We’ve all heard the stories, most of you reading this have probably experienced the thrill of a packed Japanese train at some point, but just looking at this video makes me nauseous. I’m glad this is not normal, but apparently it really does happen every once in a while somewhere in Tokyo (looks like the Chuo-Sobu line (?)).

The train line I personally dread during rush hours is the Saikyo line between Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, which I occasionally have to take. Try it sometime if you haven’t already. ;)

I read a piece in Boing Boing about how most of the companies who advertise on Japanese trains use a search picture, with an input box and pointer to show that you should search for the term. In contrast, most companies in the US seem to give a URL for you to enter into a browser. Most of the comments focussed on how this is going to be how things are done in the future and how URLs are slowly being phased out in favour of search. Many mentioned that people now don’t know how to enter a URL and instead use the search box to get to a site. I think the reason for these search boxes is different.

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Playing with Tokyo train data and google maps today, I was looking through some of the big lines. When I tried the Yamanote (Tokyo’s loop line) it’s shape really surprised me. I’d always thought that it was kind of egg-shaped, roughly following the representation on train maps. In fact it makes this cute almost-heart shape as it travels around the megalopolis.

You can see the Emperor’s palace (the big patch of green inside on the right) and Yoyogi park (the patch on the left, just outside the loop).

Another picture after the jump..

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