The Backalleys of Kawasaki-shi

For the duration of this blog our group has been talking about various modes of transportation that are all widely and frequently used by many people. For this last section, since we are discussing simple modes of transportation like walking, I would like to talk about something that is not talked about all that often. This would be the back alleys of the residential areas of Kawasaki-shi around Senshu University and the Kenshu-kan. From the narrow streets to the various nooks and crannies, there are numerous exciting places to explore and find out what lies around the corner.

One of the things that I was most surprised about was how despite the population density of Tokyo in general, the city is still very green. There are trees, small forests, and plants everywhere you look, and this greenery gives a very cozy impression. Because of all this greenery, even in the center of a packed residential zone, there are spectacular views and scenery to be found if only you spend the time to search for them. This exploring of the various back alleys around stations, residential areas, and commercial districts has been one of the highlights of this trip. Thankfully, because the large roads are relatively easy to find, if you search for them it is very hard to get lost. Retracing your steps is also very straightforward!

Perhaps my favorite place to go when I’m looking for some beautiful scenery is right next to the Kenshu-kan dormitories. Going up the path to the school, after a little walk there is a side street to the right that opens up into a beautiful field. Looking at it at night - when the wind is swaying the tall grass and the branches of the large trees that stretch far over your head - is a wonderful sight to see. There is also another beautiful valley that is much farther away from the dormitory on the way to Senshu University. When it opens up into a huge valley full of trees from your vantage point far above it, it is quite breathtaking.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into the back alleys of Kawasaki-shi! I hope that I was able to paint at least a small picture of what they are like. I think everyone should try at least once to walk along the tempting path and sate their desire to explore!

-David

Japan on Foot

Our main mode of transportation over this last month has definitely been the trains. When going to somewhere farther away, the trains are usually the most efficient means of getting there. They can be pretty fast, depending on where you’re going and which line you choose. However, they may not always be the best mode of transportation. When you ride on the trains, you bypass all the little stores hidden in the streets and alleys. A prime example of this is the trip from Noborito to Mukogaoyuen.

The trip is not a very long one. It’s only one stop away by train and only about 10 or 15 minutes walking. This is one of those times when it’s better to walk, as the ride from Noborito to Mukogaoyuen costs 120 yen. The walk between stations is a very interesting one. We’re able to see a variety of shops and restaurants lining the little road on our way back. Highlights of these include a hair salon, a bookstore with its books out in shelves on the street and a store called “Antiques and Junk”. On the train these little stores just pass by, but when you're walking you have a better opportunity to see what they offer and maybe take a look inside.

This is really the best way to discover Japan. Riding the trains the scenery flies by in blurs and it’s difficult to truly experience anything. When you choose to walk instead of take the train, you’re able to explore Japan for yourself. You may just discover your next favourite noodle shop, or that unique souvenir you’ve been searching for. Not to mention the exercise that comes from walking everywhere.

- Ken (Transcribed by Alex)

My Biking Misadventure

A couple of weeks ago I decided to take advantage of the bikes that can be borrowed from the dorms. I thought that since I ride my bike pretty often in summer in Calgary, I could manage to ride a bike in Japan. I wasn’t sure about whether or not helmets were required but there weren’t any provided with the bike so I assumed I would be ok.

The bike rental was fairly simple. You just need to sign your name on a list and have a RA co-sign. The bikes are only rented out for 3 hours at a time so you can’t ride them to school or to the train station to take a train. They’re really convenient if you want to go somewhere close like out for groceries or dinner. There is bike parking in front of most stores, so you can safely leave your bikes when eating or shopping.

For my bike ride I just wanted to test out the differences between Calgary and Japan so I decided to just stick close to the dorms. I chose to just ride to the station and back, just to get the feel of things. At 4 PM I left the Kenshukan, which was not a very good idea. The already-skinny road was packed with people making their ways home and I had to weave in and out trying to avoid them.

The ride was mostly fine until I faced my next obstacle; the bars that prevent cars from driving on the pedestrian path. All of the other cyclists seemed to be navigating them with ease so I decided it couldn’t be that hard. However, looks can be very deceiving. I was having so much trouble getting through the gates, I had to dismount from the bike. I ended up doing a lot of apologizing in Japanese. Luckily the guy directing traffic looked sympathetic.

Cycling in Japan is a very good idea. Public transportation can be very expensive and with all the delicious food in Japan you’ll need some form of exercise. However, there is some advice I would like to pass on. Don’t go biking when all the schools are getting out, especially for your first bike ride. Choose a path that’s not on the way to a train station. Have a bike with a bell attached, to warn people you’re behind them. This might seem a little intimidating, but it really was a good experience.

- Alex

Week 4 - The End to our Journey

Within the month of studying Japanese at Senshu University, we are now approaching the end of our journey. Our final exam has been completed and the stress that was like a dark cloud is finally cleared out. It is a sign of how we are finally free from all the school work we had to go through in the past month. The indescribable feeling of happiness did not only appear on our faces but also in the nice weather we got finally. Today was the first day we have ever experience a full day of beautiful hot sun as we are walking our way back down to the dormitory from school. The one month in Japan, we got to see and experienced how the Japanese choose which form of transportation suited best in their daily lifestyle.

The group of us went to further investigate in the area of where we stayed. From the time we leave the dormitory to either go to school or go to the train station, we had to commit ourselves into walking the distance. At first, the distance of walking seems a bit too much for those who are not use to walking anywhere back in Calgary. Some of us who drives most of the time, thinks walking is like a chore. Back in Calgary, walking anywhere is not as easy as you think. The problem lies within the spacious spread from the place you are initially at to the place you would like to go. In Japan, every little space of land does not go to waste. We can all see the difference right away. From the houses in the nearby neighbourhood to the vendor stores by the station, everything is closed in together. Through this perspective, our brain made us believe the time in walking to our destination doesn’t seem like a long distance. Everywhere you turn there is at least something to look at, from the local retailers to the vending machines. The case in Calgary would be complete opposite. With nothing to look at while you’re walking to a short distance, it seemed like you’ve been walking forever with no progress. It would also help if you have a group of friends to walk with. During the rush hour in the early morning and afternoon, we learned ways to sneak through the many crowds of students as they are heading towards the university. We see a lot of them walking closely together or some may choose to bike up the path. We find some people who choose to ride a bike learned to be skillful at it. The danger in trying to avoid hitting other people and trying to get through is a daily strategy. Each of us had summarized the best of the best in this last week together.

Throughout the four weeks I’ve been here in Japan, and as much as I would like to talk about the many good things about subway trains. I would like to talk about the safety of the walking path. All the female students are very aware of the danger in walking alone at night. I can sense the danger they are talking about when I walked with my friends during night time. Near our dormitory, we have to go through a narrow path way if we need to go to the supermarket, train station, and out to places to eat. The inconvenient is always that ten minute walk back and forth. If you really think about it, within the ten minutes, anything can happen. The narrow path in the dark is just as worst as walking in a dark sketchy alley. A Japanese conversation partner had told us to be careful once the sun sets. She had a friend who had been attacked by a “pervert killer” as the female Japanese student describing the attacker. It may sound funny at first as we all laughed at the matter. At the same time, it should not be a laughing matter. The best solution is never walk alone. Even when walking with another female friend, it may not seem safe. As a female student myself, I always look alert in case someone would try anything. Never take your time in walking, when you look like you’re in a hurry, people usually don’t pay attention to you. At least that’s how I see it. Always stick to the usual path, not a good idea if you decided to take a short cut. Overall, I do enjoy the time walking in Japan. Since I am one of the few who drives all the time in Calgary and very much dislike walking, I actually don’t mind walking a far distance. This has been a good experience and I learned a lot through this short journey.

~Mandy ^.^

Week 3 - Mandy & Ken

Taxis!

The popular usage of subway trains in Japan leads to a less usage of taxis. This doesn’t mean there are less taxis available for this city. Many taxis in Japan can seem like they are creating a higher image for the importance of each client. Automatic doors open up as the passengers are ready to go in are nice gestures and a greater feeling to have when you feel important. The daily starting rate of taxis is 710 yen for the first meter and for every additional meter you’re travelling, 90 yen will be added to the starting rate. This can be quite costly when everything is added up for the people in Japan, even for foreigners. Not only are the rates expensive during the day but it is 20% increase to the daily rate as the night approaches. We should definitely all remember to catch the last train if we can to avoid having to take the taxis at night as much as possible. But if worse does comes, the taxi option will always be at your convenience.

With horror stories that you may have heard about taxis, every taxis company made many aspect safe for the driver and passenger. Some taxis may have security camera installed for passenger’s knowledge in what is going on at the time of their ride. Another safety aspect inside the vehicle is the clear hard divider behind the taxis driver’s seat. This safety feature is mainly for the driver since many cases that happened while driving a drunken passenger home. While interviewing a student on campus, we were told about many cases where drunken passenger would start punching the seats almost causing a disturbance to the driver. Also with no memory from the passenger at times, this can be troublesome for both driver and passenger. It was surprising to hear about no matter how drunk the passenger is they are still a paying costumer. The taxi driver cannot refuse not to take the passenger who’s been drinking. If this was the case back in Calgary, we would be out of luck. There would be no taxis for anyone as the taxi driver usually refuses to take the drunken passenger in the vehicle.

Instead of the little advertisements in the washrooms of pubs, bars and night clubs, there are barely any advertisements for taxi in Tokyo. However, with the flashy color of all the taxis running around in Tokyo, it is really a live advertisement itself. There are so many different colors for Tokyo taxis, there are taxis that are all black, all green or all orange but there are also taxis with a base color such as yellow then have strips or checkered on top of it. Japanese taxi are really clean on the outside, in the three weeks time in Japan, I have yet to see a taxi with advertisements on the body of the car. On the taxi car body there are normally just the company name and company logo that the taxi is belonging to and the radio station that the driver is using to communicate. Most of the taxis also have the no smoking sign and some taxis even have the handicap logo indicating that they are handicap friendly.

With the high expense of taxi rides, different taxi companies offer different kinds of payment methods to try to be as convenient to the passengers as possible. Every taxi accepts the most basic payment, Japanese yen, and most of the taxis accept credit cards from major banks and Japanese local banks and also checks. Some companies even have the machines that allow the travelers to pay the fee by Suica or Pasmo. This is especially convenient for those people who doesn’t carry large amount of cash and doesn’t have a credit card. Other than Suica and Pasmo, some taxis also accept train cards from other part of Japan, such as ICOCA, TOICA and Nimoca and other electronic money. It is very convenient for those people from other part of the country coming to Tokyo for a short visit. They do not have to get a new card just for a couple of days and study the complicated train lines. Just hop on taxis that accept electronic money, then they can use the card that they already have. To use these cards on taxis are very easy, passengers doesn’t even have to take the cards out of their wallet, they just have to swipe their wallet on the machines like they usually do when entering a station to take a train.

Buses! - David & Alex

Although the train system in Japan is very efficient, there may be times that you need to go somewhere that the train lines don't reach. Luckily at these times buses and taxis are available to help people out. This week, David and I (Alex) will be focused on buses.

Taxis are definitely more convenient than buses, as they will pick you up from where ever and then get dropped off where you need to go, as opposed to at a specific stop. However, the convenience of a taxi comes with an increased cost. The base fare is 710 yen for 2 km, and then a distance rate. This could get very expensive if you have to go far, like from Shinjuku to Kokusai Kenshukan. The buses are more useful in the West because the Western train lines run mostly East-West and the buses run North-South.

It may be very intimidating to travel through the streets in anything larger than a bike because the streets in Japan are much skinnier that the streets in Calgary. It’s very difficult for the bus to manoeuvre through the skinny streets of Japan, especially since so many pedestrians chose to walk on the road. This makes the bus ride seem more dangerous than Calgary.

You get on the bus at a normal bus stop, just like in Calgary. The stops are similar to the stops in Calgary, with a small rain shelter and a bench. However, in spaces with limited area, they might only be a sign with the stop number on it. Finding the stops can be a very difficult task, as the stop may be only a small sign in an obscure area. If you don’t know what to look for, you may just pass them by. These factors add up and results in the bus ride not being recommended for foreigners.

Here is a website with the buses that are near to our station. This map is a little confusing, but it should give a very basic idea of the bus stops in Japan.
http://www.busbus.co.jp/busstopmap/highway-mukaigaoka.html

The way that you enter the bus depends on whether you enter at the starting point of the route or further along the route. If you get on at the beginning, you enter through the back doors and you don’t swipe your card until you get off the bus. Everyone is required to pay a standardized bus fare, around 200 yen. If you don’t get on at the beginning, you swipe your card once when you enter and once again when you get off.

On the bus there are various things that are convenient for passengers. There are buttons around the bus that you push when you’re arriving at your stop. However, unlike Calgary there’s no pull cord. Stops are announced over an intercom for everyone to hear, and they are also displayed on a LCD screen. This is really helpful for those who may have disabilities, like blindness or deafness.

There are many similarities between trains and buses. There’s priority seating available on the bus, which is distinguished by color coded seats. The ones at the back of the bus are open for everyone, while the ones near the front are priority seating for elderly, handicapped or expecting women. Like the trains, there is etiquette that you are expected to follow, like no talking on cell phones and turning your cell phone onto manner mode.

Ads on the buses are similar to Calgary. They run down the aisles of the seats on the roof much like the trains. There are specific ad buses, where the entire bus is painted as an advertisement. These can be found in Akihabara.

Highway Buses

One way to get around Japan is to use highway buses. This can be useful for the traveller who doesn’t want to pay for both lodging and transportation. Some of the buses drive all night so you don’t have to worry about finding a hotel. The high way buses run between most major cities.

The 2 main companies in Japan that offer highway buses are JR Bus Group and Willer Express. The JR Pass can be used on the some of the night buses offered by JR, but it is more convenient to use the train instead. However, if you are running low on funds and you don’t have a rail pass, the highway buses are a less expensive alternative. You can buy a specific one-way pass, a round trip ticket or a booklet of multiple tickets. There is usually a student discount. It’s cheaper to buy a round trip ticket than 2 one way tickets. However, there is a time limit for both the round trip ticket and the multiple ticket packs.

In conclusion, the buses in Japan are a lot more complicated than the buses in Calgary. Unless you’re travelling with someone who knows the system well, it is recommended that people in a hurry or with little or no Japanese knowledge stick to the trains.

Week 2 - Riding the Train

In Japan for many Japanese people, part of their daily routine is to ride the subway trains to commute around to many different destinations. As is the same with every other mode of transportation, if you would like to use this type of transportation, you have to pay first to get into the station. The self ticket vendors are convenient for everyone’s use. You are paying according to how many stops you’ve passed through. Once money is inserted into the machine, look at the map route of the destination you would like to go to find out the exact cost and then select the amount for the ticket you are purchasing. Once you get the ticket, slide it in the slot of the entrance gate, and the ticket will pop back up to the other end where you take it back with you.
If you have a Suica or Passmo card with money already loaded in it, then you don’t have to worry about calculating the costs until you are almost out of money. With the Suica card, you can just swipe it over a sensor at the entrance gate and your fare will be calculated for you.

When you are just about to enter to the platforms, there are signs directing everyone which platform they need to be at depending on where they are going. While on the platform, there are digital billboards telling everyone when and which train is approaching. When the destination has been reached, the procedure to exit is while approaching the exit gate, slide the ticket into the slot and this next the ticket would not come back out. This is a way of letting everyone know that they have reached the destination. The way how suica works is by scanning the card at the entrance gate and exit gate. With the final scan at the exit gate, the remaining amount on the card will be display each time.

As a female getting ready to ride the train, many things came across the mind. Looking around the surroundings, there are many males who would also be riding the same cart of the train. While waiting for the next train, there are males beside you, up front and even behind. In the female’s mind, most males are potential “chikan”. What to do in this situation? The many incidents that occurred before, lead to the actions of getting a “Women’s Only” cart during the morning peak hours which are displayed in the cars. There is no difference in the appearance of the “Women’s Only” cart and the regular carts. The way to identify the cart is the pink signage posted on the inside of the cart.

Before even entering the train, there is proper etiquette to lining up and boarding the train. There are lines painted on the ground, showing people where to line up and how many lines to make. This is extremely helpful, as it prevents people who come later from pushing in front of people who had been waiting for a while. When the train arrives, the doors stop right in front of the lines, once again preventing people from pushing their way to the front.

On the train there are many signs in both English and Japanese with accompanying pictures instructing people on how to behave. Manners and expected behaviours are very different in Japan compared to Calgary. For one, it’s expected that you don’t use your cell phone on the train and that it’s turned to “Manner Mode” for the duration of the ride. Most cell phones available in the electronic shops have a “Manner Mode” button between the call and end call button.

In addition, Japan also has seating specifically designated for priority seating. This includes people with small children or who are pregnant, elderly or disabled passengers. Although you are expected to give your seat to any of these passengers, these seats are especially handy because the people who sit there expect to give their seats away.

However, many of Japan’s “train etiquettes” are similar to what’s expected in Calgary. If you have a back pack with you, you’re expected to hold it in your lap or place it on a rack. You are supposed to sit close enough to the people beside you to allow the maximum amount of people to sit, and if someone who needs a seat gets on the train, you are expected to give up your seat.

Although it may be difficult for a person in a wheel chair to ride the train during rush hour, there are practices in place to help those who may have disabilities. Some of the signs are accompanied with Braille and there is priority seating reserved for those who need to sit. Accompanying the electronic signs announcing the next stop, announcements are made over a loud system.

A lot of Japan’s train etiquette expectations are the same in Calgary. The main difference between Japan and Calgary is that the expectations in Japan are more often followed than in Calgary.

Week 2: The Station-Based Culture

This week our task was to cover the various stores and shops that are in and surrounding the various train stations in Tokyo. This includes both small and large stations (the small being Harajuku and our station, and the large being Shinjuku), and the culture differences that separate Canada and Japan, and the large stations and small stations.

The Small Stations

We’ll start off by covering inside our station Mukougaokayuuen, and Harajuku. We take these to be typical and representative examples of the average Japanese train station. Inside these small stations they generally only have things that are necessary, such as things like small convenience stores that sell important items like snacks, drinks, newspapers, and cigarettes for passengers that are transferring. Since many students and office workers have a long commute from home, they often cannot take time out of their schedule to leave the station to look for these necessary items. Depending on the size of the station, there may be several convenience stores inside one station. In addition to convenience stores, there are usually only small food shops that sell quick snacks such as noodles or onigiri. These noodle shops are stand only and there is no room to sit – it’s just grab, gulp down, and run. As well, there are vending machines in various locations throughout the train station, which increase in number depending on the size of the station. In order to pay in these stores and for vending machines throughout the station, you can use your Suica card or Passmo card for added convenience to the passengers (swipe and go).

The Big Stations

The big stations such as Shinjuku and Shibuya however are a completely different story. This has a wide range of implications. Next to the ticket terminals at these big stations the same things that the small stations have are also there (things such as convenience stores, and vending machines). However, these are on a totally different scale. The amount and size of these stores are completely different. And it doesn’t stop there, because the variety of stores also increases tremendously. Things such as bookstores, cosmetic stores, candy stores, and even a flower shop for that special anniversary you forgot about are there. Seeing people standing and reading books around these bookstands and browsing throughout the stores are a common sight.

In particular, Shinjuku is a very special station. Being the final destination of the Odakyuu line, it has built around it and on top of it --- a humungous department store run by Odakyuu! It is composed of several buildings, the tallest of which is 13 floors tall and has a spectacular view! In these department stores you can buy anything you want. There are fully fledged clothing stores, bookstores, restaurants, Starbucks, Crispy Crème, you name it. In the bottom floor of Shinjuku station is something very interesting. It is actually a floor crowded with various stores that sell all kinds of gifts: snack based omiyage from around the country, snack stalls, sweets, and a mini-supermarket that sells fruits and vegetables for the busy commuter on the run.

In front of the stations

What we have already talked about is only one side of the picture, however. Outside of the actual station itself is the busiest part of the whole thing. In the random housing areas there are only small stores and convenience stores - everything is gathered and focused around the station entrances and exits. This is where all the stores you need are gathered to serve the commuting based society. Shoe stores, pachinko, game centers, supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, karaoke, police stations, and clothing stores are all available. This is where people meet up to go out together. Any type of restaurant you want is available – ramen, soba, udon, washoku, McDonalds, KFC, Chinese, places to drink (including nomihodai), donut shops, etc. These are the stores that get the most business on a day to day basis because of their location next to the station.

Cultural Differences between Japan and Canada

In Canada, the station is only for the train, buses, and car parking. There usually aren’t even any vending machines. It is totally bare, and besides not having anything inside the station, there also is hardly anything in the area around the station either. Because in Japan not many people own cars, all the space needed for car parking in Canada is completely forgone. In addition to this, the size of the stations and the number of trains and train cars, and the number of different connecting train lines is completely different. Because in Canada there are only two lines, the size of the station is very small. As well, from station to station the size is always the same (just enough for the train itself). A stark difference in size such as Harajuku versus Shinjuku is something that Canadians have never experienced in Canada. While in Canada there may be a lineup of cars outside the station waiting to pick people up, here in Japan such a thing is not common. While there are often taxis waiting around the station for potential passengers, instead of a car parking lot there is a bicycle parking lot. It is a culture that is based on a different form of travel. While Canada is based on cars, Japan is based on bicycles, walking, and the various train lines that connect the Tokyo metropolis very efficiently and the stores that surround these stations.

Week 1 - Mandy and David

On Friday May 7 we have finally arrived in Japan. We were all eager to step off the airplane and start on our first assignment. We have agreed on dividing the group between Alex and Ken to investigate on the different stores available for travelers who just arrived. The other group between Mandy and David are to investigate the operations of the airport.

We had acknowledged the fact that we were unable to investigate the check in process at the airport, we have decided to change it to the process of checking out at the arrival area instead.

Accessibility of the Airport

In general, both the flight and the airport is very accessible to non-Japanese speaking foreigners. For example, when announcements were made on the plane (because we were flying Air Canada to Japan) they were made in English, French, and Japanese. When I tried to understand the Japanese, it was so formal that it was hard to understand! I could piece together the meaning because of the English announcement, but without the English announcement I probably could not understand it. It was the same way in Narita Airport when we arrived. However, the announcements were instead made in Japanese, and then repeated in English. Even more that just the announcements, all the signs were also in both Japanese and English so they were easy to read and understand. It would be very hard to get lost.

As for wheelchair and handicap access, I would say that it would be very difficult for someone in a wheelchair to get around. There were lots of stairs and very few elevators if any to use to get around. When we were walking through the airport after getting off of the plane however, there were moving escalators on the floors that would help greatly in carrying luggage if you were handicapped in some way.

Passing Through Customs

While still on the plane, we had to start our process to pass through customs. There were two forms we had to fill out on the plane: one was a customs declaration form for things you were bringing into the country, and one was a foreigner form for those that do not have Japanese citizenship. Both were a little confusing to fill out at first, but once you spent some time analyzing them you could fill them out. We were required to hand these forms in to a customs agent who then proceeded to take our fingerprints and our photograph. As Japanese policy, all foreigners are required to have their fingerprints taken when entering the country. There was a little machine where you pressed down on two panels with one index finger each and it digitally took your fingerprints. Then you looked at a camera on the same machine and it took your picture. It was very efficient!

Handling our Luggage

After going through customs, we proceeded to pick up our luggage. There was a screen in both English and Japanese that told us which luggage terminal corresponded to our flight. It was changing over time and very dynamic. After we picked up our luggage, we went through a boarding pass processing station. The officials there were wearing doctor's masks and very hygienic and polite. In general, everyone was very polite and helpful! Unfortunately, due to the security of the airport we were not allowed to take pictures during our processing! We will have some nice pictures to make up for it in the future!

The moving traffic inside Narita airport

Right when everyone came out of the luggage terminal, the observation was that the arrival area seemed a bit smaller than what have expected to be for the amount of traffic of people coming in. The main hallway felt a little narrow for a big airport. The impression since this airport is one of the biggest one in the world, every part of the airport space should be big. When there are people who are traveling in a big group, the feeling of space was not wide enough to fit everyone at once who was trying to pass through. There were a right amount of employees assisting everyone, from the customs, the luggage terminal to when you are leaving out to the lobby.

The ways to leave Narita airport

When we were approaching to the doors out to the arrival area, the line of taxi or limousine drivers holding signs with the names of the people they are picking up were acknowledge. They all looked professional with their sharp uniforms. This situation is hardly encountered, but believed this service is highly popular in Japan. We all know taxi and busses are always available to serve the convenience for people leaving the airport. Right outside of the exit doors, there are a section for busses all lined up waiting for people to take them. As for the taxis, same concept applies if a person wishes to take them. Another popular method used mostly in Asia is by subway trains. Right when you enter to the main arrival lobby, there is a set of escalators right around the corner which leads you downstairs to the subways taking you to the destination where you want to go. The trains are often being used by locals and foreigners because the efficiency and reliability of these subway trains.

Week 1 - Alex and Ken

Our research started the moment we touched down in the airport. While Mandy and David were covering the practical aspects of the airport, Ken and I (Alex) were focused on the various shops located in and around the Narita airport. Although we weren’t able to visit every store in the airport, we were able to see a lot different types of stores operating in the airport.

Currency Exchange

The idea of a currency exchange area in an airport seems very convenient because travellers are the main users of the currency exchange. If they’re leaving the airport or are waiting to board, they can just go to the currency exchange and get the currency they need. The clerks working at the currency exchange all were able to speak English, which is very helpful in a setting with so many people unable to speak Japanese. In addition, there’s also an ATM close to the currency exchange. However, the currency exchange wasn’t as convenient as it would appear. They only keep a certain amount of currency and if the amount you need exceeds their capabilities, you have to go to a bank.

Leo Shop
This small shop was similar to shops that are available in the Calgary airport. They sold magazines, small souvenirs and some food. This is very convenient for the traveller who is in a rush and not able to go other places for food. Also, if a returning traveller forgot to get a souvenir overseas, they can buy one from Leo Shop and pretend. In front of the international souvenirs there are flags of the countries where they are from, like Germany, Switzerland, Italy and even Canada. However, there is a price for convenience. The actual price is probably higher than the same product in a grocery store and the quality is lower because of limited supply and storage.

JR Ticket Office
I think that this is the most convenient of all the stores in the Narita airport. Through this office you can get a Suica card and validate your JR pass. This is extremely useful as transit costs are something that can’t be avoided in Japan. This is a very easy and convenient way to get the Suica card, as the only other places to get one is a JR station. Calgary doesn’t provide a service like this in the airport, but transit tickets can be purchased at convenience stores.

Vending Machines
Vending machines are very convenient and are located all throughout Japan. It’s very easy for non-Japanese speakers to use because the products are all displayed and you select what you want with just a touch of a button. The price is clearly displayed underneath each item and travellers always know exactly what they’re receiving. Just above the coin slot there’s a monitor that plays advertisements. The particular vending machine that we saw in the airport sold hot coffee, which is unusual in Calgary.

Photo Printing Station
Near the meeting area, there are a collection of automatic vending machines. One of the machines is a place where you can print your photos just by inserting various memory cards. You can also use this machine to print photos from your mobile phone or a CD. It costs 1,000 yen to print photos. This is really convenient for people who don’t have time to go to an official photo store. This machine is also easy to use because there’s both English and Japanese and there is voice guidance available.

Phone Charging Station
At this machine you can charge mobile phones at 100 yen for 20 minutes. One machine has 4 different types of chargers available. This is convenient for travellers who may have forgotten or packed their chargers already. However, it’s only good for Japanese cell phones so it might not be so helpful to international travellers.

Phone Card
At the machine, different KDDI phone cards are available to be purchased. This would be especially convenient for international travellers who are planning to use phone cards as their main source of communication back home. One phone card can be purchased for 850 yen.

Convenience Store outside the Airport
Just in case you can’t wait until you get into the airport or need something while waiting for the bus, there is a convenience store available to you outside the airport. The only products available are small snacks, drinks and tobacco. This is convenient, but unnecessary because you’re so close to the airport.

Airport Mall – Restaurants and Shops
On the fourth floor of the airport, there is an airport mall, which contains different restaurants and shops. The fourth floor is also the location of the departure lobby, so this mall is very convenient for those people who forgot something at home or are looking for souvenirs to bring to other countries. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we weren’t able to visit the mall on this trip.

Contribution from Christopher Johnson

“Transportation Fascination”

The movement of people and material from place to place is an integral part of modern society. Everyday we rely on efficient transportation systems to move people and products throughout the world. Indeed without this infrastructure the freedom of movement and economic integration upon which the modern world is built would disintegrate.

Accordingly, the infrastructure itself has often become a source of interest and fascination for many people. The transportation systems that they interact with on a day-to-day basis have become a source of curiosity, and indeed a hobby. This is an accessible passion with which they can interact on a daily basis.

In Japan, economic development and prosperity has combined with high population density to create the need for highly efficient and high volume transportation solutions. Often, this solution has been found in a rail-based system.

“Railfans” as they are called in English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railfan ) or “鉄道オタク／鉄道ファン“　(Tetsudou Otaku/Tetsudou Fan - http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%89%84%E9%81%93%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%B3) in Japanese, are people who have particular interests or hobbies relating to rail transportation systems.

It is estimated that the number of railfans in Japan has grown from 20000 people in 2004, to upwards of 140000 today. And amongst their numbers can be found a diversifying demographic with diverse interests in train-culture.
(See: http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/for-fans-of-locomotives-it%E2%80%99s-full-steam-ahead)

Their presence can be seen in a variety of interesting and (mostly) unique manifestations of railfan culture in Japan:

At many hotels near train stations, it is possible to buy a room with a “train view” from which it is easier to observe and photograph the nearby trains. (See: http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/fans-flock-to-city-hotels-for-rail-view)
Although train-driving simulation games are not unique to Japan, the variety of types and platforms for train simulation games is quite unique. Train simulation games can be found in Japan for the handheld gaming systems, PS3, Wii and in arcade versions. These games allow railfans to enjoy driving trains on a variety of different lines and in different locations. Often they also include a “conductor mode” to help the railfans who are mostly interesting in memorizing the stops along a certain line.
Densha de GO! Is a popular example of a train simulation game in Japan, and can be found for a variety of different platforms.
(See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Densha_de_Go!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5KHXWx9PSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaWLCAHmSWY
Everyone knows about maid cafés, but what about a station attendant café? LittleTGV is in Akihabara and features train map menus and waitresses dressed up as station attendants or conductors.
(See: http://www.alafista.com/2008/03/05/train-cafe-in-akihabara/; http://littletgv.com/)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69shBN_euHY
The melodies that are played at the stations are quite popular! (And really catchy! These will forever remind you of Japan!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2aCoO3hqQI
Many different novelty products showcase the popularity of trains in Japan.
(See: http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/?p=2635 )
Of course, these kinds of interests are not limited to trains. Some people share similar passions about air-transportation, shipping or automobiles.

I think it is also interesting to see these interests in the context of Japanese culture. It seems that compared to North America, people in Japan who are employed in positions related to transportation are much more highly respected. And that often people in these positions approach their jobs with a level of respect and efficiency that is rare in North America. It is also interesting to see the different level of respect and patience exhibited by the passengers between North America and Japan. For example, in Japan people usually line up at the markers indicating where the train doors will be when the train stops. Once the train stops they move aside slightly, providing room for people to get off, before proceeding onto the train.

I hope that for a few moments during our journey in Japan that everyone will take a second to observe the various transportation systems that are found there. Try to observe the differences and similarities, and try to understand the “railfan” mindset, if only for a moment!

Contribution from Matthew Nguyen

I found your blog on transportation is very interesting and my only criticism is that you guys might not have enough to write about. I have gone through your blog and would like to recommend some ideas to help you when you have to write your weekly reports. It seems like you covered pretty much most of the forms of transportation, but I am really curious about the different customs and norms in Japan compared to Calgary, like when riding on the trains.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html (guide for traveling by train)

To summarize some of the information found from that website, they mentioned that there are some trains that allow smoking. Another interesting thing I found is that talking on cell phones inside the train is forbidden and as a norm you should put backpacks on the floor or onto the baggage shelves. Of course we do not have such all of these rules here in Calgary, since our trains are never as packed as Japan and our culture is different.

More of these posters can be found here.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/anshin/kaiteki/poster/index.html

The top 10 bad train manners from a survey were:
1. Noisy conversation and horsing around
2. Music from headphones
3. The way passengers sit
4. Cell phone ringtones and talking on phones
5. Pushing, shoving when getting on and off the trains
6. Applying make-up
7. Littering
8. Sitting on the floor of the train
9. Riding the train drunk
10. Riding a crowded train with a child in a stroller

Since many of us will be riding on the train I think it would be important to know most of these manners, but many of them are really common sense.

I also heard that people who miss the last train are allowed to sleep at the station for the first train to arrive in the morning, like for university and college students who finish late and it does not bother the station attendant which I find intriguing. Since you covered hours of operations maybe you could also include duration per train and how long it would take to get to one place to another. When you are covering rush hour, you can compare the time of rush hour with Calgary’s rush hour.
http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/rush-hour-tokyo (train culture)

In Calgary trains come every 5 minutes during rush hour (6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and in Japan it comes every 2 minutes.
http://www.shinkansen.co.jp/jikoku_hyo/en/ (time table)

Although this might seem out of place since you guys are experimenting with different forms of transportation per week, but how about comparing the different forms of transportation to get to the same destination by bus, train, biking or walking. This comparison could include the cost of the fare and the duration. Also what are the differences between their transportation system and our own? Do they have a transfer system when riding buses and what are the Japanese people’s thoughts on transportation, like what do they think is the best, and other facts similar to how we covered ちかん and the traffic problems due to train routes in class.

I am also curious about the other forms of transportation, if you guys get the chance to also research about, such as motorcycles and how many people own cars and what they think about airplanes as a method of travel, since they have the 新幹線 (しんかんせん) and also what is the most common form of activity done while on the train, such as reading a newspaper, playing on the Nintendo DS or texting etc…

Overall to repeat my suggestion, I think it would be great if you guys could research some of the differences between Japanese transportation system and our own transportation including technology and maybe get some opinions and perspectives of some of the Japanese people who have taken transportation in another country and how they feel about foreign transportation compared to their own. Any question I presented above are also suggestions. Continue to keep up the great work.

Contribution from Jessica Leong

SUICA + N’EX PACKAGE

SUICA CARD
The Suica card can be used to pay for JR East trains, the subway, the Tokyo monorail buses and for shopping—you can use it to buy things at vending machines, convenience stores, etc. The Suica card is a smart card that comes preloaded with 1500 yen and can be recharged an unlimited number of times. Bought alone the Suica card costs 2000 yen (1500 yen preloaded on the card + 500 yen deposit).

N’EX TICKET
Then Narita Express (N’EX) train ticket is used to travel from the Narita Airport to the Tokyo/Yokohama area. The N’EX ticket is also valid from any N’EX station (ie. Shinjuku) to other areas of Tokyo; therefore, we should be able to use it to get all the way to Senshu University. When bought alone, this ticket costs 3110 yen to get to Shinjuku station (by ordinary car).

SUICA & N’EX PACKAGE
Only people who hold a foreign passport are able to by the Suica & N’EX package together, and it saves you 1610 yen (if you are going to Shinjuku station). Instead of paying 5110 yen to get the Suica card and the N’EX ticket separately, you can buy them together at the airport for 3500 yen.

WHERE TO GET THE SUICA & N’EX PACKAGE
You can buy this package either at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 at the Narita airport when you arrive to Japan. I think the only downside to this deal is that you can only use the N’EX ticket on the day you buy it. Therefore, you can’t use it to go in the opposite direction, for when you leave Tokyo. As far as I know, there isn’t a discount ticket to get back to the airport.
If you want to view more information about the Suica and N’EX package you can visit this site: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

JAPAN RAIL PASS
WHAT IS IT?
If you are interested in traveling around Japan, you can buy the Japan Rail Pass, which comes in three types: 7-days, 14-days or 21-days. It is great if you want to travel around Japan a lot or even if you need to make a round trip between cities. With the Japan rail pass you can travel on railways (including Shinkansens), buses and the Miyajima ferry (a ferry route between Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima and Miyajima).

HOW MUCH IS IT?
Here is a list of the ticket prices available. The green cars are first class (for those of you who want to experience the luxury car!)

SOME DISADVANTAGES
Although I think this pass is great for some uses, there are some disadvantages to the Japan Rail Pass. For example, you can’t ride the “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. However, this shouldn’t be a problem within the cities. Another disadvantage of this pass is that you must always carry your passport with you when you want to use it because it is for foreigners only and they may check for your passport at the gate.

WHERE TO GET IT
If you need to travel a lot around Japan (and not just within one city), then this pass will probably save you a lot of money. If you’re interested in getting the pass you have to buy it outside of Japan. So buy it before you leave for Japan!!! In Calgary, you can get it at Nippon Travel (#104,1011 - 1st Street S.W). Here you can buy an ‘exchange order’, which you can then exchange for the Japan Rail Pass once you are in Japan. You don’t need to activate the pass right away—just for when you need it. And it can be activated at various train stations.
For more details on where to activate the pass and how to use the pass you can visit http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html which provides a lot of information.

Welcome

Welcome to our blog! This blog is dedicated to our experiences with the Japanese transportation system. But before we get to the nitty-gritty, perhaps we should introduce ourselves! The people writing this blog are from the University of Calgary attending Senshu University in Japan on a group exchange program. We made this blog in order to educate others (and ourselves) who are unfamiliar with Japanese transit and ways to get about. We are: Ken, Mandy, Alex, and David! Welcome!

Japan is infamous for its complicated subway and train lines, but the whole picture of Japanese transit is much more than this. We hope to fully explore all the options available, even down to walking and bicycling! We will talk about some of our group’s previous experiences in Japan as well. Throughout the various weeks we will cover such topics as: airports, airplanes, subways, trains, taxis, busses, bicycles, and walking. We hope that by covering these topics we capture a broad range of Japanese transit and can describe an accurate picture of what it is like to move about in Japan – in particular, daily life and daily commuting needs.

Airports (Week 1)
Because we will be arriving in Japan via airplane (can’t drive across the ocean, sorry) we will start out by discussing our immediate surroundings! So, our first topic will be airports and airplanes! Unfortunately, we are aware that there are certain parts of the airport where pictures are not allowed, so we try our best in this regard to get some good, accurate (and legal) pictures. We will divide our group of four into two groups to cover all the various aspects of the bustling Narita airport.
Group one will be covering the aspects of the food court, various stores, duty free shops, and souvenir stores. From this, the goal is to get an idea of the variation in stores, the quality of the goods that are sold, and how convenient it is to buy goods at these stores.
Group two is in charge of covering the various actual operations of the airport. This includes things such as the check in methods, flight scheduling, accessibility of the airport to non-Japanese speaking foreigners, and general traffic and quantity of people and flights. In addition to this, group two will be covering the shuttle system and various ways to get to and leave the airport. This includes trains that are directly connected to the airport.

Subways & Trains (Week 2)
After we are settled into our dorms and getting used to life in Japan, travel via subways and trains to get around will be very important. Therefore, we would like to cover this as our second topic to continue our research. Of particular importance will be the Suica card to pay for transportation, what it is for, the various uses it provides for you, how to get one, how to top one up, and how to use it.
As much as we would like to be together at all times, group one will be covering various details about the stations where the trains dock. This includes things such as station details, environment around the stations, stores around the station, and station vendors and popular restaurants. We will also try to discover why it is so popular to have vendors around the stations and how it has become a fundamental part of Japanese culture.
Group two will be covering the “how to” for actual usage of the subway and train systems. We will be covering things such as the train lines and maps (trying to decipher these puzzles), the women’s only car and why it is needed, what the station is like at rush hour (morning and evening), the various express lines and the advantages they give, and the hours of operation for the train system (what time does it shut down?). Also, we will be investigating if there is a rate change during different parts of the day (morning vs. afternoon vs. evening).

Taxis & Busses (Week 3)
Besides taking the most popular transportation method in Japan, there are various other ways to get around. In particular, there could be the possibility when the train is not an option. This could be when your destination is not accessible by train, but still farther than walking distance or it is not convenient to walk.
Group one will be covering the taxi system. Various topics include things such as taxi advertisements (are there ads on taxis?), accepted payment methods (cash only? Suica card accepted?), and etiquette for riding the taxis (not closing your door). In addition to this, we will explore if there are options for foreigners with limited Japanese speaking ability to ride the taxi (such as a phone system to talk to a translator).
Group two will be covering the bus system. Topics of importance will be things such as how accessible the bus system is vs. the taxi system, what are they good for, bus routes and prices, the distance covered or range of the bus system, and the bus scheduling and amount of time to wait between busses. In addition to the functionality of the bus system, we will be covering things such as what the bus stops are like (scenic and clean? Is there vandalism?), payment options (cash, non-exact change, Suica card), availability of handicap access.

Bicycle & Walking (Week 4)
Because this is our last week and we will be one big group, and we will probably be busy with exams and the end of our classes, we decided to do a topic that we would have a lot of experience with (and have some fun with the bicycles and old fashioned walking!). We will be covering walking around and bicycles, and where you can go with both.
For bicycles, we will research things such as cooperation with traffic, whether they are allowed on the sidewalks or if they are only allowed on roads, the possibility of bike rentals (their prices and their locations), if bicycles are on the road what kind of traffic light rules they obey (specialty rules for bicycles?), and if there are any designated routes for biking.
For walking, we will research what kinds of things are within walking distance, how pedestrians interact with traffic, overpasses and traffic avoidance, the famous large diagonal free for all crosswalks, and if time allows, elevators and escalators (what they are like, are there assistants for the elevators?) .
In general, there are a few things we will be focusing on during all of these weeks. We will try to keep these things in mind: distance able to be traveled easily, handicap accessibility, hours of operation, and safety of using the transit method. We hope you are looking forward to this as much as we are! Hopefully you’ll hang around and check out the results of our research! We will try to complete our Journey successfully!

Sources
Suica Card - http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html
Purchasing tickets at the subway station - http://www.odakyu.jp/english/route/guide/purchase.html
General train information - http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html
Odakyu train line map - http://www.odakyu.jp/english/route/railmap/index.html