Metro Tokyo: features, tips, recommendations

Many of those who are fortunate enough to be in the country of the Rising Sun say that the Tokyo metro can truly be considered one of the most intricate underground systems of communication of the world.

Why is it so? After all, it's not even that travelers will surround strange and unknown hieroglyphs everywhere. Just twigs in fact a lot, and the number of people using this type of transport from year to year only increases.

Is there even the slightest chance of getting lost if you decide to take advantage of this very popular public transport in Japan? Yes, of course! As they say, we are not the first and we are not the last!

This article is precisely aimed at telling all about the Metro Tokyo. In addition, readers will receive a whole range of valuable advice and recommendations.

general information

Not everyone knows that the number of passengers transported the capital's Japanese subway is rightfully considered the largest on our planet. At first glance, it is even difficult to imagine that an average of about 10 million people use it daily.

It should be noted that all the high-speed underground transport of the country of the Rising Sun belongs to large companies. It turns out that every metro station in Tokyo is on the balance of one of two firms: Tokyo Metro and Toei. It should be noted that these networks are not connected to each other, which means that any traveler will have to work hard before learning to correctly and quickly navigate down to the ground.

Japan, Tokyo: Metro and its history

In a few years, this transport system can safely celebrate its centenary. The Tokyo Underground Railway Company was established in 1920. Five years later, the first construction work began between the stations "Asakusa" and "Ueno". But the first high-speed trains on the branch were launched at the end of 1927. Even after 12 years, it was decided to connect the subway and suburban railway, which was accepted by both local residents and guests of Tokyo with real enthusiasm.

Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd was founded in 2004. This corporation replaced the Teito Rapid Transit Authority. Now this private company owns 168 stations located on 9 lines.

The remaining 106 stations in 4 lines are owned by the Toei Municipal Transport Authority, which also serves a land transportation system.

How not to get lost under the ground?

If you ever get the hands on the metro map of Tokyo in Russian or any other understandable language, you will never deny that it will be difficult to quickly understand all these stations, branches and directions. According to travelers, at first it seems that you are actually going crazy, trying to cover a huge flow of information.

However, the Japanese do their best (and sometimes impossible!) To provide guests with the maximum level of comfort. The stops here are announced not only in the local, but also in English. The inscriptions on the signboards, plaques and electronic signboards of the Tokyo metro are also duplicated.

At the station, you can often read special recommendations advising which car is better to sit in order to subsequently make the trip as comfortable and quick as possible.

Among other things, all the subway lines differ also in colors, which coincide with the contour that is made around the room. That's why it's impossible to get lost or get confused even with beginners.

What tickets to buy for the trip?

As we already noted above, the companies managing the Tokyo metro are two. The main inconvenience is represented by the inability to perform a direct transplant from one system to another. In case of such need, passengers must go to the surface and purchase a new ticket from the special operator.

True, in recent years, more and more popular are beginning to use the combined transport maps. By purchasing them, you can make one transfer at any desired place.

Local residents, in turn, prefer to purchase special electronic travel cards, called PASMO. They give the right to carry out any number of trips in different directions.

By the way, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the transfer from Tokyo Metro to Toei and vice versa should not take more than half an hour. Otherwise, the ticket will be canceled and you will have to buy a new one.

Interesting facts about the metro Tokyo

Many will agree that the subway of any single country is some kind of unique world, unlike any life on the surface, or any other transport system of other states. And Japan, of course - is no exception.

Perhaps, only here there are special employees who help to get into the car of lingering negligent travelers.

By the way, the Japanese, going down to the ground, try not to talk on the mobile phone, considering it a bad form.

On some lines, there are special compounds designed only for women or children.