if there is not easy way to get where you want to go, you probably won't make it (unless you don't mind departing 3 hours early for a heart-healthy walk). And the great thing about Japan is how many modes of travel they have available. Rather than make a laborious story of it all, how about a breakdown? Okay, let me break it down for you!

Planes: Japanese planes may be like everyone else's, but I've found that steward(ess) profession is much different in foreign flight companies. They only hire the most beautiful, well spoken, well mannered, and well educated people only to put them through rigorous training to make them even more perfect. These people are the first example of your nation's citizens to foreign visitors or are the last ones they'll see before they go back to their country, so don't you want to make a great impression? If you are a steward(ess) in Japan, it means that you've passed many tests and can act and present yourself magnificently, so it is considered a rather fashionable and desired position. Soup operas who want to show a lovely and successful girl will cast her as a stewardess, always jetting off to wonderful and distant locations. Likewise, Asian airplane food has to be some of the best that I've ever had. Usually you have two choices but both are delicious, hot, and well presented.

Bullet Trains: Super smooth and quiet, bullet trains are great when you are short on time. Not all of them go the same speed or distance, either. Some of the lesser bullet trains can get you from the airport to a major city or from the south of Japan all the way up to Tokyo. The only issue I've ever had with bullet trains has been bringing too much luggage on them and navigating in the small entrance when you first get n and off. Besides that, I totally recommend them....if you have the cash.

Sure it may be a subway station, but why not
have a live and artistic ikibana arrangement?

Trains and Subways: Pretty much the same thing, really. Both are convenient, frequent, on time, and clean! Well, until someone on the late night weekend rides becomes sick, but that is cleaned quickly. I had heard terrible stories about theft on trains, disgusting conditions in subway halls, and late trains, but that hasn't really happened in Japan. The worst things are occasional groping (but just be aware of what is going on, stand on a woman only train car, or stand with your back to the wall and that pretty much solves that problem), suicide when someone jumps on the tracks (an extremely rare event), and if you get on an express train instead of a local (or vice versa) so that you skip right over the stop you wanted (or it takes you and extra 15 minutes because the local stops EVERYWHERE). All the tickets are pretty cheap, but they add up after a while, so be careful and try to get a deal on train passes if you can.

Buses: Besides being amazingly prompt and clean, the buses all have their schedules posted right on the bus stop sign. I remember the the RTA back home had information packets, but if you suddenly had the urge to catch a bus, you had to figure out when and where it was ahead of time or you were out of luck. Here you can suddenly think, "A bus ride would be nicer than a train", spot a bus stop and see when and where the next one is going. And if there is an area without a train, the bus routes are easier for the city to instigate. At the same time, transportation cards can work for trains, subways, and buses, so there is no need to always dig through your change purse before you get on.

Even this cat knows that bicycles are the
way to go. He was snoozing in one outside
of my old dorm at ICU.

Bicycles: Because so many people here have bicycles  there are stores and repair shops in every city. And the bicycles themselves are great! Most have deep baskets in the front for carrying all sorts of things, the light on the front of the bikes are powered by your pedaling, so no need to worry about killing the battery. Besides that, there is sometimes a rack on the back of the bike for futari nori (two people ridding a single person bike), but that is kind of illegal in some areas, so just bike around the police boxes ;) Most cities also have special bike lanes to keep pedestrians and bikers safe from cars and confusion, but these don't occur on all streets.

Walking: Japan is an extremely friendly walking area. Not only are the roads and sidewalks in good condition, but shop keepers keep these pathways immaculate and decorate their storefronts to attract pedestrians. Other walkers are also about, which makes the activity more friendly. What does that mean? Well, if I were ever walking home from a store in America, people thought that I needed help and would pull over to offer me a ride. "You poor thing. You've been walking for 10 minutes?! With that bag? Here, do you need a lift?" "Um, no, I like the exercise, the scenery, and I have a car and just chose not to use it." But here, other people are walking, so it isn't weird and you feel like your part of something normal, not an oddball or poor kid.

Clearly marked bicycle lanes

Taxis: Even after the last train or bus, the taxi's are still running. Taxi drivers aren't upset about dealing with foreigners, just make sure to know your address (writing/printing it on a card in Japanese and handing it to them is the easiest) because they can't understand "the hotel near the station, just past the bridge." When I was in Kyoto, the lady I was riding with had me chat with the taxi driver quite a bit to figure out good tourist spots and figure out why the had lace on all the headrests in the taxi. What is also interesting is that taxi's are also very clean! Who would have guessed right? But in the same way that an office worker organizes their desk, or a classroom is cleaned by the teacher and student, keeping the taxi neat and orderly is the responsibility and pride of the taxi driver. This also means that they can spot if you've left your wallet there rather quickly. HELPFUL HINT: Whenever you ride in a taxi, ALWAYS keep the receipt just in case you do lose something in it because the receipt will have the time and taxi number on it so when you call to report it, they can track down your belongings faster.

An indoor showroom I came across in an underground
shopping mall in Sakae, Nagoya, Japan.

Cars: Um, Japan is a major car maker, so are you surprised that they have stick AND automatic? The oddest thing here would be that they drive on the left, are forbidden to make ANY turns on red, all highways cost money to drive on them, and speed rules are strictly enforced. And while I have been told that Asians are terrible drivers, I would put them up for any World Champion Parking Contest. The spaces that they maneuver and park in (backwards, if they can help it) are so small. More power to them!

Sadly, I wasn't able to add motorcycles or scooters to that list, because I have not ridden on any here in Japan yet. I did ride on the back of a motor scooter in Shanghai with one of the Chinese teachers and that was.... precarious. But she was a Momma and made sure that I was confident the whole time and knew I'd arrive safely. It was the other drivers I was worried about!

Also, Japan has absolutely NO DRINKING AND DRIVING policy. That goes for bikes, scooters, motorcycles, and cars. So if you have had anything to drink within 12 hours, it is best to walk or take a train/taxi/bus. Either that or pay a pretty heavy fine. Just keep all of these things in mind and you'll be able to travel around safely and easily in Japan.