Etiquette When Riding Trains in Japan—10 Weirdly Important Tips To Know Before You Go
Probably one of the first things a foreign visitor notices when riding a train in Japan is how quiet it is inside the car. No matter how crowded it might be, almost no one is talking. Instead, most appear to be looking at their smartphones, listening to music, reading books, or dozing off. In large cities such as Tokyo the morning rush hour often can have a “congestion rate” of 200% of the standard set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a situation described as feeling a sense of discomfort crammed together with others, but still one just might be able to read a magazine. Inside the car there are those who do not hold on to straps and in the winter the windows become fogged up. Many people are forced to put up and suffer through this uncomfortable situation on a daily basis commuting to work and school. In order to reduce the stress caused by this, people are careful not to do anything which might disturb others, and this is an “unspoken rule” in Japan. There are times when the trains are not crowded, just as there are when they are crowded, but at anytime it is important to be aware that inside the train is a public space and efforts should be made not to inconvenience or disturb others. Here are 10 tips you should keep in mind when riding the trains in Japan to help you observe Japanese etiquette. read more
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