Do YOU have a Favorite Train???
- 地下鉄： subway train line
Chie currently lives in Fukuoka, and her favorite train is on the coast of Fukuoka that leads northward towards some nice beaches.
(One of) Niko’s favorite train line brings him back to the time when he lived in a dorm as a student in 和光市 Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture! We show train line maps in the video version of this episode if you are curious where they are located ^^
Saying a Japanese word properly in the middle of a different-language-sentence is a struggle. Anyone else feel the pain? Niko’s brain gets confused of which pronunciation to use and it hurts.
Local Trains
池袋：lake-bag if we’re talking literal breakdown xD
Sometimes, when you’ve lived somewhere for a while in Japan and get to know the train lines pretty well in your area, it’s a really exciting event when train lines decide to connect / update / add new stations to them!
As of 2023, Spring, Fukuoka city is going through this exact thing and adding in a new station and connecting train lines that used to only be reachable by walking 10 minutes.
Niko is a Published Author and a Tokyo Train Expert
The じゃじゃーん at around 6:30-, Chie and Niko talked about a book that Niko help publish and couldn’t find the picture of it in a past episode. But now it’s been found! the front cover has a fun caricature drawing of Niko on it saying “go for it.”
Clearly, Niko is a master of train lines in Tokyo. If you are ever curious about any of the trains there, come ask him questions in our Discord!
It’s a whole culture in Japan to take the train to work.
The “rush hour” is very much a thing taking the train to work. You might have heard of stories about how people have to get physically pushed into train cars during these times. And maybe even seen pictures of just how full it can get.
Pro tip: when taking trains or even buses, it’s good etiquette to hold any possessions like backpacks or bags in from of you so that you don’t accidentally hit others around you!
Shinkansen and Eki-ben is The Best
新幹線：the most glorious way to get around Japan imo (←Chie) They have tiers of fastness. The faster ones stops at less stations and are usually more expensive.
駅弁：station packed-lunch.
If you’re about to head out on a longer train ride, you could arrive at the station a bit early to pick out some snacks or an 駅弁 to take with you!
Caution to people traveling to or from Osaka: There are two “Osaka” stations. One is Osaka station, and the other is the Shin-Osaka station. Caleb and Chie have tried to make plans meeting up with friends a couple times and ended up at different stations! The Shin-Osaka station is where the Shinkansen goes through. These two stations are connected by a train ride, though, so not a huge deal.
The Osaka station is the one that’s close to the Osaka castle which is definitely worth the trip. You can either take a 30 min train ride, or leisurely make your way over on foot, taking in the scenery and stoping by some neat temples.
What kind of a train experience do you want to try? I have seen advertisements for trains with fine-dining, zen-garden themed cars, coast line tour rides, going around smaller islands, etc^^
Romance Cars and Other Train Types
"Romance cars are basically a shinkansen but not a shinkansen. It’s like a ‘nice’ train.” — Niko lol
If you’re not a citizen of Japan, or you are but have been living outside of Japan for over 10 years, look up JR Pass before your next trip to Japan, and take advantage of the great network of JR trains (some buses and ferries are included, as well).
You’ll hear something like 「電車とホームの間があいているところがありますので足下にご注意下さい。」 This ホーム is talking about the platform.
- 市電：streetcar
- モノレール：monorail
- 商店街：commercial downtown streets with lots of shops, no cars allowed.
If you’re ever bored in Japan and want to go do something, a major train station is usually filled with things to do like shopping, movies, sometimes bowling or game centers. Near by you can also probably find a karaoke place, and even illumination or an event if the season is right.
There’s a Ghibli theme park! Niko and I have not gone there yet!! Have you been? Do you want to go visit?
- 広告：advertisement
- 脱毛：hair removal
It’s super common for men to have clean-shaved face in Japan.
Okay, so get this: Train companies build super nice apartments and complexes that’s on the train line (sometimes at super inconvenient pr less-popular stations), and they advertise them on the train.
They pass out late-pass from 駅員さん when its super crowded or the trains are delayed for some reason.
Thanks for listening all the way to the end.
See you in the next one!