Traveling to work by train can be either a hassle or a joy. My current trip is a joy. It lasts 26 minutes, covers 15.0 km, takes me over two rivers, passes through 5 stations, and occasionally allows me to view Mt. Fuji. On most days, there are a choice of seats on both sides of the carriage. This is good. This is as it should be.

Even though the listed time is 26 minutes, only 18 of those are actually spent riding on the train. The remaining 8 minutes consist of standing around waiting for the connecting train to arrive. This 8 minutes can vary, depending on the time of day. Some days require an all out dash from one platform to the other to make my connection. I hate those days, they make me sweat.

Passing over the rivers presents a visual break from the steady stream of houses and also allows passengers to glimpse Mt. Fuji on clear days. Very relaxing. After typhoons, the rivers are swollen and flow quickly. There are usually bits of tree and general garbage zipping by. I enjoy spotting shoes and clothing. It makes me wonder, “How did that shoe get in there?” My theory is, it belongs to the hobos who live on the river banks. I could be wrong.

The return commute is beautiful when there is a full moon and a clear sky.

Since my commute is done late in the morning, it is important to sit on the proper side of the train to avoid the glare. I do not sit on the sunward side of the train; It complicates playing PSP games and computing. Whenever possible, I pull the shades down over the windows. Some passengers do not seem to appreciate the shades being drawn. Tough shit, I’ve got corners to navigate and blog posts to compose.

That is my commute: I ride through two large stations and three useless ones, see a bit of nature, and enjoy my electronic gadgets.

Related posts:

1. Densha & Aruite">Densha & Aruite
2. Tokyo Moon
3. Mount Fuji from Tokyo
4. The Chuo Line.
5. The Ferris Wheel in MM21