Hanalog

Looking for that little bit of quiet time in the midst your 12 hour work days. Ever crave a little bit of “me-time” where you can sit back and read that novel or catch a little cat nap without any noise or distractions? Believe it or not, the Tokyo Metro is possibly that haven. Learning the ediquette for travelling in the Tokyo Metro subways can catch some Bostonians and New Yorkers a little bit off guard.

There are no performers in the Tokyo subways .. nor are there people selling candybars. In fact, there isn’t any talking on the subways. People spend their time durning their commute either just text messaging friends/family, listening to music, reading or studying, playing their DS or PSP video games, or catching up on their sleep. Learning to be quiet has never been my forte, though I have found this to be the best time to study Japanese either using Flashcards, listening to my language CDs/podcasts, or just attempting to read as many of the million of advertisements plastered throughout the train car. The JR Yamanote train (a separate rail system from the Tokyo Metro) has a televion screen above the doorways in each car informing passengers of the timetables for the train, advertisments, and for the Japanese interested in learning English, an educational show teaching common and useful phrases while they make their way to their destination.