If you can master trains in Tokyo, then you can master trains anywhere
The most stressful thing about living in Tokyo is maneuvering the crowded trains during rush hour. All the things you’ve seen in pictures or videos related to Japanese trains are probably true. When people are in a rush they tend to get aggressive, even the more mild mannered Japanese start pushing and shoving while riding a crowded train.
Pusher and peelers at the platform in Tokyo
There used to be a part time job called “pusher.” They were responsible for pushing people inside of crowded trains. In addition to pushers, there were also “peelers” who would peel the people who didn’t get inside and were clinging to the train. The existence of pushers and peelers shows how bad the commuter rush used to be.
Can you imagine these jobs really existing? It’s funny to look back at the chaotic situation on the platforms. I bet even people who used to go to work by train think it’s funny and kind of stupid if they could watch how hard they tried to ride a train in the morning.
Crazy old history of rush hour trains in Japan
Commuting by train was inevitable for people who went to the office to work a few decades ago. Since the windows on the train are not as strong as they are today, daily a lot of windows were broken. Some of them were crushed by the rush of the crowd and some passengers had to be taken to the hospital. The pieces of glass from the broken windows were often on the floor of the train which was very dangerous.
Much less crowded than a few decades ago
Despite the crowdedness and craziness on trains in past years, research about changes in the urban structure of the Tokyo metropolitan area on the easing of commuter rush shows that in recent years the congestion rate of the worst sections of commuter railroads have been well below 200% on most lines. This result shows a significant improvement. However, everyone who uses trains to go to work in Tokyo still thinks the rush hour is way too crowded and more stressful than normal hours.
When is the peak in Tokyo? (rush hour)
The peak time in the morning is around 8am, and it starts to calm down at 9am. The rush hour is almost over by 10am. The research shows that there is not much difference between 7am and 8am. If it’s before 6am or after 10am, you should be able to get on the train and avoid rush hour.
What riding busy trains in Tokyo is like
In this photo, you can see my American friend riding a crazy crowded train in the greater Tokyo area during rush-hour for the first time. She is sandwiched in by people on all sides. She had to keep this position for several minutes because there was no space to move to. This kind of situation sucks; especially in the summer when people are so close together it starts to smell awful in the train. Moreover, now with the Covid-19 cases, you definitely don’t want to be this close to a stranger on the train.
To avoid such situations, I want to introduce to you some tips on how to avoid the crowded passenger cars when you ride trains in Tokyo during rush hour or other busy times!
1) Avoid the car near the platform entrance
You should avoid getting on the train close to the platform entrance because there are many people trying to get on the train in the last minutes before it leaves. This car is more likely crowded than other cars on the train. A lot of people try to get on the train during rush hour in the morning even though the car is full, so definitely should avoid it!
2) Get on the last or first passenger car
The reason why the last and first cars are usually emptier than those in the middle is because they aren’t close to the platform entrance. Many people rush in the morning and try to get off the train close to the entrance. So if you have time to walk to the first or last car then you should definitely do it!
3) Don’t take a train if it’s delayed more than 7 minutes
Sometimes Japanese trains are late. If the train is a couple of minutes late, you should get on the next train because the next train will arrive soon and be less crowded. I’m not 100% sure but the next train in my experience catches up to the delayed train in order to not cause further delays. This is a win for you if you’re not in a rush!
4) Stand in front of the seats
You don’t wanna stand near the door in trains because many people will get on and off at the station at every stop during rush hour. If you’re by the door, you have to move for passengers who want to get out of the train. Many times you need to get off and get on for other people if you’re by the door which is kind of annoying because you need to pay attention and watch out for other people every time the train stops. It’s better to stand in the middle of the car in front of the seats.
5) Avoid traveling during rush hour outright
Rush hour in Tokyo is 7am to 9:30am in the morning. During this time, the train is one of the busiest in the world, so if you can avoid traveling this time, that would be great! The catch is that many Japanese companies require workers to arrive between 8am to 10am so that’s why it’s so busy! If your work schedule is flexible, you should avoid rush hour. Your life will be much easier and your productivity at work will probably improve a little since you won’t feel stressed from riding a crowded train.
6) Use Odakyu Line
The construction of the Odakyu line was finished a few years ago. It runs more trains per hour resulting in significantly lower crowding than previously. It’s a great choice for those of us looking for a more tranquil commute. However, the Odakyu line only connects Kanagawa and Tokyo, so depending on your destination it might not be an option.
If you feel stressed about riding trains during rush hour in Tokyo, please try these tips. Your life will be much easier and you will feel less stressed riding trains. If you’re traveling in Japan, you should be aware of rush hour trains and attempt to avoid them altogether if possible.
Thank you so much for reading. Please comment if you have any other tips for surviving rush hour trains in Tokyo.
I hope you have a nice day!