Transportation

Getting around in Japan can be challenging for the first time visitor. The transportation system in Tokyo gives you many options to get from point A to point B, too many options. The rail maps look like a series of tangled strings that lead to no where.

However, once you get acclimated to the transportation system, you will find it to be ultra efficient and convenient. Determining what mode of transportation, train, bus or subway is often determined by cost and convenience. Often the choice of getting from point A to point B is a choice between the JR local service, private rail service or subway. Even more intriguing is that stations are often situated a matter of blocks from each other and are accessed by different carriers. Often a subway station may be situated across the street from each other or here may be two competing rail lines on opposite sides of a block.

The best mode of transportation is often not a straight line.

Refer to the following transportation map and you will see what I mean.
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/index_en.htm

Luckily there are transportation web site that help you get from point a to where you need to be.
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

Just input in where you are and where you need to be. And you will get the train schedule and fare with transfer points. Pretty handy.

Edo Tokyo Tatemonoen 4 (Toden)

This is a picture of a street car (toden) at the Edo Tokyo Museum. Street Cars were once a common form local transportation in Tokyo. The Tokyo Street Car system was very efficient prior to the development of the current subway, train and bus system.

This is a recreation of a street car headed for Shimbashi. A network of Street Cars running through Shimbashi, Daimon and the surrounding area was the main mode of transportation at the time.

Our group stays at the Shiba Park Hotel in the Shiba area. We did not notice any signs of Street Cars that ran through the area. No remnants of rail lines. However, we did notice that the main streets were a little wider. In fact, the street which Daimon is located at seems to be pretty wide for a 2 lane street in Tokyo. HMMM, I wonder if the line once ran through the gates of Daimon????

Currently, the only street car line that I know is the Toden Arakawa Line. This line runs from Waseda (University) Station to Minowa Bashi.