When riding on a train or a subway in Japan, there are a few things that one should keep in mind and important tips of etiquette.
Here are 10 things to prepare yourself before riding on a train or subway in Japan.
I. WHERE TO STAND
You will see two lines. One to the left of the entrance and one to the right. Stand behind the designated lines (and before the yellow divider) and you should be fine.
But one of the male foreigner mistakes that I see happen is that there is an area in pink that is designated for female passengers. Some guys don’t know that. In Japan, because chikan (perverted gropers) are a problem, there are train operators that have launched carriages that are “Women Only” and are in pink.
Rule of thumb, if you are a guy and see a pink sign on the floor, go look for the green sign or a line where there are men.
II. LET PEOPLE WALK OUT OF THE TRAIN BEFORE WALKING IN
To go through one entrance to a train or subway, you’ll notice a line to left and the right. Before entering, you wait until people leave the train and then you walk in. Do not try to walk in while people are coming out.
III. PREPARE TO WEAR YOUR BACKPACK IN THE FRONT OF YOU
The trains can get crowded and packed. And wearing a bulky backpack and hitting people with it is not cool. Wear the backpack in front of you and if you can’t, get ready to hold it closer towards the front of your legs or feet.
IV. ALWAYS LET THE ELDERLY, YOUNG CHILDREN, DISABLED SIT FIRST
I have made it a practice that if I get a seat and I see a senior citizen, a young child, disabled individual, I will get up and give them my seat. It’s just polite and the right thing to do.
If you can’t speak Japanese, look them in eye and point to your seat. 9 out of 10 they will take the seat.
You will notice a brown sign on windows indicating “PRIORITY SEATING”. You’ll notice ONLY elderly primarily sitting there. This is for them, not for you.
V. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WITH A LOT OF LUGGAGE
Try to go to the end of the train. It’s just the best thing to do, especially during the busy time of day such as 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m can get very packed!
VI. PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
No one likes to stand next to someone who smell. Be aware of that. Also, if you are sick and coughing and sneezing, wear a mask. You may not wear one in the country you are from but in Japan, people don’t want to catch your germs, you don’t want to catch their germs. Have a mask handy (and they are inexpensive at the convenience store).
VII. DON’T BE A JERK
Don’t try to talk on your smartphone while on the train. In fact, put your phone in “manner mode” (silent mode).
Don’t try to talk bad about people on the train.
You will notice foreigners are the worst offenders and possibly the one that ticked me off was seeing foreigners talked about women they would like to have sex with (very loudly). Their thinking is that if they are Japanese, they won’t understand English. No, that’s not true.
And no smoking on the train.
VIII. IF THE TRAIN LOOKS TO PACKED FOR YOU TO FIT, IT PROBABLY IS
There are times where you may see a space where you think you can fit. Unless you want to chance it and some people do, this is when things go in “Sardine mode”. You are literally body-to-body with a stranger, smushed up because it’s packed and crowded. There is no way to avoid this during peak times ala rush hour.
But I’ve seen people who are in a rush and try to get on when it’s so packed and the doors start to close and fortunately, in Japan, some trains close, then open for a quick few seconds and then close. But I’ve seen people’s clothes, jackets, bags get caught and people trying to help get them in or unlodged from the door.
IX. PRACTICE WALKING SAFELY
Some train stations do not have a gate to prevent people from falling off (or attempting suicide), so practice safe walking by not walking to close to the edge.
Do not text while walking.
X. REMEMBER THAT IF YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING ON THE TRAIN, DON’T FORGET IT
While Tokyo has an efficient lost and found on the train, try to make sure you have all your belongings before going out. If someone lost something, you can be cool and take it to the lost and found. If there isn’t one, then the Koban (police station) is another place to drop it off.
But I always count to 10 to quickly think if I have forgotten anything, before I leave the train, the hotel room or even my home.
