Why Smart Travelers Don’t Buy Paper Train Tickets in Tokyo?

Walk into a Tokyo station, and you will see a giant map with hundreds of station names. Trying to find your fare is stressful. The truth is, most locals don’t buy paper tickets. They use IC Cards (Suica or PASMO). And the best part? You can add them to your US iPhone or Apple Watch right now! You do not need a Japanese phone number or Apple ID.

Master the Train Culture (Related Articles)
Now that you can breeze through the gates like a pro with your iPhone, you need to know the rules inside the train to avoid awkward mistakes.

1. Watch Where You Stand! With Suica, you might rush onto the train, but wait! Look at the floor. If you see a pink sign, you might be walking into a trap.
👉 Don’t get the “Silent Stare”! Check out: “Why Are You Being Stared At? The ‘Women-Only Car’ Trap”

Why Are You Being Stared At? The “Women-Only Car” Trap

2. Why is Everyone Asleep? Once you are safely inside, you might see businessmen sleeping deeply—sometimes even on strangers’ shoulders! Don’t worry, they aren’t sick.
👉 Is it safe to sleep? Check out: “Why Do Japanese People Sleep on Trains?”

Why Do Japanese People Sleep on Trains (And Nobody Steals Their Stuff)?

3. The Golden Rule: Silence You will notice the train is as quiet as a library, even during rush hour. Talking on the phone is a huge “No-No.” But did you know this rule changes on the Bullet Train?
👉 Avoid being rude! Check out: “The ‘Library Rule’: Why Japanese Trains Are So Silent”

The “Library Rule”: Why Japanese Trains Are So Silent

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