Spending some time in the subway net

Subway in Tokyo. Almost 9 million commuters every day… The central nerve that is divided between two companies, Tokyo Metro and JR-Line. Luckily you can use the same tickets on both line, but you need to “check in” when changing form one to the other. This is easy done just by swiping your ticket, but if you somehow miss it you will have to explain to a Japanese speaking ticket officer. This can obviously be a challenge if you don´t speak Japanese…

Photos takes with Leica M9 and 50 summicron, the perfect travel companion.

Warning signed everywhere and marking on the ground showing where the doors of respective subway car will be. Everyone stands in line after the markings and they all look funny at you when you stand somewhere else when waiting for the train.

Someone has done an excellent job polishing the floor…

Micronap. Don´t know if it is to be alone for a minute or if they are really tied, but most of them looks like they fall asleep…

They all stand in line at the markings, everyone.

DJ.Taro on the taking the sub.

/Thomas Tanisawa

Subway in Tokyo. Must be both frustrating and frightening before you figure out how everything works in the subway. Once you figure out what to look for, how to plan your trips and how to purchase tickets its actually quite simple.

1: Buy a Suica or Passmo travel card. It’s like a refill card with credits for the subway (and a lot of other things as well).

2: Fill the card with travel money. This can be done in refill machines at every subway station  (Yes, there is a button marked “English”!)

3: Just go!

Prepare to stand on every train…

Ok, when traveling the biggest problem could be to find the right track. Some stations are VERY large and there can be a lot of walking if you don’t know where to go. There are maps on every station so use them!

Two students who ate a quick lunch at the station, curry, rice and white shirts…

This is quite unusual… an empty station.