Considering the huge size of Tokyo, trains and subways are the most important and efficient way to go around. In fact, it is probably the only one, as we all experienced at least once the traffic jams of the capital (typically, 2 hours to drive 7 kilometers, not to mention that highways are expensive). On the other hand, trains and subways are rather cheap (at least compared to the parking fee of a car in the center of the city), very clean, always on time.

The difference between trains and subways is not obvious, as some trains are underground, while some subways can be found outside; basically, we can consider JR lines as trains, while other private railroads running from inside the Yamanote line could be called subways. What is certain, it's that both trains and subways can be very crowded!

This is the last train (Yamanote line, which circles around the most important centers of Tokyo including Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno and Tokyo Station) to go home (or to catch another line, if you really live far from the center). It definitely would be considered not too packed.

But this is the line a little earlier in the evening, at Shibuya station. People are just waiting to buy a ticket! You can imagine the crowd entering in the cars, I couldn't even take a picture of it!

In fact, if you carefully chose the date and time you take the train, it can be really impressive. After New Year, all Japanese travel from their hometown to the place they live in... which is mainly Tokyo area! They use the famous bullet train, the shinkansen. This train is extremely quick and confortable... except at this time of the year, when huge lines are formed by people willing to take the train without holding a reserved seat. Trains are usually packed at 250% (official value) of their capacity...

With this crowd, a typically Japanese phenomenon has been observed. To protect women from "chikan" people - men putting their hands where they are not supposed to be - some companies have created "women only carriage". It seems that one of the favourite target for those pervs is the young schoolgirl wearing the traditionnal uniform, and according to my sources, all schoolgirls have experienced that at least once in their life. Recently, law has changed and when cought, chikan can be heavily charged.

After the last train has left, stations are not completely empty. Homeless people use the place for the night, only to be waken up in the early morning by the first passengers.