Trains

...because not every post can be about food!

Trains and train stations are a big part of daily life in Tokyo. I had a conversation recently about the Toyota company selling fewer and fewer cars in Japan. "Well of course!" came the reply. "Everyone just takes a train when they want to go somewhere." I guess this is true even if you have wheels! For example, check out this family that, umm, rides together.

The trains are definitely crowded, except on Sundays. Here's the Mita subway station, one of the stops on the Mita subway line. Very creative naming conventions were used here. I never saw even one power tool, though. However, I did see someone polishing the tops of these barriers on Sunday. They do look rather shiney!

As with most trains, advertisements cover as many square inches as possible. And, if you've ever seen a car drive by with plasma screens in the back for kids, well Tokyo trains have them too - for the kid in everyone. Besides commercials, ("Have a rice day!") you can see golf tips to improve your game. Assuming you don't have to back out of a golf league just before it starts...

More than a few subway stations have drinking fountains to drink and to wash you feet, in case you get sand in your sandals, or something:

One other interesting feature is that, on some lines, conductors play a variation of the game, "Musical Chairs." Music plays while the doors are open and the music stops (!) when the doors are about to close. This is, no doubt, to encourage people to rush into the trains and find a seat as fast as possible, and trampling others, if necessary. I'll try to capture some of the "sounds of subway" next week. Until next time, I encourage everyone to follow the suggestion given by this advertisement, seen from a train, of course!