Japan train travel

Just came back from a trip in Japan covering 4 places by train. If you want to stave off dementia for a year or two, stay in Japan and navigate their rail transport which can be quite overwhelming.

First of all there are more than 100 private companies providing rail transport in Japan including the 6 companies under the JR (Japan Rail) Group and 16 other major regional companies. Intercity travel and subway travel crisscross in many stations. My husband and I were confused and groping around at a transfer station because the same location has 2 different station names depending on the line you are taking.

For intercity travel you must be familiar with the name of the train and their pattern of stopping. The local train stops at every station, the 'limited express', 'express' and 'rapids' stop at fewer stations in variation. If you get into the wrong train you will panic when the train whiz pass your destination. To get to any destination you must first of all do some homework to see which lines get you there  fastest and with the least transfer. At the major stations you must hunt for the signs that lead to that line. Not only must you look above you must also look below as some of the signages are on the floor. Then you must look for the platform and the time of departure. Here one must also be careful because the same platform can also serve different lines. As the trains whiz past at frequency of minutes to different destinations you must glue your eyes to the electronic signage for the exact timing of departure to your destination.

Next you must also cast your eyes downwards. There are spots on the floor of the platform that show where the train doors will be when the train stops. As different types of train have different number of carriages, the electronic signage will also indicate the type of train you will be travelling on. You must then follow the spots on the floor belonging to that particular type of train. Otherwise you may be waiting at a spot where a shorter train may not stop.In addition for intercity travel where your ticket does not come with a reserve seat you must be familiar with the car or carriage numbers of that particular train that are meant for free seating. Once we had to drag our luggage from the front car  to the third last car when the train was moving because we hopped onto the car for reserved seating. Another lesson learnt for not being mindful of our feet was when a soft spoken Japanese lady politely pointed at my husband's feet. On the floor was a pink sign which says "women" indicating it was meant only for ladies.

Nevertheless I am always thrilled when the intercity trains with its long sleek nose approach the platform. Moreover once you are comfortably seated after the great hustle you begin to enjoy the  smooth train ride admiring its punctuality and efficiency. Just an hour or two and we are transported from a bustling mega city to scenic country sides and mountains. Working the mind to enjoy the quiet is just perfect for a retiree.