Train, subway and car in Tokyo
Nobody is able to avoid traffic jam in big city but Tokyo is horrible when it comes to transportation. Subways and trains are running everywhere in Tokyo, but still there is a big problem.
If you have ever been to Roppongi in night, you probably know certain number of people running into subway around 24:00. Last train.
Train and subway are main transportation in Tokyo. But it closes operation around 24:00, starts running around 5:00. It is no good. And this is the reason why I stopped hanging out in Tokyo area anymore. I don’t want to stay up all night at bar or whatever. I want to sleep when I need to sleep. People living in Tokyo area is fine because they can take a cab to home. But if I take taxi to home, it costs over 20000JPY. It’s insane.
Second, trains are always crowded. Especially morning and evening, all cars are super packed. I hate commute but there is no choice. I think it is a part of the reason why people jumping in railtracks everyday. (and train will be late, and it brings another packed train).
In suburb, car is a popular transportation. as you might already guess, traffic jam in everywhere:P
Highway is just a highway, not express way. Toll is very expensive (from my home to Mt.Fuji, toll costs about 3000JPY for one way) and gas is expensive too. I really don’t understand why I have to pay so much.
Also parking is A big problem in Tokyo. It is almost a mission impossible to find a place to park with no/small cost. Literally, it is impossible. Even you pay, it is still difficult.
Everytime friend come to my place, me and friend have to drive around to find a parking. It is not actually parking, we have to park on street anyway. Parking ticket is very expensive then, we have to check the car every 30mins. It is a big mystery of Japan. We sell a bunch of cars but we don’t have parking. Why don’t they build parking lot?
Me and friend agreed that we would build a tower of parking lot if we get lottery win so we can make more money!
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“Tokyo is horrible when it comes to transportation.”
Affordable, on time, safe and clean. Not many places with the population of Tokyo can claim this in their public transportation system. So what are you suggesting that trains run all night? Can you name any City in the world that has this? Maybe I’m bias, waiting for the bus in -30 degree wind for 40 min growing up makes Tokyo’s system absolute heaven.
“I think it is a part of the reason why people jumping in railtracks everyday. (and train will be late, and it brings another packed train).”
You’re joking right? Do you honesty think that people would choose to end their life in such a disgusting manner because of crowed trains?
“Also parking is A big problem in Tokyo. It is almost a mission impossible to find a place to park with no/small cost.”
Again, how is this different from any other City Tokyo’s size? Personally I’d be in favour of MUCH higher tolls and fees for people wanting to drive their cars in the city eating up more real estate in parking lots, roads. Not to mention the added costs and nuisances from noise and air pollution.
First, safety is not sure anymore. please don’t count on it. Tokyo is not safe anymore like other big cities.
About subway, in NYC subway don’t stop all day. It’s sometimes stopped for flood or something but I think running train 24h is wonderful. In Tokyo, I always have to care about last train while in theater/concert and have to run to the station after the play. there is no time to talk about it with accompanied.
Big city don’t allow us to drive well, so 24hrs transportation should be provided because it is the sleepless city. They better give people chance to enjoy metro life.
I was joking about people jumping in raitracks. but it is true. someone jumping in railtracks everyday. it is sad but true. In Japan, there are so many people kill oneself. Actually the highest rate holder. stressfull life is the only one reason, we have other reasons (such as religion).
People get used to hear announcement of delay due to accident involved human.
I’ve visited various cities in my 27years but never met the city which has less parking lot like Tokyo. I mean, not in city area, in people’s living area. In suburb or commuter town, people need car for transportation to go to store, hospital and et al. I can not tell pregnant woman or people who need to go hospital weekly to walk to there where obviously not walkable distance. much less transportation than metro area then. but there is less parking lot. people have to park on street and police give us expensive ticket. noice or air pollution are also big problem. but I can’t tell people who need parking lot that by wace-to-face.
Hi Coco, I commiserate with you. Here in London, the subway stops running by 1am, not starting again until 5am. We’re lucky though because at least we have cheap (
Obviously, you’ve never been to Bangkok :)
I understand that Tokyo will be building the first super-mega vertical super structure,called “sky city”.It will be a giant city within a city. Housing,shops,schools,entertainment,recreation,everything in one place,so no transportation needed except elivators.
There is already a small version of this in the USA called “Mall of America”.
Good luck trying to find parking in Manhattan.