Getting from point A to point Z using the subway is not that difficult. If you’re new to using a subway, or public transportation at all (like I was), my advice is to plan your route and stay calm no matter how busy the station gets. Carrying a small note pad and a pen is a good idea.

Along with some tips I’m going to share some pictures I took of the subway on a rainy, cold, Friday afternoon around 2pm. It wasn’t a busy time and the station I was at doesn’t seem to be as busy as bigger stations.

Tip #1 - If somebody falls onto the track, hit this button! (Press the red button below in case a person fall sinto the track area. Trains will stop automatically. FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY!)

Tips beyond “Tip #1″ in no particular order:

Getting a ticket:
Look at the fare chart above the machine. Find your destination, the number below the destination is how much Yen it’ll cost you. Put in your money in the machine and click the button that shows that amount. There’s usually an English option on the machine. Get your ticket and change from the tray. If your purchase a wrong ticket by mistake you can insert the ticket into the refund slot and your money will be returned. I think in Tokyo you can buy the ticket at a ticket counter. Also: See if you have to make any connections (meaning you start at point A, change trains at point B, change again at point C, and arrive at the final destination). If you make a train change you might want to write down the names of those places so you don’t forget.

Next, take your ticket, put it into this machine that’s a gate area (or Automatic Ticket Gate, usually green) and grab the ticket when it spits it out at the end. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you should watch other people do it. It’s pretty simple.

Now head to your track number. You’ll know which track number you should take by looking at the station names under the number or on the wall. They’ll say which direction that train is heading by giving names of upcoming stations. If you’re going to the aiport you’ll see CITYNAME Kuko… I think… wait behind the white line with arrows pointing to where the train doors will be. When the train arrives let people out and then go in.

( Oh yeah, this information board above also shows the estimated arrival time, and a picture of the train which changes position and reflects it’s progress)

Some tips on riding in the train -

• Don’t eat or drink in the train.
• If you have an ipod, turn down the volume so others can’t hear it.
• If you’re uncomfortable, just stand the whole time.
• Don’t sit in the designated areas for elderly, pregnant, etc. There’s a sign showing this.
• Designated areas are in the waiting area for the train as well.

If you need additional help, you can call the Japan Railways’s English-language telephone service at 03-3423-0111 or visit their website.
Operation time can vary. Usually early morning to late at night (something like 5:30am - 11:30pm). And the time between trains can run 3-4 minutes during rush/peak times and 4-9 minutes during the off peak times.

Fares usually depend on distance travelled. You can expect to spend 200-400 Yen one way. Here’s an example fare chart:

• 200 Yen - 0 - 3 km
• 250 Yen - 3 - 7 km
• 290 Yen - 7 - 11 km
• 320 Yen - 11- 14 km
• 360 Yen - 14+ km

You can also buy prepaid cards and 1-Day passes. A one day pass can cost as little as 600 yen, or up to 1600 yen for the Tokyo super duper combo all transport one day pass. (Don’t ask for a super duper combo, I made that name up).

You can get a map of the Tokyo subway system here (PDF version of the 1st picture I posted)
You can get a subway map of Fukuoka here
If you’re looking for a different city, I recommend searching google using a phrase similar to “CITYNAME japan metro subway map” or visiting UrbanRail.net

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