Its seems many folks in Japan also view trains as more that a means of transportation. An article from the BBC on several trains that have "the sense being that such trains are destinations wholly in themselves, not just means of transportation. It seemed to me as though there was a train for almost every occasion."
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C205ZmGidJE
From my YouTube Channel: Train Room Gary & his crew go rail-fanning in Japan.
This video has the camera in the observation deck, looking forward, on a Tokyo Subway. We will ride on several subway trains and elevated trains, in Tokyo. Plus ride on a Boeing 747-400, with the camera view, over the wing.
• Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂
Train travel is heavily used in Japan. They invested in trains, not freeways. When I was there for 2 years, 40+ years ago, the trains were always on time. Electric trains last for decades. I remember a build plate on one I was riding out of a small town of only 150,000. It was built in Britain about 1908 or so.
I have been there a few times for business. Trains run very efficiently.
Train etiquette in Japan. The location of where the doors will be for each route that stops at the station is marked. They do stop within a few centimeters of the mark. A line forms to the side of each of these areas. When the train stops all those leaving are already standing and lined up. Doors open, everyone leaves. The second the last person is off, everyone gets on. If you are tardy getting off, you may have to go to the next stop. I counted a few times and it was 20-30 seconds usually.
Riding to the next stop happened to my wifes Grandmother. My wife was a military brat living in Japan. Her grandmother came to visit. On the train ride with the family, she was tardy getting off. She followed pre-train travel instructions and got off at the next stop and waited for family to come get her.
Packing people on trains is done in some major cities during rush hour. I do remember one early morning trip when the train filled with school kids. It was packed so tight I couldn't raise my hand holding my briefcase. Someone knicked my knuckle with a briefcase or something. I didn't notice at the time that it caused my hand to bleed profusely. When the train stopped a few minutes later about a 1/3 got off. I raised my hand and noticed the problem. Poor girl that was next to me may have wondered how the blood got all over her dress when she got to school.
Holidays are full load days. While in Takaoka we went to a festival in Toyama. When it was time to leave, everyone wanted to leave. We were at the last of 3 train stops leaving town for our travel direction and the train was full. After 2 or 3 went buy in an hour without anyone getting on, we did a fast hike across town to the train stop where it entered town. We were able to get on there, it was 3/4 full when we left the first stop. Traveling by car is no better, you could take all day being stuck in traffic going to a holiday area and take just as long leaving.
One trip we were waiting for the train. Everyone got off, and the conductor made sure no one got on. Doors closed and it moved about 2 meters to the next markings. Then the doors opened and everyone got on. It was reversing the route and thus a different train/stop zone.
Also at the train stations on stairs, escalators and walkways, you walk or stand on the left. The other side is for running. It is a cultural courtesy for those in a hurry or too embarrasing being asked to move when in the way.
If you know the rules, you can have a great time.
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