Japanese subway signs

Just a curious slightly bizarre question. Do the subways in Japan have the station names (like on signs, stops etc) in any English what so ever or is it purely in Japanese? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, they are in English (well, the Romanized version of Japanese anyhow) and you will be able to read it.

Hi

Yes, they are in English and we had no problems getting around using the subway in Tokyo. I have written more about our experience in my trip report with pictures. Maybe you can find some useful info there. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions :-)

Yes, and also on route maps etc, they have now numbered stations consecutively with an initial indicating the line name. So Roppongi on Hibiya line is H-04 (fourth station from Nakameguro), Ginza on Ginza line is G-09 and so on. Some trains have indicator panels above doors showing the current and next stop in both languages.

There are also English announcements these days about the next station, transferring etc. on some train lines as well- definitely on the JR Yamanote line, and also some of the subway lines.

The only trouble you might have is when buying the ticket itself. At some stations (JR @ Shinjuku?) the subway map with fares is written only in Japanese and might not be so clear what to pay for your stop.

Yes, what everyone has said so far is true, but don't be suprised if outside of the Tokyo area, you find a lack of signs in "romaji".

Gard - I enjoyed reading your travel logue about Japan!

#5 I have trouble with that even though I read Japanese! Those 5 different ticket vending machines- I never have any idea which ones to use, so I ask the guy at the ticket gate...

#6 I have noticed that even the little podunk stations in Nagano have the signs in Romaji, as do all road signs (that indicate place names) nowadays.

There are a few non-JR lines which have minimal or no romaji at some smaller stations, but those are getting pretty rare these days.

#5, #7, you still buy tickets? That's so '90s! Even tourists, but especially residents should be using SUICA or PASSMO. Greatest thing since canned beer. (Cocodrilo, you can be forgiven if this technology hasn't made it down to your area yet.) No more waiting in ticket lines, no more wondering about the fare, no more navigating transfers on the map... touch and go!

Hey, we 're just getting automatic ticket wickets! All automated now! Not everyone uses the train every day- I only use it once a week so I still buy a book of tickets and get a 320 yen discount for a book of 10. Buying a commuter pass can save you several thousand yen a month. Does the SUICA or PASSMO offer discounts?

Suica doesn't do discounts.<BR><BR>My husband still buys the 11 tickets for the price of 10......<BR>I love Suica, no missing a train for buying a ticket, no thinking about whether its<BR>the subway or JR card that I need, no looking for small change or breaking big<BR>notes at places inside the station.<BR><BR>So... convenient.<BR><BR>I wonder how long it will be before there are security issues with it?

Another bonus is I can send a suica to friends who are visiting and save them angst at the<BR>airport if I can't go to meet them.<BR><BR>Back to the OQ.<BR><BR>Even in very rural places you will find station names in romaji<BR>If you don't know how much a ticket is and you are buying a ticket rather than using<BR>a pass you can buy a minimum fare and top it up when you get to your destination,<BR>in the machines before the ticket barriers.<BR><BR>Very convenient - nice that they assume people are honest. <BR>I hate it in Sydney when I change my mind about where I want to go once on the train - <BR>going past the destination on the ticket you get a fine.....<BR>