"What surprised me most about Japanese trains was the silence."
This is one of the most common observations from foreign visitors. Even on packed rush-hour trains, almost no one talks, and you'll rarely see anyone on a phone call. This isn't a "law" — it's an unspoken etiquette that society built over decades.
This guide walks through what to know if you're going to ride trains and subways in Japan every day: basic etiquette, how to use IC cards, priority seats, how to survive rush hour, and differences between cities and rural areas.
Why are they so quiet? — The cultural background
There isn't a single reason — several factors compound:
- A strong social norm of not bothering others
- Many people use commute time as "personal time" to read or sleep
- Railway companies have spent years asking riders not to take calls
- Trains are tight and crowded, so voices carry
You almost certainly won't be scolded for talking — but if you and your group are loud while everyone else is silent, you'll attract glances without realizing it.
10 basic rules
1. Avoid phone calls (especially long ones)
Phone calls aren't actually banned, but they're considered rude. If you get an unexpected call, answer quietly with "I'm on the train, I'll call back" and end it.
2. Silence your phone
Ringtones, notifications, videos, and music — all on vibrate or silent. Use headphones for video, and watch out for sound leakage.
3. Don't eat on commuter trains
Eating on commuter trains and subways is considered rude (smell, mess, attracts insects). Drinking water or tea from a bottle is fine. On shinkansen, limited express, and long-distance trains, eating is OK — there's even a famous tradition of station bento (ekiben).
4. Carry your backpack in front
When the train is crowded, the standard etiquette is to hold your backpack in front of you. Wearing it on your back bumps into the people around you. Railway companies actively promote this with posters.
5. Step off at busy doors, even if you're not exiting
Even at stations where you're not getting off, if a lot of passengers are exiting, the unspoken rule is to step off briefly to make space. If you don't, you'll get pushed aside from behind.
6. Line up
Train platforms have boarding position markers and arrows on the floor at each door. People arriving later must join the back of the line. Cutting in causes major friction.
7. Don't dash for closing doors
Running to catch a train as the doors are closing is extremely dangerous and prohibited. If you get caught in the door, the train is delayed and many other passengers are inconvenienced. The next train arrives in 2–3 minutes (in cities).
8. Keep voices and laughter low
When riding with friends, keep conversations quiet. Late at night and early in the morning, many passengers are sleeping — even laughter is normally kept down.
9. Don't groom yourself on the train
Putting on makeup, fixing your hair, clipping nails, shaving — all should happen before leaving home. Doing it on the train makes people frown (not illegal, just frowned upon).
10. Share seating
When crowded, sit close together and don't spread your legs. Place backpacks and large bags at your feet so you don't crowd your neighbor (not required, but recommended).
Priority seat rules
Most train cars have priority seats (yūsenseki) — usually colored green or blue. Priority is given to:
- Elderly people
- People with disabilities
- Pregnant people (carrying a maternity mark)
- People with infants or small children
- People who need to sit due to illness or injury
It's OK to sit in them when they're empty, but the rule is to give up your seat immediately when someone in those categories boards.
About the maternity mark
Early pregnancy isn't visible from the outside, so local governments distribute pink "maternity mark" keychains for free. If you see someone wearing one on their bag, offer your seat.
Smartphone rules in priority seats (important update)
The old rule used to be "turn off your phone near priority seats." But as of October 2015, 37 railway operators across Kanto, Koshinetsu, and Tohoku changed this to "turn off only when crowded." This followed a Ministry of Internal Affairs study finding that pacemakers are unaffected when phones are kept more than 3 cm away.
Even today, many passengers around priority seats remain conscious of others — being attentive and ready to give up your seat matters more than how you use your phone.
Don't forget the women-only car
On many lines during weekday rush hours, women-only cars (joseisenyō shario) are designated. They're marked on the side of the car and on the platform. Men should be careful not to board these by mistake (it's not illegal, but it draws attention).
How to use IC cards
Today, almost no one buys a paper ticket each time — most riders use IC cards.
Major IC cards
| Region | Main IC card |
|---|---|
| Greater Tokyo | Suica (JR East) / PASMO (private rail and subway) |
| Kansai | ICOCA (JR West) / PiTaPa (private rail) |
| Nagoya | manaca / TOICA |
| Kyushu | SUGOCA / nimoca |
| Hokkaido | Kitaca |
Mutual usability: All 10 major IC cards are mutually usable nationwide. You can use Suica in Osaka and ICOCA in Tokyo.
Mobile IC cards
Mobile Suica / PASMO / ICOCA work on both iPhone and Android. Just add it to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — no physical card required, and you can pass through ticket gates with your phone.
How to recharge
- Station ticket machines: Cash (more machines now accept credit cards too)
- Convenience stores: Cash (the big three chains)
- Mobile: Credit card (auto-recharge can be set up)
If your overseas card won't work Mobile Suica and similar services sometimes refuse overseas-issued credit cards. Safer alternatives: a Visa LINE Pay prepaid card, or recharging with cash at a station. Short-term visitors can use Welcome Suica — buyable with a passport, no deposit required.
Surviving rush hour
Weekday mornings 7:30–9:00 and evenings 17:30–19:30 are commuter rush hour in major metro areas. Some lines exceed 200% capacity.
Tips
- Take an earlier train: The 30 minutes before peak is comparatively empty
- Choose local trains: Often emptier than express or rapid trains
- First or last cars: Tend to be emptier than the middle
- Off-peak commuter passes: Each railway offers point-back rewards for off-peak travel
- Use telework: Work from home or shift your hours when possible
If you experience groping (chikan)
Unfortunately, groping incidents do happen on packed trains.
- Loudly say "yamete kudasai" (stop)
- Ask people around you for help
- Contact a station attendant (the office near the ticket gate)
- Call police (110)
- Use anti-groping apps like "Digi Police" (Tokyo Metropolitan Police's official app)
Stations and ticket gates
Going through the gate
- Tap your IC card and wait 1–2 seconds (works even while walking)
- If the gate closes due to insufficient balance, top up at the fare adjustment machine (norikoshi seisan-ki) next to the gate
- For paper tickets, don't lose it before exiting — losing it means being charged from the line's first station
Check the exit number
Major stations (Shinjuku, Tokyo, Umeda, etc.) have 10–30 exits. Looking up the exit number nearest your destination ahead of time saves a lot of walking.
Escalator etiquette
- Tokyo and greater Kanto: Stand on the left, leave the right open for people in a hurry
- Osaka: Stand on the right, leave the left open (opposite of Kanto)
- Recent trend: Railways and local governments now recommend "Don't walk on escalators" to prevent falls. People in a hurry should take the stairs
Cities vs. rural areas
| Item | Major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, etc.) | Regional cities and rural |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Every few minutes | Every 30–60 minutes (local lines) |
| Crowding | Severe | Generally empty |
| Last train | 24:00–00:30 | Often 21:00–22:00 |
| IC card | Almost universal | Some lines still don't support |
| Etiquette | Strict, silent | Comparatively relaxed |
In rural areas, local-dialect conversation and louder laughter are more accepted. You don't need to mechanically apply city standards everywhere.
FAQ
Q. What if the person next to me falls asleep on my shoulder?
A. The standard move is to gently shift your body to wake them up. Many people just endure it silently, but for both your sakes — including the awkwardness when they wake up — quietly moving is best.
Q. The train was delayed. I need a delay certificate for work.
A. When exiting the gate, ask the attendant "chien shōmeisho kudasai" — they'll give you one for free. Each railway also offers downloadable certificates from the past month on their website. This protects you from being marked late.
Q. What's the children's fare?
A. Children under 6 (pre-school age) ride free (up to 2 small children per adult). Elementary school children pay half adult fare. For IC cards, get a "Kodomo Suica" or "Kodomo PASMO" — age verification documents are required.
Q. Can I bring large suitcases or a bicycle?
A. Suitcases: Generally fine outside of rush hour. Place them out of others' way (next to the door). Bicycles are normally not allowed — only "rinkō" (bagged folded bicycles in dedicated carry bags) is permitted.
Q. Can I bring my pet?
A. Small dogs, cats, and small animals can ride in dedicated carriers for a fee (about ¥280 per animal, depending on the railway). They must stay inside the carrier. Large dogs are generally not permitted (guide and service dogs are exceptions).
Q. What if I miss the last train?
A. Your options:
- Late-night buses: Cities run them through to first train (with a surcharge)
- Taxi: Late-night surcharge applies (22:00–5:00, fares 20% higher)
- Wait for first train: Cafes, manga cafes, karaoke, saunas, or capsule hotels near the station
Q. What if I drop something on the tracks?
A. Never go down to retrieve it yourself. Tell a station attendant "platform-ni mono-o otoshimashita" — they'll retrieve it with a special tool (free). Going onto the tracks violates the Railway Operations Act, and you risk a fine plus serious injury.
Q. Is there an extra charge for express or limited express trains?
A. Express (kyūkō) and rapid (kaisoku): No extra charge in most cases (some private railways are exceptions). Limited express (tokkyū) and shinkansen: A separate limited express ticket is required. Buy it before boarding at a ticket machine or at the green ticket window (Midori no Madoguchi).
Final thoughts
Japanese trains heavily reflect a "fast, accurate, quiet" ethos. Things you can do today:
- Get one IC card (with Mobile Suica/PASMO, you don't need a physical card)
- Save your daily routes in a transit app (Yahoo! Norikae or Google Maps)
- Make silent mode your default
- Backpack in front, voice down, no cutting in line
These few habits make daily train travel friction-free.
At Nihongo-tomo, we offer free vocabulary lists for stations, tickets, transfers, and timetables. Learning words like "kakueki teisha" (local stop), "tokkyū" (limited express), and "norikoshi seisan" (fare adjustment) ahead of time helps you navigate any line without confusion.
References / 参考・出典
- Nikkei — Why was the "phone off" rule near priority seats relaxed? — Background on the October 2015 rule change
- Nikkei — Priority seat phone-off rule limited to crowded times
- Ministry of Internal Affairs — Effects of various radio-equipment radio waves on implantable medical devices — Basis for pacemaker guidelines
- "Train etiquette" posters and official sites of each railway: JR East / Tokyo Metro / JR West
- Suica (JR East) / PASMO / ICOCA
- National Police Agency / Tokyo Metropolitan Police "Digi Police" anti-groping app
All content in this article is based on information and customs as of May 2026. Fares and services are subject to change.