(Japan Railways), which owns 70% of the rail network throughout Japan; Tokyo Metro; and the Toei Subway. In order to ride the trains, you can buy individual tickets for each ride or you can purchase a prepaid I.C. card, which is recommended if you use trains frequently. There are two popular types of I.C. cards in Tokyo: Pasmo and Suica. When using an I.C. card, make sure to tap it on the entrance gates and exit gates so the chip inside the card is scanned to calculate your total fare. To purchase and refill the I.C. cards, just find the nearest kiosk inside the train station, on the machine's screen select your preferred language or English from the start menu, and you can pay using cash or coins. I was lucky to live in a dorm that was less than a ten minute walk to campus, but students who have to commute between 30 minutes to one hour to school can purchase a “commuter pass,” which is a discounted ticket for traveling only between home and school. The average fare for traveling from one station to another is roughly ￥160, and the price increases along with the distance traveled. If I wanted to go to downtown Shinjuku, the fare from Waseda Station to Shinjuku Station is ￥275 to ￥325 for a 20 minute ride, compared to walking about 40 minutes straight from my dorm. The I.C. card can also be used to make purchases from vending machines or at konbini.
Another remarkable thing about Japan’s train service is that it is very punctual. If the train is even a minute late arriving to the platform (which rarely happens), the conductor will make a public announcement using the station’s speakers to apologize for the delay.
