Tokyo Train Travel: koko doko?
“Koko doko? koko doko?” (here where? here where?)
A Caucasian man sits on a crowded Tokyo train hoping to arrive in Shibuya safely. People usually maintain a motionless and silent composure on the train. They vigorously avoid eye contact with their fellow human being, lost in day dreams, completely absorbed in typing phone messages, or adrift in a relaxing pool of mp3 sounds. But this man, unsure of his location, frequently glances in every direction. He is terrified of getting lost in Tokyo, on this train, and possibly in life in general. Every time the train stops he looks up and randomly asks, “Koko doko? koko doko?” Hoping anybody will reply and help him out.
Tomo told me this story and it made me laugh.
Because, here is a man lost and scared. Absolutely uncertain about where he is. Perhaps it was his first time trying to get to Shibuya by train, first time on a train in Tokyo, or he just wanted to bring some humor into the lives of those around him. Tomo said he could have helped him, “but just didn’t feel like it.” Yeah, I wouldn’t want people i don’t know see me help out a “foreigner” either. ^^
Poor guy. I’m sure he made it though.
One time I was on a train headed to Shibuya myself, and sometimes I can’t hear the next stop’s announcement clearly, so I know there are some challenges if you don’t like to pay attention to your environment and location by your sixth sense like most people.
But once, I luckily had a densha otaku (train nerd/geek) sitting in front of me. Before boarding, I noticed this guy waiting to get on the same train I was. I noticed the train was about a minute late, and this guy suddenly yelled “that god damned train better get here fast or I’m gonna go loco!” but now that I think about it, he probably said, “the Nantoka line train is coming!” same thing right.
Anyhow, I decided to sit near him because I find crazy people entertaining. He didn’t let me down. At every stop he would announce the location, the train line, the train destination, and upcoming stop as a voice told it to him from a small radio like device attached to his ear, or maybe the radio was just for looks. Just a normal guy, except he was a nerd with an unhealthy train obsession, but he was nice, I smiled at him, because I didn’t want him to steal my soul. During his exit from the train, he announced the location, last stop and that “the next stop is Shibuya.” The voices he heard were miraculously correct.
My friends said, “that guy isn’t right in the head”
Yeah, maybe, but my point is there is always a way. When you get lost, there will always be a way to get unlost, assuming you really want to. There will always be a map directly above your head on the train with the names of the stations so you can figure when to get off the train, there will always be some clue, helpful person (except for Tomo), or magical crazy guy to help you out.
Japan Train route finder in English
