"Train culture" is an incredibly broad topic, but what I would like to share with you is the differences I experience when riding the train between my hometown of Beijing and my current workplace, Tokyo.

I came to Japan (Tokyo) again in January 2020 for work. This is my second long-term stay. The last time was around 1997, when I studied abroad and spent about seven years there. It was my youth. (laughs)

At that time, Beijing had only two train tracks.

The main means of transportation were buses and bicycles, but now the subway has become a large transportation network with 24 lines and 428 stations (according to the Chinese search engine Baidu).

When I was in Beijing and since I came to Tokyo, I have used the train almost every day. There are two things that have made a particularly strong impression on me.

First of all, the trains in Tokyo are incredibly quiet. On trains between 7 and 8pm, you might occasionally see people talking, but on packed morning trains, there's hardly anyone talking. If you close your eyes, it's so quiet you might wonder if you're riding the train alone. It really shows the Japanese culture of not bothering others.

On the other hand, in Beijing, I occasionally saw people talking loudly on the phone, and I often saw people from the same company chatting with each other on the train on their way home from work. I also often heard conversations like, "What are we having for dinner tonight? Can you buy some vegetables?" When I hear things like that, I think, "Hmm, I wonder if my personal information is being leaked... (laughs)."

In fact, before I came to Japan from Beijing, announcements began on the Beijing subway saying, "Please be quiet on the train so as not to disturb others." However, due to cultural differences, it will probably take a considerable amount of time before trains become as quiet as those in Tokyo. But I also think it would be interesting if trains became completely like Tokyo.

Another difference I noticed was the security check before boarding the train. On the Beijing subway, there is a security check before you enter the ticket gate. It's almost the same level as airport security. Any bag you bring is placed in a security machine, and a person goes through the machine. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like it's just a token check.

Rumor has it that Japan's JR (railway company) previously considered implementing security checks as a counter-terrorism measure. They even came all the way to Beijing to visit. After a long period of consideration, they apparently decided that security checks during rush hour would be impossible, and abandoned the idea. Personally, I wish Beijing's subway operator would stop using such pointless measures. But it can't be helped, since it's a state-run company.

Aside from these differences, I think Tokyo is better in terms of station structure and convenience, but ticket prices are overwhelmingly cheaper in Beijing.

I've heard that Japan's trains have a history of over 100 years. I'm sure there are many regions in Japan with unique train cultures. I'd love to go on a train trip around Japan with friends someday. I'd love to ride the train, see the scenery from all over Japan, eat delicious food, and experience the kindness of the people I meet.