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Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by kalleboo on Thursday May 24, 2018 @05:22PM (#17148530)
I'm visiting London right now, and compared to here, Tokyo train stations are amazing for signage. There are always super clear, easy to spot signage for where transfers & exits are, what exits they are and what landmarks they lead to, where elevators or escalators are, etc. Electric signs starting at the entrances (before the gates even) for what trains are arriving at what platforms and when.

In London navigational signs are either completely missing or white signs on white tile backdrops so they blend in and are hard to spot (aside from the generic "Way Out" exit signs that don't specify out to where, will I have an escalator/elevator, etc). Electric signs are sparse (maybe one after the gates and one or two only at the ends of the platform)

Tokyo is complicated by the fact that it's actually 10+ different systems run by different, mostly private, companies (JR trains like Yamanote, Tokyo Metro trains, keio, toei, keikyu, keisei, yurikamome, etc etc) so I'm always impressed by how integrated they manage to make it seem.

It sucks that Japan is mostly a cash society, but Apple Pay Suica on iPhone 8 and up helps a lot :)

Singapore does have an amazing subway though, completely world-class.

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by MarkSweep on Thursday May 24, 2018 @10:13PM (#17150130)
The multitude of train companies is further complicated that some companies have through service on each other tracks. Do you will be waiting on a Toei Asakusa Line plateform when a train from the KeiKyuu company shows up. The map inside the train does not have the station you just departed from on it much lest your destination. Good luck!

I enjoy figuring out how their system works so it does not bother me. But I tell people who go there for the first time to stick with JR and maybe Tokyo Metro, as the lines a tourist would typically use have simple schedules and all the stops are color-coded and numbered.

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by kara_jade on Thursday May 24, 2018 @11:13PM (#17150351)
Usually HyperDia covers these cases with different companies using the same tracks. It never has misdirected me so far.

http://www.hyperdia.com/en

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by CaptainZapp on Friday May 25, 2018 @04:21AM (#17151607)
I think the navigation system, which is company independent, is fantastic.

For those that have never been to Japan and using Tokyo Metro as an example:

Every metro line has a name and a color. For example: The Asakusa line (A) has a reddish color. The A designation is only used by the Asakusa line and each station has a number.

Higashi-Ginza is A11. It's also H09, because it's also a station for the (gray) Hybia line.

The system is extended to other operators. All Yamanote line stations are JYn, where n signifies the station number.

That (and a Pasmo or Suica smart card, which lets you switch systems seemlessly) makes navigation, even in the Tokyo transit system, which is arguably the most complex in the world, very easy and intuitive.

The same system is applied in every other Japanese city I've visted, alas the system is usually much simpler.

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by bigger_cheese on Thursday May 24, 2018 @08:42PM (#17149752)
I agree I thought subway in Singapore was amazing last time I visited. What I really liked was the way the carriage always stopped at the same fixed point on platform and they had designated areas for people to stand when embarking. It made the whole process of getting on and off the train much more organised.

Here in Australia trains are no where near that disciplined about where on platform they stop. Carriage doors can be anywhere so basically as soon as train pulls into station everyone on platform surges towards nearest door.

I was in London in January I found the underground there very confusing. I was doing the typical tourist sight seeing thing and was trying to get from Tower of London to the British Museum I knew the stations were on different lines I knew I had to get to the Piccadilly line but there was a lack of detail as to where to change trains. There were voice announcements on trains themselves "Change here for xxx line" but signage was pretty poor.

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by SlowRobotAhead on Thursday May 24, 2018 @10:37PM (#17150226)
Singapore was great for subway. As to the stops at a particular spot, lots of the Asian trains do that, USA and others not so much, we noticed it too.
Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by jessaustin on Thursday May 24, 2018 @07:02PM (#17149286)
It sucks that Japan is mostly a cash society...

There are a range of opinions on this topic. I vastly prefer cash no matter what nation I'm in, and am extremely annoyed when it's not a possibility. Japan and its cash just works. Most situations in other nations that do not admit cash pretend that they function acceptably, but we don't have to look hard to see cracks in the facade.

Re:The Psychology of Japanese Train Stations by SlowRobotAhead on Thursday May 24, 2018 @10:39PM (#17150238)
No thanks. I did not find it convienient having US, Malaysian, Singapore, and Japanese coins in my pocket. I like having a single card that has an always current exchange rate with no fees, and in fact pays back 1.5%.