Tokyo-subway Rush hours
 

What are the morning and afternoon rush hours to avoid on the Tokyo subways. We do want want to be on these trains when the attendants have to squeeze people into the cars.

Between 8AM and 9AM and shortly after 5PM.

Not only the train cars, but also the platforms, stairways and the stations themselves. I still remember being in Shinjuku Station at the height of rush hour, everyone knowing which way to go but me!

1am to 11pm

There are more business people on the subways during typical rush hours, between 7 and 8 in the morning, and 5 and 6 in the evening. However, we never experienced any of the problems I had read about, such as people crammed in cars like sardines.

There are "footprints" on the platform where people line up in an orderly fashion. No one in Japan ever pushes or shoves, nor do you have to worry about pickpockets. I do remember one train looking a bit full, so we just waited for the next one. I would not alter my daily itinerary in fear of crowded trains.

I did see your earlier questions about navigating the train subway system. The easiest way to find the correct exit is to hold out a paper with the name of your destination and to ask someone. The same goes for finding the right train platform--we typically hold out our tickets, and people point us in the right direction.

Don't worry, you will find the subway quite pleasant.

We naturally seemed to miss rush hour even though we were often up and about early. On the occasions we travelled during that time, we didn't see anything like the kind of crush we'd expected from TV coverage.

We did manage to accidentally get onto a women's only carriage once (which are only restricted to women during rush hour) with the entirety of our luggage with us and realised only after a few minutes when a few women were smiling at us, but it was not very busy at all and we were only going a handful of stops and had only one left I think when we realised.

I have experienced the morning rush on a Tokyo subway train. Also packed buses in Kyoto and Fukuoka. It's nothing like anything in US, Europe or Hong Kong. [I've never been to India, so cannot comment.]

It is best to avoid traveling at peak hours on routes you know will be busy (ask the hotel).

Shinjuku is the busiest station so you should attempt to avoid it at peak periods. I myself have been squeezed into the train during the peak hour (usually unavoidable at some point in your trip). Though I wouldn't say I loved the experience, I felt it was memorable and worth trying at least once. To experience what many locals do every day allows you to connect with the Japanese more. Besides, when else will you get to push and nudge other people but still be considered courteous? :P


That being said though, be wary of molesters on the train during peak hours who especially target Western women. Tokyo is a safe city though, so do not worry too much! Also, Japanese are extremely polite and courteous so the boarding of the trains will be a rather organised process. Enjoy your time in Tokyo!

Avoid

mornings 7:30 - 9:30

evenings 4:30 - 6:00

<We do want want to be on these trains when the attendants have to squeeze people into the cars.>

Do or don't?

<<That being said though, be wary of molesters on the train during peak hours who especially target Western women. >>

There are women-only cars specifically for this reason during rush hour. Look down when you're standing in line and you'll see it written on the ground.

<<Japanese are extremely polite and courteous so the boarding of the trains will be a rather organised process.>>

Actually, this is the one time where they are rude in shoving and pushing as they squeeze in. When the sound that the doors are about to close and you think you're at max capacity, 10 more people will rush in, and I'm always amazed that enough space is made for them to squeeze in.

Yes, rush hour trains are indeed an experience to do at least once.