How do Japan’s subway and trains services compare with those in other countries?

In a country that has cities of the size and population of Tokyo and Osaka - I challenge anyone to find fault. Shinkansen is expensive but far more frequent and reliable than other countries Inter-City rail systems.

I get the point about the subways about being difficult to navigate sometimes, but then they are constantly building new stations and lines that is an inevitable side effect of having to integrate the new services.

Also, the cooperation between all the JR companies, Subway companies and Private Railways is remarkable providing all the through services that they do.

Night and day compared to Australia. Japanese train companies take pride in their rolling stock, resulting in clean, well maintained trains. The ticketing systems work and the trains are punctual.

The trains in Melbourne are frequently late or cancelled, dirty (the extent mostly depends on the line and passengers though), and ticketing is a complex comedy of errors. When introducing the Myki system about 12 years ago they decided to try reinventing the wheel and delivered a pentagon. And it's a congested radial design with few cross-links between lines and lots of bottlenecks. And then there are the ticket inspectors whose training seems to be based on the KGB model of customer service.

On the plus side, some drivers have a sense of humour when making announcements. That'll never happen in Japan.

Pretty good.

Tokyo subways are a bit tricky to navigate,but JR is alright,albeit overcrowded at commuting hours.

Most of them are brilliant. I can't say all because Kyoto's subway makes huge losses and still leaves lots of people on crowded buses. The privately run commuter lines, Seibu, Keio, Kintetsu, Hankyu etc are generally brilliant too.

Intercity rail is a mixed bag. Tokaido Shink is brilliant but some of the others are problematic in that they are too expensive for local ridership.

I'm very impressed with Bangkok's two systems, as they were built from scratch recently. More spacious and comfortable than Tokyo's, with individual seats, so no squeezing against strangers. However, they aren't as extensive as in Tokyo. Sometimes, I had to take Grab to get places.

Japan would benefit from more conventional intercity trains that would be more affordable than the Shinkansen. Sometimes I go to cities outside Tokyo, and that entails a tiring journey of three or four commuter trains.

I'm not looking for a sense of humour. I'm looking to get from A to B with as little stress as possible.

Ticketing system here if you are using an IC card MUST be the most simple system anywhere especially when crossing train companies.

I'm not looking for a sense of humour. I'm looking to get from A to B with as little stress as possible.

Then it's probably best that you don't ride Melbourne's trains. A driver with a dry wit can make it slightly less awful if it's your only option.

I don't think anyone can complain about public transportation in Japan.

Except for the rush hour overcrowding it is simply amazing.

ON TIME!

I'm always surprised to see dogs and bicycles on European trains.

An in the UK.... Well let's not go there.... Just shocking in everyway.

Punctual and frequent but horrifically overcrowded and lacking proper and dedicated spaces for prams, wheelchairs and luggage. The bullet trains also need more dedicated luggage space. Oh and it'd be grand if they'd install more benches and sitting areas in the stations and on the platforms.

Comfortable, fairly clean and safe but tell them to run trains 24/7 like some major cities I know of, then talk to me. The last trains run earlier on weekends. Huh? Bigger profit for the private train company that owns most of the taxis.

Belgium and Switzerland have better and more organized systems.

Japan is a close second though.

Compared to Seoul the Tokyo railway system is more convenient and has a variety of express trains, more comfortable trains and better train stations. It's much more dense and quicker to get around. Tokyo has has much better English signage.

Seoul has much better buses to compensate for the worse trains though. Seoul is cheaper but public transport is paid for by your employer in Tokyo anyway.

I’ve got to say I was impressed the ones in China. Japan is convenient and offers the most lines. Too bad the stations are very small with low ceilings and not very esthetic. New York is dirty and like walking into a public restroom.

I just came back from a business trip to Shenzhen. The subway stations there are on the same scale as Narita and Haneda airport’s departure lobbies.

They have l 3-4 story high ceilings and are immaculately clean like 5 star hotel lobbies. They’ve also covered and encased the tracks to reduce noise.

Shibuya better be good when it’s done.

I'll take Japan's public transport system over any other metropolitan, inter-city or regional system I've ever experienced or heard of. Incredibly clean, well organised, inexpensive and punctual.

God bless the Japanese. They are amazing.

They are very long second to Japan rail system

The best I have ever experienced. Clean, on time, and mostly not so expensive. But I have never ridden the Tokyo commuter trains in the peak hours. No sir, I never want to do that.

20 minutes from where I live I can reach the Shinkansen station.