Why Are Subways Overcrowded in Japan?

Videos showing the state of overcrowded subway stations in Japan have appeared in front of almost everyone once. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that the officers who gently push people from behind to fit on the train are quite famous on the internet. So, how can the subway infrastructure be so ‘bad’ in the biggest cities of one of the world’s most developed countries?

There are many answers to this question. But before we get to the answers, more importantly, it’s important to know that this overcrowded train footage, in which officials push people, does not reflect a reality experienced 24/7 in all of Japan. When we do some research, we see that these images are a situation that occurs especially in Tokyo and during very busy hours such as going to work and leaving work.

So what, Tokyo’s subway infrastructure is inadequate?

Imagine getting on a train like this every day on your way to work with drowsiness or returning home with the tiredness of the day and traveling with that crowd. Pretty annoying. Don’t these people say ‘more subways come, what is this disgrace’? Is Tokyo’s subway infrastructure really inadequate?

No, although this may seem like the reason at first, it would be an absurd claim to say that Tokyo’s subway infrastructure is inadequate. Tokyo Metro, the first subway system in Asia, currently serves 14 different lines and more than 280 stations. The total length of this subway network, which completely equips Tokyo, is more than 250 km. Moreover, a new train arrives at the station almost every minute. So the problem is definitely not in the subway infrastructure…

So how is the subway infrastructure situation in Tokyo?

In order to make a small comparison, we can say that Istanbul has 9 different metro lines, a total of 111 metro stations and a metro line length of approximately 140 km. But of course, Tokyo is the most populous city in the world with a population of over 34 million. Istanbul, on the other hand, is slightly behind in the ranking with its population of around 20 million (although the official number is just over 15 million…).

However, next to Istanbul’s 5,343 km² area, Tokyo has an area that is almost half of Istanbul; 2,194 km². In other words, we are talking about a metro infrastructure that is twice the size of Istanbul, in a city half as big as Istanbul…

So what exactly is the problem?

The question has multiple answers. A funny answer, many of which would contradict the question ‘is the infrastructure insufficient’;

• Subway infrastructure in Tokyo and Japan in general is so good, clean and punctual that everyone prefers to use this punctual system to get everywhere on time. Especially on the way to work or on the way home…
• Driving a taxi is ‘luxury’ in Japan. This causes many people not to prefer a common option such as a taxi for a fast and safe journey. Because it’s too expensive…
• Considering the crowdedness of the city, people in Tokyo understand that it is not a good idea to drive from one place to another, and therefore they prefer rail systems.
• Finally, it is said that despite the dense subway network in Tokyo, the bus network is not that busy and useful. Since public transportation vehicles such as buses are not common and not preferred, this density also gets on the back of the metro.

As a result, in the most crowded city of the world, the cost of taxis, the thought of traffic, the fact that buses are not a very useful choice, and the fact that the subways are very punctual and clean take people underground. This being the case, such an intensity is inevitable at some times of the day.

This is accepted in Tokyo. In fact, on Tokyo’s official Go Tokyo website, which broadcasts for tourists, “You may have seen the videos of our gloved officers in crowded stations to push people. Even though it is usually in the morning, there is even a warning such as “Don’t choose the subway at these hours if you don’t want to be affected by this intensity, especially between 7.30-9.30 in the morning and 5.30-7.30 in the evening…

Sources: The Japan Times, GoWithGuide, Go Tokyo