I'd been commuting by taxi but I decided to commute by subway from this week. It costs me 1800 YEN = U.S. $ 15.67 = 13.00 Euros for the roundtrip by taxi while it only costs 320 YEN = U.S. $ 2.78 = 2.31 Euros by subway for the round trip. Which means I'd save 37000 Yen = U.S. $ 322.12 = 276.54 Euros a month if I work 25 days in one month. Wow, I just calculated it and that's a lot of saving. Going to work by taxi only takes 5 mins and it takes about 20 minutes from my home to work by subway. that's a drawback but I can leave home earlier. Some friends of mine and other visitors to work from the States sometimes ask me about what they heard about,
horrible commuting in Tokyo like
THIS. Yes, there are some lines that can literally kill you (quite exaggerating but close enough) during rush hours. Station staff try to push people in and there is a temporary work job to do so at some subway stations. However, I live in the middle of Tokyo and don't have to deal with any of it as many lines packed with people usually come from the suburb areas of Tokyo into the city. The subway line I take is as you see in the photo. I was the only one in the car this morning. Now, as for what I usually do while I am in there..., I don't do anything. It's too short to read a book. And I don't listen to music because I want to clear my head and think of something unimportant that is completely unrelated to work stuff. I think this little commuting time is a quiet zen-like moment for me along with train steel industrial like noise... which can be really masculine and bluecollar. :-) I think I don't mind taking the subway for work as long as I can leave home earlier. You have a great Tuesday! or Wednesday!
Shigeki- I love taking the subway. Taxis here are aweful. The cabs are old and dirty, the drivers rude, and they never speak enough English to make the transaction easy. Unfortunately, the subway line I now live on is above ground most of the way to downtown and is slow. But the cars are clean and the ride smoothe. A trip to downtown takes about 20 minutes. It's only $1.25 each way. -gregg
Congrats on chossing the more economical and environmentally friendlier commute to work! Good luck with sticking with it. To help motivate yourself, just think of all the wonderful presents you can buy me with the savings! hint hint
I'd love to take the subway to work... but we don't have any... so I bike every day for 15 minutes. Even in the rain.... :)
I'd love to take the subway, but I live in the middle of nowhere. We don't even have BUSSES, let alone trains.
That's a huge lot of savings! And the pic of subway officials pushing people in the train like sardines is crazy! Does it really happen?!?
BTW I kinda like taking the train. You never know what cutie could be on board. And you could flirt with your eyes, which I think you're quite good at...
One year ago, I moved away from the centre of Oslo, and now have to take a 25 minute subway ride on the way to and from work. I think that is quite all right - I listen to music and read The Economist (I almost get through one issue just by reading on the subway). From time to time I even notice that I'm looking forward to the 25 minutes with nothing to do except reading and listening to music... :-)
(I don't own a car, by the way, and taking a taxi would probably cost at least €50 a day... The subway is €80 a month or something.)
Good luck on your new way of commuting!
He he he... I drive to work everyday & its always jammed both ways!
I remember this trip i took with my friends by tokyo subway. Whiles they were pushing people inside, we were wishing we had a job like that! Imagine you get to push the buttons on all the cuties you want! lol
I love that kind of subway..I commute school by subway,when the subway is empty like that,I can feel at ease.And I usually don't do anything either,but I try to do something cos it takes me about an hour ;)
Hi Gregg,
You "LOVE" taking the subway? wow, I've never thought of that. :-) I forgot how different taxis are there. :-) The cliche I get when I take a cab there is "Are you Chinese?" I don't need that question anymore.... 1.25 each way is not bad at all. :-) I know one of the engineers over there in the headquarters commutes by a train and I was surprised when I got to know as cars are the popular method of commuting there. You have a pleasant day!
Hi EnviroBoi,
Thank you very much. So far, so good. I've been commuting by subway but this is just day 2. :-) I will see how long this will last though. Hehehe. Ricky Martin album for the money I'd save? That's very interesting. :-) Well, I will think about that. You have a wonderful day!
Hi Freddie,
Well, I am sorry you don't have subway there at all. The one in Amsterdam is useless even. (Well it was at least to me as I had to commute to Schiphol) But you have an exclusive bike lane there, don't ya? That's great. :-) I wonder if there is any dutch person who cannot ride a bike... I am sure there are some but I think it's very rare.... Have a fantastic day!
Hi Mush,
If there was a bus, I'd assume you'd have to wait for hours... :-) The subway is quite convenient and nice but it's there because I live in a city. :-) If I lived in a place like yours, I am sure I'd love to drive. :-) Drive safely! Have a marvelous day!
Hi Will,
Oh yeah, it's a lot of savings. I wonder how I can leverage it. :-) That pushing people really does happen here in Tokyo. But for some lines that I don't take. :-) Usually, they are all packed like that because people commute from the suburb. Thank God I live in the middle of Tokyo. Oh yeah, that was my another hope that I could watch cute dudes or something. But I haven't run into them yet. I am being patient. :-) have a nice evening!
Hi Bjørn,
I am sorry but I didn't know there was subway in Oslo. :-) 25 min ride isn't too bad. Some people who wok in Tokyo commute for an hour or more. Reading the Economist while commuting sounds very grown up. :-) I am pretty sure everything is way freaking expensive there in Oslo. But I am glad you have a nice way to commute to work. That's all it matters. You have a fantastic day!
Hi AJ,
Lucky you. I could drive to work but it would be way too expensive since I will have to pay for the parking fees. Well, I am not sure if I wanted a job like that as you have to push various people including female. :P but cramming people like that is awful. It's like watching dead birds cramming into a sack for bird flu or something. (T_T) I am glad I don't have to be involved there. You have a great evening!
Hi Leigh,
That's great that you take the subway to school and have one hour. So when you have an exam, you can have a last minute review to feel more confident! I don't do it because the whole trip from my station to the closest station to work is less than 7 minutes. I just stare at nothing and think nothing because it's morning and my brain doesn't function well. :-) You have a pleasant evening!
wow! you have an amazing commute! 7 mins on an empty train. lucky lucky.