One of the things I was most reticent about when coming to Japan was the Tokyo Metro. I’d heard of over crowding and people being pushed onto trains so that the doors can close. I have to say that I haven’t experienced anything like this although it can get very busy.

This is the train I get to work each day. This train is an express so it misses lots of stops and I can get door to door in 30 minutes.

It is quite long with 10 or so carriages so off peak there is a lot of space. The interesting part is during peak-hour however. People line up behind the door markings on the platform.

Therefore there is no need to form a scrum to get on. Just join the queue. Allow people off first. Then allow anybody who has temporarily stepped off to re-board. Then squeeze yourself in. If you get to the front of the queue and don’t think you can fit in just wait. Another train will be along shortly and you will be at the front of the queue for that. It can get a bit tight in at peak hour but you will get off. Just say sumimasen and people will allow you to push past them. In fact, getting off is a little more aggressive than getting on as other people who are getting off will shove in front of you but if you’re all headed in the same direction that’s less of an issue.

People are a bit close together on the trains. In fact, on one train I saw a sign stating that people should sit close together (which they do). However, during rush-hour there are women only carriages as indicated on the platform.

Note that the trains have 2 people in the cab. The guy who isn’t paying very much attention to what is infront of him is not the driver (thank God!).