5 ms·

When you look at the Tokyo railway map it looks like a totally unnavigational maze. Actually, and despite the fact that services are provided by more than half

When you look at the Tokyo railway map it looks like a totally unnavigational maze. Actually, and despite the fact that services are provided by more than half a dozen independent companies, it's quite easy to navigate. Even when you run into vertigo when seeing it for the first time. Each line, no matter if Tokyo metro, private metro, JR, private railway is color coded and has a fixed one or more unique letter designation. Say, you want to go to Ginza, to just take one example. You don't even have to remember the station name. You just need to know the station codes. In this case M16 (red), H08 (gray) or G9 (orange). The letter designates the metro line, while the number represents the station for the respective line. And each combination is unique. That, in combination with a PASMO or SUICA smart card makes orientation very straight forward and seamless.

oftenwrong 8y ago
I was able to navigate the Tokyo system on my first visit better than I could navigate the New York system, even though I had lived in New York for years. I credit the high quality signage.
- have_faith 8y ago
  Second this. Tokyo was extremely easy to navigate considering I had done no planning until I arrived.
- mynameisvlad 8y ago
  Yes, 100%. That, combined with Google Maps for routing made any sort of train or metro interaction in all of Japan utterly painless. The only time I got lost was when I couldn't immediately find a Tokyo Metro station and Google Maps sent me to the JR station on the other end of the mall. Even then, it only took me a few minutes of wandering around to find what I was looking for.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
kalleboo 8y ago
> it's quite easy to navigate After a recent visit to London I've really come to appreciate how fantastic the signage is in the Tokyo railway system. In London I often had trouble finding exits or connections (often following signs only to seemingly run out of directions), but in Tokyo it always seems seamless.
- thibautg 8y ago
  I’ve got the opposite impression coming to London from Brussels. London is so much better. When you arrive in London by Eurostar, you walk on a nice wooden floor. St. Pancras station is wonderful, clean and easy to navigate. When I come back in Bruxelles Midi, everything is dirty, mechanical stairs are broken, nobody can find the metro entrance, most exits are closed at 22:00... It seems that the grass is always greener on the other side. I’d like to try Tokyo some time though, it seems so nice. (I’m from Belgium)
  - rossng 8y ago
    I think it's fair to say that St. Pancras is uniquely fantastic, and Bruxelles Midi is unusually terrible. I suspect stations in the UK and Belgium are much the same once you average them all out. That being said, I do think that the Tube has generally very good signage and ticketing. Its main issues are being unpleasantly loud and hot.
    - thibautg 8y ago
      You are right. In London as a foreigner I’ve always found the Tube easy to use. Even when there is an interruption there is always someone to help and give guidance. The Oyster card is convenient and cheap for one day tourists. In train I’ve only ridden on the GWR Paddington-Bristol route. I found it very comfortable although it was still diesel powered. I’ve heard the line now has been electrified up to Swindon I think. I’m a railway worker so I can ride first class for free. It’s great because with GWR you get free drinks and snacks and the seats are really comfy. But if you have to pay it’s really expensive in the UK.
  - 8y ago
shawnps 8y ago
I was curious what the map of all Tokyo train lines overlapping might look like, and found this post on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/53yuxd/heres_a_full_railway_map_of_tokyo_and_suburbs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/53yuxd/heres_a_ful... Quite impressive! It even includes the Disney Resort Line (small orange loop toward the right-hand side).
- samstave 8y ago
  https://thecitywood.com/project/wood-map?ref=i https://thecitywood.com/project/wood-map?ref=i
DrPhish 8y ago
It's SO good, in fact, that when I was visiting Tokyo with my 12 year old a few years ago and he was bored of looking at guitars with me in Ochanomizu, I just let him take the train back to our accommodations without me. Tokyo is so safe, friendly and easily navigable I didn't give it a second thought.

oftenwrong 8y ago

I was able to navigate the Tokyo system on my first visit better than I could navigate the New York system, even though I had lived in New York for years. I credit the high quality signage.

have_faith 8y ago
Second this. Tokyo was extremely easy to navigate considering I had done no planning until I arrived.
mynameisvlad 8y ago
Yes, 100%. That, combined with Google Maps for routing made any sort of train or metro interaction in all of Japan utterly painless. The only time I got lost was when I couldn't immediately find a Tokyo Metro station and Google Maps sent me to the JR station on the other end of the mall. Even then, it only took me a few minutes of wandering around to find what I was looking for.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

kalleboo 8y ago

> it's quite easy to navigate After a recent visit to London I've really come to appreciate how fantastic the signage is in the Tokyo railway system. In London I often had trouble finding exits or connections (often following signs only to seemingly run out of directions), but in Tokyo it always seems seamless.

thibautg 8y ago
I’ve got the opposite impression coming to London from Brussels. London is so much better. When you arrive in London by Eurostar, you walk on a nice wooden floor. St. Pancras station is wonderful, clean and easy to navigate. When I come back in Bruxelles Midi, everything is dirty, mechanical stairs are broken, nobody can find the metro entrance, most exits are closed at 22:00... It seems that the grass is always greener on the other side. I’d like to try Tokyo some time though, it seems so nice. (I’m from Belgium)
- rossng 8y ago
  I think it's fair to say that St. Pancras is uniquely fantastic, and Bruxelles Midi is unusually terrible. I suspect stations in the UK and Belgium are much the same once you average them all out. That being said, I do think that the Tube has generally very good signage and ticketing. Its main issues are being unpleasantly loud and hot.
  - thibautg 8y ago
    You are right. In London as a foreigner I’ve always found the Tube easy to use. Even when there is an interruption there is always someone to help and give guidance. The Oyster card is convenient and cheap for one day tourists. In train I’ve only ridden on the GWR Paddington-Bristol route. I found it very comfortable although it was still diesel powered. I’ve heard the line now has been electrified up to Swindon I think. I’m a railway worker so I can ride first class for free. It’s great because with GWR you get free drinks and snacks and the seats are really comfy. But if you have to pay it’s really expensive in the UK.
- 8y ago

shawnps 8y ago

I was curious what the map of all Tokyo train lines overlapping might look like, and found this post on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/53yuxd/heres_a_full_railway_map_of_tokyo_and_suburbs/ https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/53yuxd/heres_a_ful... Quite impressive! It even includes the Disney Resort Line (small orange loop toward the right-hand side).

samstave 8y ago
https://thecitywood.com/project/wood-map?ref=i https://thecitywood.com/project/wood-map?ref=i

DrPhish 8y ago

It's SO good, in fact, that when I was visiting Tokyo with my 12 year old a few years ago and he was bored of looking at guitars with me in Ochanomizu, I just let him take the train back to our accommodations without me. Tokyo is so safe, friendly and easily navigable I didn't give it a second thought.