Will Miss #401 - the blue lights

I live along a Japan Railway (JR) line that is famous for attracting suicidal jumpers. The line is named the Chuo line, and foreigners waggishly call it the "Chuocide" line because it so frequently is disrupted by those intent on offing themselves. JR obviously would rather this not happen, but rather than do what many subways have done and put up walls with electronic gates that disallow access to the tracks (unless you climb over a 4 foot wall), they've come up with a novel and greatly cheaper solution. They have installed blue lights at a few points along the platform because blue is supposed to be a soothing color which will make people think twice before taking a fatal leap. This is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound and expecting it to be sufficient remedy. 

Seeing these blue lights reminds me that silly, short-sighted solutions are a part of every culture, and I will miss seeing them and what they really represent; that is to say they reflect corporate stupidity rather than a commitment to dealing with a societal problem. 

Will Miss #270 - trains crossing closeby

I rarely rode public transport back home because I grew up in a rural area. My main experience with it was riding the Cal Train to San Mateo once a week and riding the Boston subway on a few occasions. The Cal Train were lonely and infrequent, so the experience of trains whizzing by within what feels like inches of one another at high speed carries a particular sense of excitement.

There's something about all of that kinetic energy and seeing the faces of hundreds of people in a different vehicle pass by at close proximity which feels rather unreal, and I'll miss that.

Will Miss #256 - air conditioned waiting areas

An enclosed waiting space (left) with air conditioning on the Keio line train platform.

Our last sojourn to Costco occurred in the humidity of the rainy season in June. The trip takes about 5.5 hours round-trip and requires a fair amount of train riding and some transfers. My husband and I were gratified to find the enclosed waiting spaces on the platform were air conditioned. They offered very welcome relief from the oppressive heat and densely humid air. They're also good for people who find the winter chill too much for them in the colder months.

I'll miss these comfortable and convenient waiting areas that act as oases of luxurious comfort on (some of) the open train platforms.

Will Miss #133 - clean, safe, modern bus service

Buses are used far less in Tokyo than trains because of the traffic. It will usually take longer to get there by bus than subway or train, unless you're lucky about where the bus lines run. That being said, I have taken buses a fair amount in Japan and find them to be impeccably clean, safe, and modern. They're especially good as an alternative to the crowds you have to put up with when using train and subway services since they are used less often than these other forms of public transport.

I'll miss these well-maintained, secure, and often fairly empty forms of public transport.

Won't Miss #103 - nose pickers on trains

Let me make one thing clear. People around the world pick their noses. In America, you see people do it in their cars. Honestly, I can accept that people pick their noses and if you want to sit in your vehicle and get into your nasal cavities up to the second knuckle, it's not my problem. That being said, when people (actually, men) sit on public transport and perform deep excavations, it becomes my problem, and it happens in Tokyo a lot. It's not simply that it's disgusting to watch it happen, but that these people are touching public areas like the seats, handrails, straps, etc. Some of them also leave their "treasure" behind. An acquaintance of mine once told me she was riding a train and saw a booger on a strap which a woman took hold of. The woman unknowingly picked it up on her hand then at one point rubbed her face and transferred it to a spot just above her lip. The poor woman stood there oblivious to the fact that some stranger's snot ball was on her face.

I won't miss this tendency among men in Japan to pick their noses on the trains.

Will Miss #57 - computer displays in trains

On the newer trains in Tokyo, there are computerized displays showing you ads and information about where the train is going and when it's going to get there. The newest ones are essentially little T.V. screens. While I'm no fan of seeing commercials, sometimes they're entertaining, but the more important point is that running ads on these displays is less wasteful than papering the train with new sets of printed ads on a regular basis.

I'll miss these cool hi-tech displays in the trains.

Won't Miss #39 - walking to shops, the pain

Having to walk (or ride a bicycle) to shop forces you to carry a lot of stuff with you on the way home. If you buy a lot of heavy things like soda, certain heavy vegetables, milk, etc., you can easily be weighed down with an extra 20 pounds. If you want to buy something really big, you have to awkwardly balance it on your bike to struggle to haul it along as you walk with difficulty if you can't wait for delivery or if the store doesn't offer it.

I won't miss being a packhorse when I shop.

Won't Miss #24 - bigoted taxis

Though it is rarer in hard economic times, some taxi drivers in Tokyo will not pick up foreign passengers. This happens more frequently later in the evening or when there is high demand for taxis. They have excuses that range from the rational to the ridiculous, but if any such excuse were offered in a Western country, it'd be labeled for what it is.

I won't miss this overtly bigoted behavior on the part of taxi drivers.

Will Miss #17 - paid transportation fees

When you work at a Japanese company, most of them will pay for your transportation fees. Usually, they will foot the bill for your train and subway pass. Sometimes, they will also pay for your bus fare (or, on rare occasions, taxis). The passes are supposed to only be used for going back and forth to work, but the truth is that there is no system to enforce this. You can use the pass to freely travel anywhere along the route from your home to your office.

I'm going to miss the company footing the bill for commuting expenses.

Won't Miss #9- crowded public transporation

Public transportation is almost always uncomfortable in a variety of ways. Because Tokyo has a high population density, taking a train or subway frequently involves standing on the train as it shakes, sways and swerves and doing so with people who look nice in their suits, but sometimes don't smell so great. Walking through the stations can also be a serious hassle as you attempt to navigate the packs of people intent on never looking where they're going.

I won't miss the tiresome nature of crowded public transportation.

Will Miss #8 - convenient public transportation

Japan has one of the best (if not the best) public transportation systems in the world. You can travel nearly anywhere using trains, subways, buses, and taxis. The trains are usually (but not always) on time, clean, and come at relatively close intervals.

I'll miss being able to grab some form of public transportation any time I need to leave my neighborhood.