Japan has an incredibly efficient mass-transportation system. Subways and land trains link cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo to their respective suburbs and the lightning-fast Shinkansen bullet trains link just about the whole country together. Tunnels now connect all four Japanese islands!
I take a train everyday on my commute from home to school, and I absolutely love it. The system is perfect to the point that the doors even open at exactly the same spot as the station signs say they will. And they’re always on time! Call it Japanese discipline. I may be poking too much fun at the U.S. and its face mask-less sick people, but a good transit system is something that the U.S. is seriously lacking. I mean, my Amtrak train from Chicago to New York City was delayed by six hours due to faulty signal and track conditions, and we sat still for another hour due to a derailed train in front of us. That and the U.S.’s trains just move slow. When I get on a bullet train I will of course comment on its already-evident superiority. Although, in fairness, the U.S. interstate system is great in its own way.
Enjoy this station shot of the Japanese train system in all its glory:
Oh yeah, Japanese trains: fast, frequent, clean, on time and safe!
How about crowded? Is you train packed during your commutes?
The trains are generally packed in the afternoon and evenings. I can usually only get a seat in the mornings.
If only Chicago trains were fast, frequent, clean, on time, and safe! Austin, it sounds as though you are really taking advantage of all the opportunities Japan is offering. Keep writing posts, we’re enjoying them! Next time I am at a vending machine, I will eat my candy bar at the machine.