From Hello Kitty themed railway station to Station melodies, 10 unique facts about Japanese trains

During the Meiji Restoration of 1872 the passenger steam locomotive debuted in Japan and since then Japan has built an extensive rail transport system running across the country, making it the primary mode of passenger transportation. The Japanese train travels are one of the world’s best with its excellent service, efficiency and connection. With the electrification of rail lines and the Tokyo Olympics of 1964, the rail sector of Japan got its first boost that skyrocketed it into what is known as the world’s largest rail network. In 1964, Japan got its first high speed train- Shinkansen. World witnessed the power of bullet trains for the first time. Japanese trains are futuristic and technologically advanced and make the world continuously wonder with amazement. Japan was the first country to build a high speed railway network, with an initial motive to connect distant villages with the capital of Japan, Tokyo.

Below mentioned are 10 unique facts about Japanese trains

Shinjuku Station of Japan is the world’s busiest train station.The Shikunju station has 36 stations, over 200 exits and several hallways. It opened in 1885 with more than 3.6 million people passing through the station daily. Out of the 45 busiest stations, the first five positions have been bagged by Japan’s railway stations.

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​Train companies in Japan charge compensation from family of the person who commit suicide by jumping in front of trains. It is a legend because there is no verification about this from the media who don’t report on these accidents.

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In Japanese culture, punctuality is stressed upon and is an admired quality in a person. The companies value this quality too, so much so that they are rarely late and if due to certain circumstances they are late, they apologize by issuing delay certificates. These certificates are accepted at schools and offices as tardiness is not tolerated anywhere. Some companies even offer digital certificates too.

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​The Tsushimanomiya Station of Japan only functions twice a year. They open on August 4 and 5 of each year. This small station at the island of Shikoku is made accessible for passengers so that they can participate in the local summer festival at the Tsushima Shrine.

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​Japan is the most earthquake prone country in the world. And hence with the technological advancements, the country takes measures to ensure the safety of its citizens. Every bullet train is geared with special safety measures like automatic brakes that will bring even a train at a speed of 320 km/h to a complete standstill with the first sign of an earthquake’.

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​Japan has more than 30 different types of train enthusiasts. With trains as the primary mode of transportations, it is not impossible to find railway fans. From Nori-tetsu, i.e someone who enjoys riding trains, to Jikokuhyо̄-tetsu, i.e someone who enjoys reading train timetables, to Oto-testu, i.e someone who is an expert on train noises, the list is endless.

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​Japan produces some of the best manga and anime, and hence it should not come as a shock that at Keio Tama Center station towards southeast Tokyo, one can witness Hello Kitty train wonderland.

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​The Japanese have near perfected their safety measures. There have been no passenger casualties for over 49 years now.

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​Japan’s train stations are overcrowded, hence train companies employ pushers called ‘oshiya’. These ‘Oshiya’ push the passengers inside the train and even stop them from getting into an already full train. This job requires 6 months of training.

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​Instead of blowing horns as a signal of departure, Japanese trains play catchy melodies called ‘hassha merodi’ with distinct tunes indicative of mood and atmosphere of the station. These tunes are more than just random tunes; they tell a story.

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