June 7, 2009: My top 10 things to know when trying to navigate Tokyo.
On the street
1. Almost no streets have names in Tokyo. When trying to find your destination, the address is a code of three numbers, X-Y-Z.
X is the ward number
Y is the square block (all 360 around it)
Z is the house number
2. There are lots of informational maps on the streets to help you navigate. The maps are oriented such that up is the direction in front of you as you look at map, NOT necessary north.
Subway
3. When buying a single subway ticket you must find how much it will cost to go from your current location to your destination location. There are charts and machines to help you with this. If you estimate too low there are fare adjusting machines that can add money to your ticket. If you estimate too high, you lose the money. There are 3 different types of subway lines. If you transfer between types of subway lines you will need a new ticket. You can get a whole day pass, which is good for 2 of the types of subways, but not the JR lines. In my opinion the easiest way to go is to get a “passmo” card . You put money on the card and then the proper amount of money is removed when you exit at your destination. Unfortunately, you need to pay a 500 jpy to get the card, and I’m not sure if you can ever get that back.
4. The subway has many exits some of which are very far from others. The exits are numbered. The cars of the subway are also numbered. There are charts in the subway that tell you which subway car you want to be on for each transfer or exit you might want at every other station on that subway line.
5. On escalators, stand on the left, walk on the right.
6. You can use the subway machines to condense some of your change. Add your change as if you are going to buy something, then ask for your change back. It gives it back to you in the highest denominations possible.
Shopping
7. The Japanese love saying Hai (yes). When navigating a dietary preference you might want to use a negative control. For example, if you are a vegetarian and you find that the sales help answers, yes, everytime you ask if something is vegetarian, try asking if something you know contains meat is vegetarian.
8. When shopping for clothes you are expected to take your shoes off in the dressing room. Sometimes you are also expected to wear a face shield (provided) when trying on clothing that goes over your head.
9. Most ATMs do not take foreign credit cards. The two places that reliably do are Citibanks and post offices.
10. You are not expected to tip.
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