And for another Friday travelling in Tokyo and suburbs, some observations….. some musings…..
Tokyo is an overpopulated city with well over 35 million residents. But the punctuality, cleanliness, efficiency and scale of the public transport system impresses me the most. Undoubtedly, it’s amongst the best in the world. Underground Tokyo Metro connects the entire city. You can travel from any place of the city to the farthest. All super smooth across platforms and Metro lines connections. Enjoyed a City Bus ride too (last bus ride was a B.E.S.T bus in Mumbai, almost two decades ago) and the taxis of Tokyo. Taxi Operators have made it their mission to provide impeccable service. Interiors are pristine and some even have embroidered covers. Well dressed drivers wear clean white gloves, are deferential, polite and very helpful. Most importantly NO TIPPING at all; they very courteously decline and return the tips.
Compared to most highly populated capital cities of the world – New York, Paris, London – Tokyo strikes you for its sense of “Security and Orderliness”. Nowhere in the world you can see small kids in school uniforms and bags walking along the roads to their schools. They travel in Metros. Kids at age 6 are eligible to get the Metro pass. Its not uncommon to see such kids all by themselves walking down to Underground station and boarding the Metro, unescorted. Unbelievable but true. Is this due the prosperity levels of the average Japanese, but no “own car” culture? Is it due the closed and cohesive “Community Cultures”, discipline, cleanliness, particularly the sense of responsibility to keeping “your own surroundings” spotlessly clean is taught and drilled into the infant at home and in schools, very rigorously. The Japanese societal values are emanating from these trainings and traditions. Absolutely remarkable.
Every day in Japan is truly enjoyable and a learning experience, the observing way, the interactive way, the SEEGOS way.