I think the diagram above (click to enlarge!) I have made for your benefit is quite self-explanatory, but to give you non-Tokyoites a little insight in how to approach the Tokyo rush-hour.I think that this can also help explain why a slightly longer commute can sometimes be more tolerable than a shorter one. The close you get on the train from the starting station, the higher chances for landing a seat in a green or blue area where the situation is tolerable. However, getting on a station in central Tokyo for a 5-6 station commute can make it impossible to escape the red danger area (which I can guarantee you is quite uncomfortable even for 10-15min!).
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Lovely work sir! I concur - you've nailed it. One slight amendment I'd make is that I view any empty seat with just about equal value. Anything to avoid the mosh pit.
One good spot if there are no green/blue/orange areas is that little crack between the door and the end of the row of seats. If you can manage to get in there you can avoid most of the outflow/inflow during stops. If you face towards the row of seats you also get a bit of room in front of you above the head of the person sitting down.
Be prepared to take some elbows/pushing as incoming commuterrorists try to muscle in on your turf; stay strong and you'll get to laugh as they get swept past you into the maelstrom.
Sea horse - Well, as you can see in the diagram, I actually labeled those seats as blue. You would think that being seated would offer protection, but on some extremely crowded trains I've literally seen people being pushed into half-sitting in people's laps... But that is the extreme case...
Anonymous - In general I concur, the small triangle can offer a bit of shelter and act as a haven, but staying there for too long might label you a blocker since it might cause some obsctruction. I do admit to hiding there for short rides when I'm just on the train for a few stops and do not want to go into the depths of the car for fear of never emerging (at my stop)...
Our Man remembers the summer mosh pit of the Tozai line with such fond memories.
How sad and not gloating he is that he now works from home :)
Personally I avoid sitting down on commuter trains as I dislike being at eye-level with the crotch of some seedy salarybeing, and much prefer the "niche-by-the-door" strategy, especially as I otherwise spend most of the day sitting down.
Mind you, as a gesture of solidarity with the commuting masses I ensure that by rarely boarding a train before 10am there is one penguin-shaped space more available during the time it is most needed.
I cherish fondly the possibility I have with my current job to avoid the morning salarybeing & other kind commuterrorists rush.
Otherwise, I definitely agree with your order of priority, plus the said triangle-by-the-door safe haven in case there's no other possibility.
Its the end of the second shift & to leave work you must take the escalator downstairs to the airport train. the train will carry you to the baggage claim area where the entrance to the marta station(atlanta's mass transit train system) is located. you have about 100 people getting off work from your shift alone. the airport trains shut down at midnight.if your on the last concourse E, you're looking at a 3 mile walk to the front of the airport.You're getting on at the next to the last stop, the train car is over-crowded. adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the marta train leaves in 5 minutes and if you miss this train, the next and last train is an hour coming. if you have to transfer to a bus your screwed because the last buses depart at 15 minutes after the hour.You cant leave your post until the midnight shift relieves you,the dirty bas@@##ds are never on time. you still have to go to the breakroom, clock out and get your bags.what do you do? go to the bathroom 5 minutes before quitting time, hide you bag under your uniform,slowly walk until you're right in front of the down escalators, when the "your dismissed" signal comes, run down the escalators, jumping the last few feet, run to the train and hope there are no wheelchairs hogging up space, position yourslf between the pole and the door, piss everyone on the train off by blocking the door so your fellow co-workers can run on, this also ensures that you remain in front of the doors.when the doors open, bypass the giant up escalators that take forever to run up and head straight for the elevator that only goes up, run for the the marta station,(marta has gotten smart and at shift changes they prop open the double doors and open the handicapped door to the train platform to prevent gridlock)now you have 2 options, you can run up the stairs or hope that the people who just went up the elevator were airport employees(we know to automatically send the elevators back down) or wait for the second slowest elevator in the entire airport(the first being the one that leads to the employee breakrooms and bathrooms) to come back down.the train's doors are closing signal beeps, you run up the stairs,you dive for the train's doors,squeezing in before they close as marta train doors "DO NOT REBOUND". you only have 1 stop to the carpark. you don't want to go in the middle of the aisle,if you stand close to the doors the crowd will push you against them and the doors will slip apart.do you try to move to another car, stand in that wide-legged squat that professional marta riders use when they are in a spot where ther is nothing to hold onto, squeeze into the window seat next to the crackhead begging for quarters,& the space is so narrow, your knees are up to your elbows? ideally you want to squeeze into the luggage storage space, right behind the doors or if your lucky your car is full of your fellow airport employees who don't care that you are using them as train pole they just want to get home.ideally they should be holding on to somebody who is holding onto somebody who is actually holding onto a pole or strap. your stop arrives 3 minutes later and you joyfully push the evil blockers who are standing in front of the doors when they know they don't have to get off until the end of the line,out the way and leisurely make your way up the stairs as marta escalators are always out of service and out the station. do you remeber where you parked your car? then you're ready for the hour drive home on the highway, battling those crazy "i'm late for my night shift commuters", "i just got off work and want to go home, so why are you driving so slow road ragers", and the "i've got to get to club because it's free before midnight drivers". just another day in the rat race.
Our Man - Yep, do you think we could set it up so I could work from YOUR home too?
Penguin - Well, yeah, having a stinking sweaty salaryman crotch right in the face isn't the best way to start of a working day, I can related to that. Luckily, I do most of the stinking since I rarely get to sit...
Foggia - Yep, still can't figure out why Japanese companies don't really go more for flex-time...
Rydangel - Ok, you beat me. That sounds worse than my commute, that's not terrorism or even guerilla warfare, that sounds like a real warzone
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