Japanese people seem expert at napping on trains, subways, in department stores, cafes, restaurants, park benches or anywhere in public. Have you ever been able to nap in public like that?

Only when paralytically drunk.

I do it all the time. It's nice to live in a city where people don't try to rob you 24/7.

NO.mittomonai (shameful)

I often nap on the train, I have a two-hour commute

No. The twin fears that someone might nick my stuff and that I might inconvenience my neighbor by leaning on them generally keep me awake. I notice many Japanese people have absolutely no qualms about either concern though.

i work 10 hour days 6-7 days a week depending on my schedule, so yes.

I can sleep anywhere. Train, chair, bench, doesn't matter.

It's rare nowadays that I'm out and about and need a nap, but if/when I do, I can do it no problem.

That all said, if I have an hour or two, I'll often go to a net cafe and sleep in one of the booths. More comfortable that way.

On trains (some have no choice with over 2 hour commutes/day).

It's no wonder they are experts at public sleeping as they work so much they're always exhausted

it isn't an hability or "skill", is their society that pressures them to that point! When you're exhausted, anywhere is fine to take a nap.

It's no wonder they are experts at public sleeping as they work so much they're always exhausted

Unless they are one of the city government workers who sleep at their desks when they are supposed to be working.

No. Maybe the ability comes with growing up with public transit, or with not being the primary driver most of the time. My Asian relatives USUALLY fall asleep on longer trains, buses, or drives on the highway.

collapsing from exhaustion? No, no real country does that to its citizens

I do sometimes, with an alarm set to buzz me a minute before my stop.

I can't usually sleep on trains, mostly because I tend to stand up even when there are seats. I can however sleep on buses fairly easily

No. am jealous of how folks here can snatch a power nap anywhere at any time.

Napping in public places is a shameless act done by Japanese people.

Lucky if it's still safe and comfortable to sleep in the train nowadays. At least I don't see Japanese sleep on merchandise at IKEA

Two stories for you, from my students:

Fell asleep on the last train, woke at the terminal station about 50km from home. Wallet gone. Had to call wife at 1am and ask her to pick me up. Boy, was she pissed. Finally arrived home at 3, rose at 6 for work.

Next? Identical to the above, except it happened on bonus day. All gone!

Let's be careful out there, folks.

I sometimes fall asleep on the train even on short distances because of the trains movement. Not anywhere else but maybe it will come when I get older. The perfect place to nap is under a parasol at the beach with the sound of the ocean in the background.

I sometimes sleep on the train home. Mind you it's always a voluntary decision, i.e. if I'm reading a book I put it away before closing my eyes - not like so many overworked salarymen etc. who fall asleep in the middle of reading/gaming/using their phone and drop their stuff on the person standing in front of them. It's always amazed me that people can fall asleep without realizing they're about to fall asleep...

The main thing that bothers me is the man/lady nodding off on your shoulder, then suddenly jerking up, apologizing, then being completely asleep again and smacking into me again after a space of 5 seconds. I am sorry but that is just plain rude. We are all tired here but I'm keeping my act together till I get home.

Let's try to make whole world safe enough for anyone able to comfortably sleep in the train just like in Japan!

You must be joking! Sleeping in public? Whatever next......

Wish i could

no

I kid you not, while drunk, I felt into a one hour coma, with some drunks lady's head on my shoulder, and my head on her head. I woke up by some miracle before my home station (last train), and standing up suddenly I slightly injured (annoyed) the lady :) . So yeah, I can sleep like the Japanese do, no problem...

I usually push people off who fall asleep on me. But one time, a very pretty young lady fell asleep with her face an my bare forearm, I could feel my hair moving when she breathed. It was difficult for me to pretend to be pissed (to the other passengers) while I was enjoying those intimate moments.

I'm Japanese, and sleep on the train regularly. It isn't some sort of skill. It's because I only have a little sleep at night because I need to work late, so falling asleep is easy.

I'm not ashamed of sleeping on the train. It is better to let myself nap there and then I can make myself stay awake at work. I actually enjoy my little naps and feel better afterwards.

The claim that Japanese are just working so hard and so late that train sleeping is a natural consequence has little basis in fact in my view. Of course I don't know where people are coming from or where they're going, but you can catch people sleeping on trains at all hours on all days. It's not limited to people commuting early in the morning or late at night at all. And even amongst those sleeping in the evening, I'd question how many of them are actual 'hard workers' (who of course do exist to some degree) and how many either a.) are actively drunk or, b.) were simply up late the previous evening due to drinking, playing games, watching TV, etc.

In many ways, it's great how willing people are to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt, but the reality isn't that simple.

@DiscoJ_2

Well, I was only speaking for myself, not everyone. But indeed, it isn't limited to early in the morning or late at night. My point was that, for me, it's a chance to sleep because I don't sleep much at home. I sleep about 3-4 hours at home, get up to get ready for work, then sleep another hour on the way to work. If people have different work schedules they might sleep at other times. I can sleep easily on trains or buses because I'm just used to it, not because it's some kind of national characteristic or something.

I find it disgusting when some hs kid with dirty hair sits next to me and instantly starts bobbing his head into me. Obviously just wants a better view of my legs in a mini skirt. No one can fall asleep that fast.

Definitely on the train. It's at least a two hours ride if I want to meet people to hang out, go to a beach, snowboard, etc. And yup, with no fear of getting mugged (unlike back in the west).

MsDelicious: I find it disgusting when some hs kid with dirty hair sits next to me and instantly starts bobbing his head into me. Obviously just wants a better view of my legs in a mini skirt. No one can fall asleep that fast.

sensei258: I usually push people off who fall asleep on me. But one time, a very pretty young lady fell asleep with her face an my bare forearm, I could feel my hair moving when she breathed. It was difficult for me to pretend to be pissed (to the other passengers) while I was enjoying those intimate moments.

This could be the opening page of a manga ...

It happened to me once, in the autumn of 1973. Combination of lack of sleep, booze and an overheated car, in that order. I was supposed to get off the Marunouchi line at Tokyo station but found myself nudged awake by a station employee at the end of the line in Ikebukuro.