train traffic situation in Tokyo

Train traffic situation in Tokyo: An extreme example

Working in Tokyo, one of the biggest stress is the packed train during the morning commuting time. If you have not seen how packed the trains are, here is an example of  video.

This is an extreme example of Tokyo train traffic situation, but it happens.

The degree of congestion in Tokyo area

According to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the degree of congestion is described in the picture above.

100%: Either you can sit down, hold on a strap, or hold on a bar.

150%: You can read a news paper easily (wide open)

180%: You can read a news paper but hardly (folding)

200%: Bodies are touching and feels pressure, but you can read magazines.

250%: Pretty much you can’t move at all.

Ranking of top 10 highest degree of congestion in Tokyo area

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport published the statistics on degree of the congestion in Japan, the ranking below is based on the statistic in 2015.

http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001139448.pdf

More information: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/pdf/RouteMap_majorrailsub.pdf

The picture above is the map of railways in Tokyo. Usually, train traffic situation in Tokyo gets worse in the areas between the Tokyo and other prefectures. Many people live in suburbs of Tokyo or prefectures that located next to Tokyo to commute to middle of Tokyo by trains. Housing in Tokyo is very expensive especially for the families. The train crossing Chiba to Tokyo, Saitama to Tokyo are the worst in the commuting time zone (7:00 am – 10:00 am).

10: Sobu Line (Express)

Section: Shin-Koiwa → Kinshicho
Peak Time: 7:34 – 8:34
degree of congestion: 178%

9: Chiyoda Line

Section: Machiya → Nishi-Nippori
Peak Time: 7:45 – 8:45
degree of congestion: 179%

8: Tokaido Line

Section: Kawasaki → Shinagawa
Peak Time: 7:39 – 8:39
degree of congestion: 182%

7: Denentoshi Line

Section: Ikejiri Ohashi → Shibuya
Peak Time: 7:50 – 8:50
degree of congestion: 185%

6: Odakyu Line

Section: Setagayadaita → Shimo Kitazawa
Peak Time: 7:46 – 8:46
degree of congestion: 189%

5: Chuo Line (Express)

Section: Nakano → Shinjuku
Peak Time: 7:54 – 8:54
degree of congestion: 191%

4: Yokosuka Line

Section: Musashikosugi → Nishi Oimachi
Peak Time: 7:34 – 8:34
degree of congestion: 192%

3: Keihin Tohoku Line

Section: Ueno → Okachimachi
Peak Time: 7:50 – 8:50
degree of congestion: 197%

2: Sobu Line

Section: Kinshicho → Ryogoku
Peak Time: 7:34 – 8:34
degree of congestion: 199%

1: Tozai Line

Section: Kiba → Monzennakacho
Peak Time: 7:50 – 8:50
degree of congestion: 200%

 If you are planning to work in Japan, please consider to avoid these lines to commute. Moreover, if you are planning to travel in Tokyo, train traffic situation in Tokyo during the commuting time zone (07:00am – 09:00am) gets nasty especially in the bad weather, please consider the time riding the trains in Japan.