Getting around Tokyo

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The railway network in Tokyo is unlike anything we have in North America. I've ridden the public rail transportation networks in the Bay Area, LA, Chicago, Boston, DC, and NYC and none of them even come close to Tokyo in shear size and I don't think any other city on the planet can compare. The planning and design of the railway network is driven by the density of the region. Looking at the city from above, you realize the monumental challenge city planners faced when confronted with the logistics of moving 13 million people fast and efficiently. The railway network is run by several private companies each with their own map. The map I linked to is the most complete English language map of the railway network that I've come across. As complex as the system is, the trains follow a strict time and are rarely late. Navigating the system is a complex ordeal, but with some practice its not too difficult. There are multiple ways to get anywhere and there are apps that can calculate the fastest and cheapest routes. I used Google Maps to navigate the system and it worked incredibly well.

Shinjuku Station is supposed to be the busiest train hub on the planet. The map above is actually an oversimplification of the trains that run in the city. Many lines have local, express, and rapid trains that make limited stops. 

I've heard about how crowded the commuter trains can get during rush hour, but being there and experiencing it is something entirely different. I took this snapshot at waist level with the GR right before the doors closed on the train. This is one of my favorite shots from the trip and it was made possible by the lightning quickness of the Ricoh GR.