Women only

Train manners in Japan are mostly similar to worldwide.

Do not talk on the phone.

Let the passengers get off, before to get on the train.

Some rules should be respected such as seats designated to those who are in need, pregnant women, people with babies, elderly, sick or hurt people, etc…

And, respect the women only cars…

Some lines provide women only cars during rush hours. Shinjuku line, Keio line, Keihin-Tohoku line… Those are ones that I know. There are signs to inform potential passengers.

It is very well respected rule. Elementary school students also can get on those cars. Men are not welcome.

The idea behind those cars, is to make sure the creation of a secure area during the crazy busy, rush hours. Most of the time those cars are at far end of the trains.

I am not always observant. Some mornings I am sleepy while commuting to work. On one of those days, I didn’t notice that I was waiting in a line full of women and got on a car full of women. One man was changing cars and passed through the women only car, eyes followed him as he passed. Changing car depending on your destination is really common in Japan. Following angry eyes are not common. That was why I woke up and looked around, pink signs, only women, I checked the time and place, where I was… 100% women car. 

Within a rush, without noticing you may get on a women’s only car. I and my husband had experienced that for a couple of times.  We had a strange feeling. You feel some angry stares, the best thing to do is not moving, not trying to pass to another car during travel, which will only cause more stares, but change the car immediately on the first stop…

Funny fact about women’s car is that the cars before and after the women only care, spontaneously become male dominant cars. Men only cars. The car next to women’s only car, are full of men or at least 90%  :)  It is just selectivity of those two cars, the rest of the cars are mixed.

Countries like Jamaica, Taiwan, India, Brazil…. also have women only cars.

Even if you can’t get on those cars, you can still enjoy your journey… 

Cheers,

Ece