The public transportation system in Japan is the best one I have seen in any country I have traveled in, and it remains one of my favorite parts of the trip. It largely consisted of a metro subway system, buses, and bullet trains (Shinkansen). Each part of the system seemed to be created with public use and convenience in mind, and it was clear that the system was invested in.
For example, a typical day for us using public transportation might look something like this: First, we would walk to the subway station, which would never be more than a 15 minute walk. Taking out our Suica cards, we would tap into the station. Suica cards were given to us the first day of the program and were pseudo-credit cards used to pay for the subway and bus. They were also accepted as a form of payment in convenience stores and many other major stores, incentivizing their use. If the payment declined, there were Suica reloading stations in every subway station near the payment gate. Many of us also used the online Suica card, which could be reloaded with Apple Pay. Suica cards would once again be used while exiting, ensuring an appropriate amount was charged.
While entering and exiting a station, we would often use the escalator, where we would stand on the left single file as the right side was left open for people in a rush. Much of our time was spent following our professors around like ducklings, but the system was self-explanatory enough for us when we were on our own. Inputting a destination into a navigational app would bring up transit options, and we simply had to match the line symbol, platform number, and time on our phone to the large signs around the station. The line symbols and numbers associated with the platforms, train cars, trains, and stations made traveling incredibly simple, and many trains had English station names regardless. Trains also ran regularly and on time, rarely being more than a couple of minutes late. There were different types of trains: local, express, semi-express, rapid, and limited express, which would stop at more or less stations, increasing the speed of travel, and thinning out the crowds on trains. Larger stations had gates that would open and close near the edge as a safety measure, and numbered queue lines to avoid congestion. During busier hours, people would pack in close, everyone mindful to stay quiet and avoid taking up space—many people would shift their backpacks to the front to not accidently hit someone. Women-only trains ran during rush hour to promote safety.
Buses were similar, running regularly and paid with a Suica card. A screen at the front would display the station name and charge owed, and buttons on each beam could be pressed to alert the driver to make a stop.
During the second leg of the trip, we used Shinkansen’s to cover lengthy distances, sometimes traveling cross-country in a day. We were provided JR Passes for the Shinkansens rather than paying with a Suica card, and we had randomly assigned seats for each train with space for our luggage. The JR station was different than the metro area, and we would insert our JR pass into a slot, picking it up on the other side of the gate. We had more room than in an airplane, a better view, and we were infinitely more comfortable. Sometimes, we could spin our seats around, and create groups of four to spend more time talking to each other.
The sheer efficiency of the system facilitated a culture of using public transportation regularly out of choice, where it was a more viable option than cars. Indirectly, this facilitated a culture of exercise and better health, as well as reducing pollution and congestion in an already small country. Japan is an excellent example of how good public transportation improves the well-being of a country and its people, and it remains one of my favorite aspects of our trip.