Tokyo trains, the five things I told every first-timer
The Tokyo rail map looks like a bowl of noodles dropped on the floor. Guests would show it to me looking genuinely frightened. Here is what I told them, and it never failed anyone.
One, you do not need to understand the map. You need Google Maps and an IC card. Type where you are going, it tells you the line, the platform, the car to board, and the exit. Your only jobs are tapping the gate and reading exit numbers.
Two, the Yamanote line is your spine. It is the green JR loop that circles central Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Tokyo Station, Ueno, all on one ring. Lost? Get to a Yamanote station and you are found.
Three, exits are everything. Shinjuku station has around 200 of them. Coming up the wrong one puts you on the wrong side of a ten-lane road in the rain. Before you climb the stairs, find the yellow exit signs and match the number. Every place in this guide lists its exact exit for exactly this reason.
Four, the last train is real. Most lines stop a little after midnight and do not restart until about 5am. The city does not shut, but the trains do. If you are out in Golden Gai at 1am the ride home is a taxi, decide that before the last train, not after.
Five, the quiet is the culture. No phone calls in the carriage, bags off your back in a crush, queue at the door markings, let people off first. Do those four things and you ride like a local.
What is the difference between JR and Tokyo Metro?
Different companies, same experience for you. JR runs the famous Yamanote loop line, Tokyo Metro and Toei run the subway underneath. With an IC card you tap through all of them without caring who owns what.
How do I know which station exit to take?
This is the real skill. Big stations have dozens of numbered exits and picking wrong adds ten confused minutes. Check the exit number before you go up, every guide entry on this site names the exact exit for that place.
Are Tokyo trains really that punctual?
Yes. If the board says 14:03, it leaves at 14:03. Plan around it, and when a train is more than a few minutes late the station hands out delay certificates because employers will not believe you otherwise.
When is rush hour in Tokyo?
Roughly 7:30 to 9:15 on weekday mornings, and 17:30 to 19:30 in the evening. If you have luggage or small kids, just plan around it, the difference is night and day.