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Do cities in Japan need to have buses and trains running 24 hours a day?

28 Comments

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28 Comments
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If it's a city that doesn't sleep, then yes, why not? Cities like Tokyo and Osaka have vibrant night lives that hum along well into the early hours of the morning. People who work late at night (and pay taxes) have just as much right to public trasportation as people who work more "traditional" hours.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the major urban centers have 24/hr services for mass transit, it opens up the possibility of work that can be done at different time cycles and potentially reduce the congestion of rush hour.

Not all jobs can be done from home after all. Some jobs require that the worker actually be at the place of business.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Absolutely Yess!!

When I came here, it struck me as odd that even train services stop in most of the lines around midnight, and that too in a major city like Tokyo!!!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

That would be awesome. I cannot see the negative side. Taxis here are WAYYYYYYYYYY overpriced. Not expensive... Overpriced.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Well, the Government of Japan, in its infinite wisdom, has not seen fit to provide Okinawa with trains and the buses in Naha rarely have more than three or four passengers, so I don't think it's an item here, at any rate.

I don't know about other cities in Japan.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Let the market decide. The major hurdle for night services has been so far the lobbying of taxi companies. I believe that if restrictions were removed, several bus and train operators would provide a specific night service.

I know. I don't know why the taxi companies, who peddle their sub-par, overpriced "services", get listened to anyway.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Yes please! At least on weekends. The last time I missed my last train (by just a minute or two), I had to wander around Shibuya and eventually settle somewhere (by myself, gasp!) until the first train. Cab fare to my place costs around 20,000 yen so I didn't really have a choice. I'm sure a lot of people have gone through the same ordeal.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Let the market decide. The major hurdle for night services has been so far the lobbying of taxi companies. I believe that if restrictions were removed, several bus and train operators would provide a specific night service.

I agree, if there's demand for it, then the option should be available for those who want it.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Let the market decide. The major hurdle for night services has been so far the lobbying of taxi companies. I believe that if restrictions were removed, several bus and train operators would provide a specific night service.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

No way. People will have to work themselves to death since they can't go home with the excuse of catching the last train.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

They do it on New Year's, so I don't see why they can't otherwise, at least in areas with large populations. Running at a reduced rate, let's say down from several times an hour to once or twice, would help a lot of people who work or play late.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Yes. Having to run and catch the last train has put a premature end to many a fun evening out with friends. Even if the only people who benefit are those out for leisurely purposes, it's worth making the change. I think it's embarassing for one of the greatest cities in the world, one that openly advertises how modern and "cool" it is, to shut down all its trains, the veins and arteries of the city, at 11:30 every night.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Yes, especially Tokyo and the surrounding area. A reduced service after 1am would be great. If they can do it at new Years, they can do it any time.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

yes. god yes, please. at least until 2am.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Will destroy the late night taxi industry.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Ah So: Taxis are ridiculously cheap in Korea and most bars are open til morning, so people can either taxi home or stay out all night if they want.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Not in everywhere and not all lines. But the ideal is that inside big cities people renounce to cars. So there could be at least one line bus or train covering the big axes, even just once per hour. There be should be an affordable way to go to/from Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto...

A lot of people simply can't afford the exorbitant taxi fees.

Taxi are OK for short distances, but not to do the 50~80 km many people commute.

A reasonable time would be 2-3am in the morning which would allow many people that like to stay out at night

Why only them ? It's equally problematic when you need to get somewhere early. If you need to be early in Kansai Airport, from Kyoto or Himeji, the taxi will be more expensive than your flight. Anybody might need that some day.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Does China or Korea have this problem, too??

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I don't know about having 24 hour service, but why not late night service. A reasonable time would be 2-3am in the morning which would allow many people that like to stay out at night a convenient way to get back home. As it stands, if you go to a party or any 'fun' event, you usually have to leave by 10pm in order to catch the last train, etc.

A lot of people simply can't afford the exorbitant taxi fees.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It would be nice. I dislike having to leave friends while drinking at 11 pm because of the "taxi mafia" (my friends' words, they are from Italy). One Yamanote train per night, or some busses, would be helpful

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

It would be nice to have a subway running at least once an hour after 23:30... Sometimes we can't even watch a movie because we will miss last train, let alone when my friends and I want to go out. A cab costs 4000¥ just to get home from anywhere in the city. It would be VERY nice to have limited service. Even if you charged me 700¥ to get home instead of 270¥ at that time, it would be worth it.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Within the cities where you can take a taxi no.

However, intercity services would certainly be useful. Living in Gunma it's a bit of a pain to get out of Tokyo.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

yes, it would certainly cut down the number of taxis clogging the streets.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It'd be nice for the Young People to have a night bus at the weekend - one running every hour between subway and train times, for example. Otherwise, for those who can't afford a cab, it becomes a toss-up between staying in a bar or club all night when you don't really want to, or walking home... Neither of which are especially fun.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Some subway lines with limited service perhaps. In general though, not a good idea. The temptation to keep drinking late would be too great for many, and I'm sure certain "black companies" would use it as an opportunity to work their staff even harder.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

No!

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

No.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

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