Maglev train

リニアモーターカー

りにあもーたーかー

This is the prototype of the Maglev Train, or Linear Motor Car that is being developed to initially run between Tokyo and Osaka. The train has no wheels, but works on the principle of magnetic levitation. It can achieve incredible speeds. However, one of the problems the designers have to overcome is the fact that between Tokyo and Osaka there are many hills, mountains and cities – Mt Fuji for one and that is a volcano. The cost is phenominal, but obviously worth it. It should be noted that China has now got a slower version of this Maglev train. Nevertheless, Japan is still the front runner for this type of super-speed transportation.

いちばん はやい　the fastest

いちばん たかい  the most expensive

いちばん きれい the most beautiful

いちばん ながい  the longest

 

電車　でんしゃ

Train

未来の電車　みらい の でんしゃ

Train of the future

リニアモーターカー

Linear Motorcar

Bullet Trains 新幹線 しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

This is your seat ticket travelling from Nagoya to Kyōto, Tokyo to Nagaoka etc. on the Shinkansen, or Bullet Train.

For tourists from outside Japan there is a much cheaper option to travel longer distances. This is easier if you buy a so-called Japan Rail Pass outside Japan first. You can exchange the voucher for a pass, which would entitle you to unlimited travel on JR for one or two or three weeks.  Remember though that the Rail Pass can only be bought OUTSIDE Japan.  Here is the link to more information on this subject.  

JAPAN RAIL PASS

It is an important piece of information to know that all Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stations are quite separate from ordinary stations. The Shinkansen stations tend to be “upstairs” and you need your tickets before you can get in. In order to separate the two stations, the Shinkansen stations are talked about as “Shin Osaka”, or “Shin Yokohama”, or Shin Kōbe “; that way no one is confused.

On the platform the space where the train doors will be opening, with their numbers, has already been marked.

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

First class Green Seat Compartment

博多 はかた Hakata

 

is the old name for

 

福岡 ふくおか Fukuoka

 

 and it is still used by the railways

(for the western line, it is the end of the line)

The lady with the trolley will travel up and down the train for passengers who would like to buy some food or drinks and who do not wish to make use of the dearer option in the dining car. You could of course bring your own prepared food with you, as long as you do not impose on other travelling guests. 

A little commercial break

Here is an important Japanese word; Japanese HATE it, they LOATH it;

it is sooooo un-Japanese:

迷惑　めいわく　imposition  meiwaku 

bother, nuisance, trouble

bubble-crushers, loud-mouths, mess-makers, whingers

To bother other people, to impose on them, to make someone else responsible for your issues, to waste other people’s time, to burden them with your problems, to not know your limitations, to play it out in public, to cause a scene, to intrude into someone else’s bubble, to bore other people, to leave your mess for someone else, to be loud and overbearing, to forget that you are a guest, to forget that life is not about you, to seek attention unnecessarily. Do these sound familiar to you? If this is your way of getting by in life, then Japan is sooo not your place to visit! 

“But what if…” – stop whingeing! Deal with it! It is your issue, not the world’s. Get help, if you need it; they’ll gladly give it to you, you can get help everywhere and anywhere and anytime, but then MOVE ON!  As a nation, the Japanese are perhaps the most helpful people in the world, but DO MOVE ON! They all have a train to catch somewhere and it is a fast train and it isn’t in your direction. Get the idea?

迷惑　めいわく　imposition  meiwaku 

Now back to the Bullet Train again:

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Don’t worry:

they also have western-style toilets on the train.

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

“oh, dear, is that the price of petrol?”

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Look! There’s your “Shin” reference!

and here’s your real “Shin”! Oh, what fun!

The dearer option, but very pleasant indeed…

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

upstairs downstairs

Enjoy your trip!

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Tokyo Subway 東京の地下鉄 とうきょうのちかてつ

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So easy to use! Ticket vending machines are everywhere – well, at the entrance anyway. Plans, diagrams and maps are everywhere, and in English as well. Spare a thought for those visitors from Russia, Venezuela and Togo who may not speak English. Difficult, but they seem to manage and the Japanese staff are most helpful.

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地下鉄の地図

chikatetsu no chizu

ちかてつのちず

subway map

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A child can do it – (and a child must be able to do it)

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place   kippu-uriba

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place  kippu-uriba

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Please, put the ticket in the right way.

Your kneecaps will help remind you for next time.

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• Not a good idea to lean forward.
• Also, there are those boxes on the side for those who thought they might like to slide down the banister, so to say…
• Do keep to the left as people will try to pass you.
• Wherever you go in the subway, do follow your coloured circle.
• You can’t go wrong.
• There is braille everywhere for the visually-impaired, so they have thought of everyone and everything: Japanese organisation and planning.

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Shinbashi (=New Bridge) Ginza Line, 8 station

station 8 going to station 7

(counter clockwise direction)

(Hang on… how did we know that?   Aha! From 8 to 7!)

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You can even see how long the ride will take you.

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 Rush hour is a different matter though…

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We are not quite sure why a cat would have a problem here, because we leave the cat at home. We all get the message though. You don’t need language for these pictures, do you? It usually happens to you only once. Oh, dear. You will get sympathy, but no-one is likely to give up their seat. If you are slow to learn, there will be staff on the platform to help you though – Just take care.

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We all know what these mean: don’t take the cat on the train and be careful with your fingers.

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This says: (If you want to be a slob) – do it at home! (Your mother will love you for it! – no, it doesn’t say that last bit. LOL.)

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And another gem:

Take care to avoid ‘helpful’ pickpockets!

They may take advantage of you.

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He has a cold and is being considerate

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poor people

they work so hard

their work day is so long

the train is so boring

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Now you know why Japanese people are so fit – and so informed!

Very difficult to not notice the advertisement.

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There are some rules to observe on public transport:

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• You should speak in a low voice, not speak out aloud. (You recognise foreigners straightaway. They are so noisy and their conversations include the whole world: talking from one end of the carriage to the other! Or calling out: “Hey, Lisa, have you… blah, blah, blah…?” How un-Japanese! No sense of restrained consideration. Remember that everything new on the train, the other passengers have already seen thousands of times before you, so they don’t really want to hear about it. They just want to get home, or to wherever they want to go, without your comments.)

   

• Also, you shouldn’t eat or drink on the train. There are plenty of coffee shops elsewhere. That includes revolting chewing gum. Nasty habit. Yuck! Not to mention what foreigners do with their chewing gum when they have finished. A great way to make your hosts sick or take a dislike to you!

   

• These days you shouldn’t use your mobile phone on the train either. Inconsiderate.

   

• Just don’t bother other people – lead your own life and get on with it.

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These rules may seem strange to us, but imagine if 2000 passengers all talked aloud on the train, it would be too noisy. Not a good look and not very pleasant.  Remember too: you’re on holiday, they are not.

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Normally you should stand in line when boarding a train. The spaces where the doors of the train are going to be opened, are marked on the platform, so you can already line up in anticipation.

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  he’s not lining up…

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and this is only the start of the week…

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Don’t you just love those little square windows

next to the machines: human help!

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I did it! Pretty cool!

Yes, pretty and cool.

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very few miss their station though…

must be years of training

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The puzzle パズル is referring to something else

not to the subway train system!

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Nice one! (whoever you are who took it)

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