Tokyo's subway began operating in 1927, after Japanese entrepreneur Hayakawa Noritsugu came from Europe, inspired by the subway there. In a short period of time, he collected the necessary amount of money and laid the first metro line in all of Asia. Today, the Tokyo subway carries the largest number of passengers annually. There are 290 stations and 304.5 kilometers of rails here. More recently, the Tokyo subway was inferior to the Moscow subway in terms of passenger flow.
Several private rail lines operate today, as well as Japan Railways. Many owners of personal transport prefer to use public transport. The subway in Tokyo is very comfortable, safe and clean. Almost every company pays employees to travel from home to work.
Frightening sizes
There are many rumors that the number of Tokyo subway stations is so large that it is very easy to get lost in the subway. Such an impressioncan be created by simply looking at the entire line pattern.
Main feature
In 1920, the construction of the subway in Tokyo began. Today, underground transport runs on 13 lines. The main feature of the Tokyo subway is the absence of a contact rail. In fact, such trains are ordinary electric trains. They start and end their movement at a great distance from the city center. Approaching the main part of the infrastructure, the trains enter the tunnels and pass under the metropolis.
Tokyo subway. Instructions for use
Each line on the diagrams, as well as trains going along them, are marked with a separate color. Within the circle, each station is identified by a letter as well as a number indicating the remaining distance. The duration of some distances between the lines exceeds 800 meters. With a large number of signs and numerous free maps, navigating the subway is quite easy.
You can get lost while trying to find the right exit from the station, of which there are about a dozen in some places. All of them are numbered and often built into buildings, so it is quite possible to go to the supermarket right from the metro. Crossings filled with stalls, eateries and shops can stretch for hundreds of meters.
Trading trays can be found even on the platforms. The Tokyo subway, in fact, is a whole underground city, from where you don’t have to leave. The Japanese managed to successfully integrate various transport systems into a single network. In addition to the usual inputs,disabled lifts are provided.
Distinguishing Features
Some of the platforms at the stations are curved. The tunnels are provided with lighting. Compared to Soviet underground "palaces", the monotonous tiled walls of the Tokyo subway are not impressive at all. Most of the stations are shallow.
There are free toilets in the walkways and drinking fountains on the platforms. Fans or air conditioners are installed in each car. The number of wagons in each train reaches ten. The windows are provided with curtains to protect against heat during movement on the surface. Stations are announced in Japanese and English.
Passenger safety
Dozens of video cameras are located in the underpasses and at each station. With the help of video surveillance, drivers can control the landing process. Since there are many people among the Japanese who want to jump on the tracks under the train, there are high and low barriers in case of a fall.
There are no safety seals in Tokyo subway crossings. The Tokyo subway scheme provides only thin roller shutters. There are no doors at any station. Subway entrances are located under the canopies of buildings.
Metro mixed with suburban trains
Tokyo subway is an interweaving of 12 lines with local suburban rail tracks. Together we have a list of more than 70 destinations and severalhundreds of stations with a daily passenger flow of up to 20 million. In addition, Tokyo electric trains sometimes travel through the subway tunnels.
Interesting facts
The first branch was 2.2 kilometers long. Now only one line is state. All the rest is the property of private firms. Japan was the first Asian power to build a subway system. Since 2005, carriages for women have been provided on each line. The department took this decision after receiving a large number of complaints from girls about sexual harassment. Tokyo Subway is equipped with wireless internet.
Fares vary depending on the distance between stations. Ticket prices are indicated next to the names on the diagram. From five in the morning until one in the morning, the subway operates in Tokyo. The metro is divided between two companies. Each has its own rules, and this circumstance sometimes confuses passengers. Large stations in Japan are rare. The interior of some of them is dominated by white, so that the subway does not seem so cramped.
Toei Features
Our compatriots who happened to visit the Land of the Rising Sun and use underground transport warn in their reviews that you need to be very careful when purchasing subway tickets in Tokyo. When buying an Economy Pass for one day, in addition to the metro, passengers can also use the buses of this company. The Toei ticket cannot be used on Tokyo Metro lines. Gotta have it inmind. Toei Subway Passes will also not be valid for the JR Yamanote Line, a local circular train line.
Helpful advice
Tourists from Russia, after visiting the Japanese capital, in their reviews recommend buying a one-day pass for 1000 yen and not fooling yourself with the need to take into account the belonging of the desired subway line to a particular company. In addition, they say that there are several other possible options. Everyone can choose the most convenient for themselves.
You can use the branches of one carrier company so as not to spend extra money if there is no need to change the owner of the lines. It is better to remember several routes and overcome the path with their help.
Japanese rush hour
Tokyo subway is usually crowded from 7 am to 9 pm and from 6 pm to 10 pm. According to the reviews of tourists from Russia, it is better for travelers not to meddle here at this time, especially in the central part of the city. On Friday nights, the subway in Tokyo is also undesirable to use. This is especially true for stations such as Shinjuku and Shibuya. They will be filled as the departure time of the last commuter train approaches. Most of the carriages at this time are filled with crowds of tipsy workers heading home from corporate parties.
Conclusion
The number of Tokyo subway stations has more than a thousand names. The scheme looks very confusing, and one gets the impression that it is very easy to get lost here. Thanks to the existing marking system, it is very easy to navigate. In addition to metro trains, the diagram shows the lines along which suburban electric trains pass. For the safety of passengers, each station of the Tokyo subway is equipped with fences and many CCTV cameras.
The carriages are equipped with video screens, which indicate the current station and the distance to the next stop. Thanks to air conditioning systems, the Tokyo subway is not a suffocating place, despite the huge flow of passengers. Quite a long duration of transitions and the number of numerous shops and places for recreation turn the subway in this city into a special place from which you don’t even have to go outside.
