Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Traffic congestion
Right
Rush hour lines at a train station
Things to Avoid
!
People Jams
$
Red-Light Districts
upon. For longer journeys
outside the city, boxed
lunches, called
ekiben
,
are popular. Drinking,
including beer, is fine.
*
Subway
Parts of the city
can seem monstrously
overcrowded. The side-
walks of Shibuya and
Shinjuku in particular,
and the ticket areas
of main stations are
often jam-packed. Even
pedestrianized streets,
such as Takeshita-dori
in Harajuku, can be
a squeeze. It is best to
avoid popular shopping
areas on weekends.
Intersections, called
“scrambles,” can become
extremely crowded as
pedestrians wait for the
traffic lights to change.
Organized crime
groups are heavily
involved in red-light
district businesses.
Although they are
generally fairly safe to
walk through at night,
it is inadvisable for
women to stroll through
the back lanes of these
areas unaccompanied.
Confusion
English signage in
subways is usually very
good, but the mass of
passengers and the
unfamiliar surroundings
can be dizzying. Long
underground corridors
and the large number
of exits add to the
confusion. Station maps
and exit listings are
useful. Some subway
workers are trained to
give directions in English.
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Visiting Sights on
National Holidays
Famous sights can
get extremely crowded
on national holidays,
especially when the
weather is pleasant.
If you can only go sight-
seeing on these days,
try leaving before 10am.
^
Driving in Tokyo
@
Smoking
Around 40 percent of
Japanese people smoke.
Tobacco is cheap and
vending machines plenti-
ful. Smoking manners
are improving, but many
people still throw their
cigarette butts in the
street. Designated non-
smoking areas are
increasing, but many
small restaurants and
bars do not have the
space or the will to ban
smoking. Starbucks has
an outside smoking deck.
(
Rush Hours
The subway crush
runs approximately from
7 to 9am and from 5
to 7:30pm. Some lines,
including Ginza and Tozai,
are always busy. Try to
edge close to the door
before you reach your
station, and avoid the
last, jam-packed train
of the day.
)
Train Drunks
As the roads in Tokyo
are narrow and crowded,
driving may not be a
good idea. While bumper-
to-bumper jams are
common, the sheer com-
plexity of the city can
have disastrous results,
especially if you miss a
turn. On the plus side,
directions are clear and
signage easy to under-
stand, even though there
are very few signs in
English. Driving manners
are, by and large, reason-
able. The Japanese drive
on the left.
&
Eating and
Drunks can
occasionally be a
problem. People rarely
reprimand drinkers.
Some boozers on late-
night subways and
over-ground trains can
become loud or over-
familiar. They are also
quite likely to collapse
or vomit without
warning. If you sense
trouble, move to the
next car.
£
Health Costs
Consultation,
treatment, and drug
costs at public hospitals
and clinics are high. Most
hospitals are run as busi-
ness concerns, so doc-
tors may over-prescribe.
Make sure that you have
some form of health
insurance and carry proof
of identity.
Drinking on Trains
Time-pressed passengers
may sometimes snack
on trains, but in general,
eating and drinking in
subways is frowned
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