I hope your planning is going well if you visit Japan this spring. I strongly feel that there will be many more travellers from overseas this spring after three years of the restriction to enter the country. Spring and autumn are high seasons for tourism in Japan, and this spring will be the first flower season after the pandemic. In my last newsletter, I focused on the convenient subway ticket, and I strongly recommend using it when you go sightseeing in Tokyo. There are some essential pieces of information that you should know about the subway system in Tokyo before you start sightseeing. This week, I will focus on several points you should be aware of.
Confusing two operators
As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, two operators run subway systems in Tokyo. One is Tokyo Metro, and the other is Toei Subway operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. They apply for different fee systems and tickets. Tokyo Metro is a joint stock company, but it's not listed on the stock exchange, and the national government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government still hold almost half the shares. Toei Subway, on the other hand, as the name suggests, is a publicly owned underground operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway entities began building an underground system under the policy that it would eventually centralize to cover Tokyo's rapidly growing post-war transport demand. However, for various reasons, centralization has not yet happened, and this tends to confuse travellers from overseas. Using only Tokyo Metro will solve most of the problems and make everything easier. In fact, Tokyo Metro covers most of the tourists’ destinations.
Complicated connecting system
When you look at the route map of the Tokyo Metro, you'll recognize that most of the newer routes connect with private railway routes as they extend toward the suburbs. Therefore, you can travel from one side of the route to the other by the same train. It is very convenient, but from another perspective, you may end up riding past somewhere you are not expecting. There are so many destinations by one route, and you must check the destination to know where to get off the train.
The reason is the process of developing Tokyo's underground system. The priority was given to efficient passenger transport, allowing direct connections to avoid congestion at the terminal stations of the underground while the development of the transportation system in the suburb of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Despite the success in easing the congestion of stations, it resulted in the same train running on the routes of two or more differently-operated railway companies. It overwhelmingly increased the number of train destinations that had to be kept in mind by passengers. In addition, the direct operation made it more difficult for passengers to distinguish the destinations by train designs or colours.
Most tourist destinations in Tokyo are within a 20-minute radius of the Imperial Palace in terms of time distance, and this is the case no matter which underground route is used. Staying on the main underground route is safe, even if they are inter-connected with private railways.
Furthermore, most routes often go above the ground near the terminal stations, which are connected to private railways. If you suddenly go above ground from underground, you have likely gone to a connecting terminal.
Station Numbering System
This numbering system is very convenient and will help you locate yourself when you lose your way. This sign consists of three parts.
The colour of the circle represents the route name.
Alphabet inside the circle represents the first letter of the route name by romaji with a few exceptions such as the Hanzomon Line for “Z” and the Toei Mita Line for “I”.
The number inside the circle represents the order of the station on the same route. The most south-westerly station on routes is displayed “1”.
This system is helpful if you are on the same route, and decide on the station to disembark.
Areas for improvement required
Station Numbering System may work to some extent, but the real problem is when you change the route at a big terminal such as Ginza or Otemachi. You still have to rely on the sign at the station. Please try to follow the coloured circle which you change. If you are unsure, it’s best to ask for assistance from the station attendant. The underground station is just like a 3D maze. There are lots of stairs and escalators, and information displays are the only information you can rely on. Using smartphone apps may be the solution. But, a shortcut may be to have the main terminal stations of Tokyo's underground system in mind, and then actually take a map and ride it a few times.
ONE STOP/Cherry blossoms forecast
Here is the update on the cherry blossoms forecast.
Fukuoka: 23rd of March (±0)
Tokyo: 26th of March(±0)
Nagoya: 26th of March(±0)
Osaka: 28th of March(±0)
Kyoto: 29th of March(±0)
Aomori: 20th of April(±0)
Sapporo, Hokkaido: 29th of April(±0)
Projections are as of the 5th of February by JWA.
Numbers after each day is predicted week-on-week change.