Today’s commute to Yokosuka was my first train ride as Ambassador. #Japan’s world-class rail system is worthy of a world-class country. It did not disappoint.

I was pretty excited when I first stepped on a Japanese commuter train. Now, I loathe doing so.

Put the ambassador on that train every morning and evening rush hour, Monday to Friday. Let's see what he says after about 3 months.

I'm pretty sure he would have had security and a wide berth around him, and not suffered the cramming in like regular passengers do, worse than cattle.

Agreed about the train system. But he'll change his tune when he tries to find an address amongst the confusing banchis and chomes and general lack of any indication of where you are, such as a street name or house number.

I can't understand it, Japanese people can't understand it and even Google and Apple can't work it out.

Japan needs a standard address system with street names and house numbers. Now if they could apply the same efficiency to roads as they do to trains, it would be a great move.

And probably his last train ride.

All for show.

Good that this one didn’t insist in being carried in the Imperial horse carriage. ROFL

One of the things I loved about Japan when I first came, like many others, was the train system. It's convenient, it's generally on time, it's generally safe and it's pretty thorough with very little "bald spots" in the 23 wards at least. Whereas other systems rely mainly on a subway system with trains that stop at each station, Japan's initially confusing system of private, JR, two metro systems actually make Tokyo one of the easiest and fastest to get around via trains.

That being said, after years of living here, the morning commute and to a lesser extent, the evening rush back home can be extremely tiring day after day. Being packed onto a train is one thing but dealing with the rude and grumpy attitudes of fellow passengers is another thing. People push and fight over seats as if it's the last thing on their bucket list, people rudely taking up more space on the train than they need to, and people elbowing others.

I'd love to hear what the ambassador has to say if he was to ride the trains day in and day out like the rest of us.

What I loved about this was the Japanese twitter community was eating this tweet up. They loved that somebody such as an ambassador, a representative of the US, would give such a nice compliment. It was the perfect opportunity to pack themselves on the back.

He's not wrong though. He wouldn't be posting that if he lived in the UK. Or the US for that matter.

Japan needs a standard address system with street names and house numbers.

No it doesn't, the current system is fine and logical. Korea does something similar. It's not rocket science to figure out an address here.

JNR Yokosuka line Green Car, took it from Zushi in early 1987, for the hell of it.

Green Car to myself, wider but harder seats that reclined.

Keikyu line was always better, cheaper, faster, more regular. Wondering why it requires the traditional JR class treatment

But I wonder what the US Ambassador was doing taking the train there - hope he didn’t need to take a bus to the base.

Japans trains are awesome and convenient depending on which line you are using, what time you are using it, how far you are traveling and many other factors! For those commuting during rush hour daily packed like sardines in a can, Japan trains are terrible!

Doesn't say much for US trains if he's so impressed by the Keikyu Line. Wait until he tries the Shinkansen, he'll be gushing in his praise.