カテゴリー別アーカイブ: Commuting / Transportation in Japan

Driver’s Marks

投稿日: 2010/12/04 作成者: plazahomes

Have you ever seen these markers on the front or back side of a vehicle?
Do you know what each one means?

a b c d

a. Beginner’s Mark
When you obtain a driver’s license for the first time, you are required to place this mark both in the front
and back side of a vehicle for one year. It’s called ‘Wakaba Mark’.

b. Senior Driver’s Mark
Senior drivers aged 70 or older should attach this mark, but anyone over 75 must attached this mark.
It’s called ‘Momiji Mark’.

c. Aurally Challenged Driver’s Mark
Aurally challenged drivers should attach the mark.

d. Physically Challenged Driver’s Mark
Physically challenged drivers should attach the mark.

Drivers are prohibited from pulling alongside or cutting in front of any vehicles, especially with the above marks attached.

カテゴリー: Commuting / Transportation in Japan, Driving in Japan, Tokyo Living Information | コメントをどうぞ

Maternity Mark

投稿日: 2010/12/02 作成者: plazahomes

Have you ever seen this mark?

mark 2 It says a “baby is inside tummy”.

It’s called ‘Maternity Mark’, and was officially announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in March, 2006, in an effort to help create a friendly
environment for pregnant women.

It is difficult to recognize women in the early stages of pregnancy, especially here in Japan where maternity fashions that hide swollen tummies are very popular. It was created in response from comments by pregn ant women who desired to get ‘assistance at staircases’ and be “offered a seat on public transportion”. This mark also makes it easier to give assistance or your seat to women displaying this mark. One does not want to offend a young woman for
misjudgment from her appearance alone.

This item can be obtained from your local ward office (kuyakusho) when reporting pregnancy to obtain a ‘Maternity and Child Health Handbook’.

Check the website below for more symbols for priority seats: http://www.ecomo.or.jp/barrierfree/pictogram/data/seats%20data.pdf

カテゴリー: Commuting / Transportation in Japan, Daily Living, Tokyo Living Information | コメントをどうぞ

One-day Pass: JR, Subways and Toei Bus

投稿日: 2010/12/01 作成者: plazahomes

はてなブックマーク - One-day Pass: JR, Subways and Toei Bus

Convenient Value-Added Tickets
Here are some tickets good for one day only that can save you money and time.

JR Lines:

One-day Tokunai Pass (Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass):
One-day pass for travel on all JR lines (only) within the 23 wards of Tokyo. It can be purchased from automatic ticket vending machines.
Adult: 730 yen / Child: 360 yen

One-day “Tokyo Free Kippu” (Tokyo Round Tour Ticket):
One-day pass for all JR train lines, subways and Toei buses or classic Toei streetcars in the 23 wards of Tokyo.
It can be purchased at JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-madoguchi) and Travel Service Centers (View Plaza).
Adult: 1,580 yen / Child: 790 yen
For details, check the JR East website : www.jreast.co.jp/e/

Subways:

There are 2 different subway operators in Tokyo. One is called “Tokyo Metro”, and the other is “Toei”, the latter of which is run by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Tokyo Metro One-day Open Ticket

One-day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines. It can be purchased on the day of use or in advance.
Adult: 710 yen / Child: 360 yen

One-day Economy Pass (Toei-Marugoto-Kippu) for Toei streetcars, Toei subway lines, Nippori-Toneri liner and Toei buses
tickets_01
This pass is valid for travel on Toei streetcars, buses and subways for one day, and available at automatic ticket vending machines in Toei Subway stations, and Nippori station and also on Toei streetcars and buses. Advance purchase is available at station counters, pass vending machines and Toei Streetcar/
Bus offices.
Adult 700 yen / Child: 350 yen

Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway
tickets_04
Good for one day of unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines.
Adult: 1,000 yen / Child: 500 yen
For details, check the Tokyo Metro website: http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/valueticket.html

Buses:

There are numerous “Toei” buses routes within 23 wards of Tokyo.
tickets_06
This pass allows one day of unlimited use on Toei Buses.
It is valid for 6 months after the date of purchase, (but activates on the day used).
It can be purchased at Toei bus offices, Toei bus pass vending machines or on Toei buses.
Adult 500 yen / Child: 250 yen
For details, check the websites for “Toei” Transportation Information: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/english/

For passengers using Narita International Airport, discount tickets can be purchased.
Check the Tokyo Metro website for details: http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/narita.html#narita1

カテゴリー: About Tokyo, Commuting / Transportation in Japan, Tokyo Living Information | コメントをどうぞ

PASMO & SUICA

投稿日: 2010/12/01 作成者: plazahomes

PASMO

PASMO is a rechargeable contactleess smart card ticketing system for public transport to be introduced inTokyo from March 18, 2007.
Pasmo is a development of the Passnet system used by many NOT JR railway lines in the Tokyo region. The system will offer interoperability with the JR SUICA system, as well as integrate private bus companies into the existing Passnet network. (from Wikipedia)
For more information about Pasmo, please click here.

SUICA

SUICA is a rechargeable contactless smart card and it was introduced in 2001.
The card is usable currently in the Kanto region at JR East stations near Sendai and Niigata, and in the Kinki region on JR West.
The card can also be used interchangeably with JR West’s ICOCA card in the Kansai region.
The card is also increasingly being accepted as a form of electronic money for purchases at stores and kiosks within train stations.
Suica stands for ‘Super Urban Intelligent CArd’.
An additional meaning comes from the expression ‘sui sui’, meaning ‘smooth’ and an abbreviation for ‘card’, ‘ka’ intended to highlight the smooth simplicity of using the card compared with traditional train tickets. (from Wikipedia)
For more information about Suica, please click here.

Suica / PASMO can be used to pay the fare for virtually all trains and buses in the Tokyo Region, including JR trains, subways and monorails, but excluding Shinkansen. For trains, which require a supplement fee, e.g. limited express trains, the supplement has to be purchased separately.

カテゴリー: About Tokyo, Commuting / Transportation in Japan, Tokyo Living Information | コメントをどうぞ

CATCHING A TAXI IN TOKYO

投稿日: 2010/12/01 作成者: plazahomes

Catching a taxi in central Tokyo is not so hard. There are about 50,000 taxis operated in Tokyo.
The maximum number of passengers per standard size taxi (sedan) is 4.

HOW TO CATCH A TAXI
Major stations or hotels, they have cabstand.
If you go to the main street, you will be able to catch one quite easily. (at night with rain, right after the pay-day (most of people get paid on the 25th or
15th for government worker), and the time after the last train sometimes hard to catch one.)
First, you look for a taxi with the top lights on, also with red sign says ‘Kusha’. (*see the sign below)

Ku-sha (ku=empty sha=car) ; means vacant

Then just raise your hand. (Look at the driver like you really want him to stop!)
The minimum fee starts from 710 yen for the first 2km. (some private taxi companies only charge 650 yen.)
After 2km, the charge will be added 90 yen per 1km.

There will be 20%-30% extra charge after 11pm until 5am, it is called ‘shinya warimashi ryokin.’ (late-night-charge).
And the sign looks like this:

*So if you are looking for a taxi after 11pm, you’ll see this sign.

OTHER TAXI SIGNS
1. Chinsou – no vacancy

2. Kaisou – out of service

3. Geisha or Yoyakusha – reserved, on a way for pick-up

4. Kashikiri – reserved for certain amount of time

TAXI CONVERSATION

When you get in a taxi, you will be asked:
Driver: “Where would you like to go?”    Dochira made?
You: “Please take me to Roppongi 3-chome”.    Roppongi san-chome made onegai shimasu.
Driver: “Ceretainly.”   Kashikomari mashita.

Giving directions
You: “Please turn left at the next corner.”     Tsugi no kado wo hidari ni magatte kudasai. (or Tsugi no kado hidari desu.)
        “Please stop just before the traffic lights.”    Shingou no temae de tomete kudasai.
        “My apartment (house) is right on the next corner.”    Watashi no apato (ie) wa tsugi no kado desu.
        “Please stop here.”   Koko de tomete kudasai.
        “How much?”   Ikura desuka?
        “Please give me a receipt.”   Ryoshusho wo kudasai / Reshiito wo kudasai.

WORDS
        Right: Migi
        Left: Hidari
        Straight: Massugu
        Turn: Magaru
        Stop: Tomaru
        Here: Koko
        There: Asoko
        This: Kore
        That: Are
        It: Sore
        I’m in a hurry: Isoide imasu.
        Please drive faster: Isoide kudasai.

TAXI RESERVATION
You can reserve a taxi in English with these companies:

1. Nihon Kotsu
    Reservation: 03-5755-2336
    24hours, 365 days on line in English
    http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/en/taxi/ephone.html

2. Kokusai Motorcars
     Reservation: 03-3505-6001
     An English-speaking operator available on requiest.
     http://www.km-group.co.jp/

カテゴリー: Commuting / Transportation in Japan, English Speaking Service in Tokyo, Tokyo Living Information | コメントをどうぞ

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カテゴリー別アーカイブ: Commuting / Transportation in Japan

Driver’s Marks

Maternity Mark

One-day Pass: JR, Subways and Toei Bus

PASMO & SUICA

CATCHING A TAXI IN TOKYO

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