After riding on the Tube in London, our Japanese reporter is thankful for crowded Tokyo trains.
transport
Rail staff were put to the test as they guided passengers through tunnels and emergency slides during their busiest hours.
It might look like brand new technology, but this surprising system is on a train that’s been running for more than forty years.
The world’s first elevated bus that glides over the top of moving cars began its first test run today in Hebei province, China.
A boat-inspired vehicle and a three-wheeler with built-in protection from the elements have been created in conjunction with a respected Japanese architect.
Now you can enjoy the beauty of a high-speed rail journey through Japan with this collection of exclusive picture-perfect cans.
Amidst talks that strengthened the ties between the two countries comes news that you will soon be able to ride a Shinkansen in India.
Japan is well-known for its packed commuter trains. For decades, smartly dressed men and women have shuffled wordlessly into train cars each morning, all painfully aware that they will soon be getting up-close and personal with total strangers and have nowhere to run, hide, or even breathe freely until their stop. Glove-wearing station staff pack passengers in as tightly as they’ll go without them popping out the other side, each firm shove accompanied by a polite word or phrase thanking passengers for moving all the way inside the car or warning them to keep their various appendages clear of the (just barely) closing doors.
But earlier today, Japan was given a glimpse of a much more civilised, luxuriant commuting experience that may soon put an end to these sardine-can shenanigans. Better yet, this logistical revolution is coming soon: not twelve months from now, commuters will be able to zip into Tokyo in style, lying back in comfortable faux-leather chairs inside sleek, aerodynamic private pods that resemble something out of Minority Report.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the next generation of luxury travel, and its name is Kosoku.
This past year the Tokyo Metro has been brought to life in many different ways, ranging from a spaghetti-alien map to, well, a 3-D spaghetti-alien map. But it’s the latest re-imagining of the Tokyo Metro in the highly versatile SVG format that’s currently causing a lot of commotion online.
Japan has come out with some pretty awesome ideas over the years. Pocket calculators, instant noodles, even CD players were all born here, and while they were developed in response to the needs of the local market, their popularity quickly spread far and wide around the globe.
Now Japan is set to revolutionise the way we travel with a new product called the Walking Bicycle Club. Touted as the first big breakthrough in 200 years of the cycling industry, the new vehicle is powered by stepping, rather than pedalling, and is designed to make walking more fun. But how does it feel to ride a bicycle that looks more like a mobile step machine? We dropped by the store to find out.
On October 20 in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, a bus driver on his usual route made a sudden, unscheduled stop. The reason? To purchase some tasty-looking fish from a street vendor. According to passenger and eyewitness reports, the driver suddenly pulled to a stop by the roadside (no bus stop in sight!) and hopped down from his bus to purchase “several” fish, before hopping back into his driver’s seat and resuming his route. But was this a sudden impulse buy, or did the driver just really, really need some fish?
While dealing with the crowds and the creeps on public transportation may get on your nerves, it is usually the best way to save time and money. And last week, a Russian company unveiled a new futuristic streetcar that would make any weary commuter excited to go to work in the morning.
The next-generation streetcar looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with its trapezoidal shape and sleek black exterior. Click below to read more about the so-called “iPhone on rails” and which lucky cities are getting the tram of tomorrow!
In one of the few instances we can think of in which crime actually does pay, a Chinese bus passenger who spent years “ride-and-dashing” to dodge paying the fare repaid her karmic debt by depositing a total of 800RMB (approx. US$130) into the till boxes of two local buses.
Drivers of both buses apparently tried to reject her offering and have her pay the standard 2RMB fare (US$0.30), but the woman reportedly insisted, telling at least one of the drivers, “You’ve always been kind to your passengers. This is to repay the fare I’ve been skipping out on until now.”
A Tokyo court has ruled that a cyclist must pay 47 million yen (US$459,000) to the family of a 75-year-old women he collided with and killed in 2010.
The pensioner, one Mrs. Mitsuhiro Azuma, was struck by the cyclist on a pedestrian crossing in Tokyo’s Ota Ward after he ignored a red light. The court heard that Mrs. Azuma suffered a head wound when she was knocked to the ground, from which she died five days later.
MOST POPULAR
Now
We test the cleaning power of the miniature washing machine from 100 yen shop Daiso
Izakaya etiquette: Stacking your plates after eating doesn’t help waitstaff in Japan
Men in Japan are not taking paternity leave – why?
According to this encyclopedia of Japanese otaku fashion, which one are you?
Foreign travelers now spend more money in Japan than ever before, surprise country at top of list
“Let’s Speak North Korean!”
New virgin-killing sweater discovered, modeled in Japan【Photos】
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s brand-new strawberry Coke any good?【Taste test】
Japanese politeness is a myth: One person’s tale strikes a chord with people around the country
We ride Bridgestone’s new TB1e electric bike over 80 miles in Japan, barely wear down the battery
Weekly
We taste the Adult Cream Pie from McDonald’s Japan
Fake eggs are being used in Japanese convenience store bentos- Japanese politeness is a myth: One person’s tale strikes a chord with people around the country
- We test the cleaning power of the miniature washing machine from 100 yen shop Daiso
See-through Japanese maid’s uniform gives you the power of X-Ray vision
Hundreds of otaku line up to get spanked by anime voice actress at Tokyo event
The weird and wonderful things you’ll find at Japanese love hotels【Photos】
Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip- Izakaya etiquette: Stacking your plates after eating doesn’t help waitstaff in Japan
- New virgin-killing sweater discovered, modeled in Japan【Photos】
Monthly
Adult Cream Pie coming to McDonald’s Japan- Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip
Pokémon fan learns the startling truth about the Wooloo plushie
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy- We taste the Adult Cream Pie from McDonald’s Japan
Here’s what happened when our three middle-aged reporters got makeovers with new makeup for men- Fake eggs are being used in Japanese convenience store bentos
Japanese shrine bans foreign visitors following disrespectful behaviour by tourists
Man at Ichiran ramen receives frightening note from man in the next booth
Inside the rogue 7-Eleven, a convenience store completely cut off by its company
Yearly
- Adult Cream Pie coming to McDonald’s Japan
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent- Japanese cosplay model shows off thighs, but fans’ eyes are on her Nintendo 64 controller grip
- Pokémon fan learns the startling truth about the Wooloo plushie
- Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
Japan’s cheapest hotel charges just 130 yen (US$1.20) for a room, with a huge, no-privacy catch- We taste the Adult Cream Pie from McDonald’s Japan
Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)- Here’s what happened when our three middle-aged reporters got makeovers with new makeup for men
- Fake eggs are being used in Japanese convenience store bentos
RECOMMENDED STORIES
“Let’s Speak North Korean!”
New virgin-killing sweater discovered, modeled in Japan【Photos】
Is Coca-Cola Japan’s brand-new strawberry Coke any good?【Taste test】
Japanese politeness is a myth: One person’s tale strikes a chord with people around the country
We ride Bridgestone’s new TB1e electric bike over 80 miles in Japan, barely wear down the battery
Top Japanese university racks up fourth voyeur arrest in as many months
Japanese baseball player’s sweet story of how he wooed his fiancé moves Twitter, inspires puns
Studio Ghibli makes every day magical with new Spirited Away, Totoro and Kiki calendars
Pokémon shoes from Adidas let you Poké yourself up from the feet up【Photos】
Free “Language Learning with Netflix” extension makes studying Japanese almost too easy
The weird and wonderful things you’ll find at Japanese love hotels【Photos】
Perfect otaku gear: New hanging file case cover display merch for sale and trade at conventions
Japan has a festival where they straight-up throw dudes into a fire【Videos】
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 most offensive Japanese swear words 【Weird Top Five】
-
