but the way Japan has handled it has catapulted it into one of the world's leading countries when its comes to public transportation.

それを乗り越える手段として 公共交通が発達しました

In this episode we're going to take a look at all the ways we get around here in Japan,

今回は日本の公共交通を紹介します

and talk about which ways have served us the best.

おすすめも紹介します

Here's how we get around in Japan.

お楽しみに！

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

日本の公共交通機関は有名です

Of all the ways there is to get around in Japan, the most famous by far is the public transportation here.

優秀です

It is second to none.

洗練された交通システム

Amazing train system, bus system

徒歩と電車・バスで 大抵の場所に行けます

You can get almost anywhere in this city by foot, train or bus.

しかも清潔で とにかく楽しいです！

It is incredible. And it's clean — it's even fun I would say!

慣れると当たり前に感じて 不満を感じたりもします

Once you live here for awhile, it's easy to take for granted the fantastic public transportation, or even worse, complain about it!

でも海外に行くと すぐに日本の優秀さを思い出します

But whenever I travel abroad, I immediately remember why I love Japan's system so much.

2年間 小田急線で 新宿に登校していました

I rode the Odakyu Line for 2 years while I was going to language school in Shinjuku.

新宿は世界有数のターミナルです

In a mere 20 minutes I was at the world's busiest train station, Shinjuku station,

2018年の統計では 1日359万人が乗り降りしました

a station that served an average of 3,590,000 people per day in 2018.

人の多さに圧倒されます

With so many people, you'd think it would be a congestion nightmare,

でも構内は効率的で 目的地へ確実に移動できます

but because of good planning and design, people move around to where they need to go with little fuss.

今日はルース 待ち合わせしています

Today I'm meeting up with Ruth after her language school.

奥さんです！

Here comes the girlfriend.

ピザを食べに行きます

So I met up with the girlfriend, and we're going to go try a new pizza place today, very fun!

交通機関は素晴らしいですが

Public transportation is great for anything far away,

ご近所では自転車が威力を発揮します

but it your destination is relatively close, the most practical form of transportation is the bicycle.

ライダーだね！

We're like a biker gang today.

毎日！

Everyday!

2人程度の移動には便利です

For just getting around, one or two people, bikes are awesome.

実用的な乗り物です

So yeah, bikes are super practical in Japan.

乗り方を忘れたら練習しないと！

And if you forgot how to ride them, well you learn real quick!

- 今日は何するの？ - フェイスマッサージよ

What are we up to today? What are you up to today?!

お勧めの場所コーナー

So today I'm going to try a facial.

PAZコーヒーも！

Oh, Nate too!

このお店は最高！

Is that alright? Yes please.

4人の子育てをしながら 仕事と日本語学校

Awesome!

今日はママもリラックスです

Graceful Room

子供が小さい時は 時間がありませんでした

Isn't that nice?

子供も大きくなり 少し時間が増えました

This is the recommendation wall.

ヨシコは私達の友達です

Yes! Recommended!

地元のお店を紹介できるのはうれしいです

This one — very recommended.

今年は中小企業に厳しい年です 地元の良いビジネスを応援したいです！

Good night.

ルースがリラックスしてる間に ジョシュアを迎えに行きます

Will you sleep?

気持ちよさそうでした！

As a mother of 4, a full-time Japanese student and a busy worker for our Paz team,

ルースの感想が楽しみです

Ruth certainly has earned the right to be pampered.

日本で便利な事の一つは

When our kids were small, these kinds of things were nearly impossible,

近所で必要な物が 大抵揃います

but now that the kids are bigger, I'm glad to see she can enjoy them.

日本ではとにかく歩きます

First we will cleanse.

来日当初は 毎日歩いてました

Now there'll be a little bit of steam.

サラ！手を振って！

Is that alright?

行く？

Yoshiko is a good friend of ours and she does a great job.

出発だよ

We enjoy promoting the people and local businesses around us.

買い物も徒歩で出来ます

2020 has hit many small businesses especially hard, so make sure to support those local businesses around you!

でも子供がいると 一苦労です

Ruth's going to continue her treatment there while I have to go and pickup Joshua.

梅雨に入って車を買いました

But boy, that looked good and relaxing!

これじゃなくて…！

I can't wait to hear from Ruth what she has to say about that.

半年 徒歩だけの生活をした後 2004年製のノアを買いました

What's awesome about Japan is that we can get to all these things so fast.

アメリカの車と比較すると小型ですが ミニバンは機能的です

You just hop on a bike, you just walk to it. All these things are so close to us.

日本では駐車場と高速道路の 多くが有料です

Walking is by far what you do the most in Japan.

長距離の高速道路料金は 新幹線の一人分料金とほぼ同じです

When we moved here in 2014, we had no bikes, no car so we walked a lot!

大人数では車移動がお得です

Sarah! Hi Sarah! Can you wave?

ただ 日本での免許取得は複雑です 多くの人が試験を何度か受けます

OK, should we go? Let's keep going!

駐車場ではこんなことも…

It's time to go, right? It's time to go!

日本の駐車場は高めです

If we wanted to buy anything, we had to walk to the store and get it.

"料金は 40万2600円です…"

With kids in tow, there was nothing easy about it.

ちょっと助けてよ

When the rainy season came, we needed another option, and that's when we got our car.

ジョークにしてる 昔の思い出ですが

No, not that one! This one!

これが現実です

After 6 months of lugging our kids around by foot, we found a used 2004 Toyota Noah that worked perfect for us and bought it.

子供と近所に行くときは "ママチャリ"が便利です

Vehicles in Japan are smaller than their counterparts in America, but this van had just enough space for our family and luggage.

解説して

In Japan you need to pay for nearly all parking and a majority of the highways that you drive on.

私のママチャリ

hat being said, the cost of a long trip on a tollway is about the same that you would pay for one person on a bullet train,

ジョシュアを前にのせるの

so if you have your car full of people, it comes out to be quite a bit cheaper.

ジョシュアはすぐハンドル握りたがるの

But be aware: the process for getting your license in Japan is grueling, and many people have to try several times before they pass.

サラは後ろ

So sometimes when you're parking in Japan, things can get a little expensive.

まず解錠して

The parking fee is 402,600 Yen (~$4,000)

開いたわ

Can you help me with parking today, maybe just a little bit?!

ボタンを押して

That's one that's just really old that we use just as a joke sometimes.

電動補助付きよ

I'm going to put the real one in.

3段スピードがあるの

The parking fee is 600 Yen (~$6) Now that's more like it.

中段は自動で 安定した速さ

Cars are great for trips, but for taking little kids around with you locally, nothing beat the discovery of the mamachari.

漕ぐときアシストしてくれるわ

What do you have here?

登りも普通に漕ぐだけ

This is my mamachari.

子供がいると助かるわ

It's very nice because I can put Joshua in the front,

補助が小さくて 自分で漕ぐモードと

And we actually fight over who gets to hold the handle bars because he thinks he should drive it.

ほぼバッテリーで走行できる モードもあるわ

And then Sarah sits back here.

ギアも3段あるわ

To get it started I have to first unlock it.

上中下の三段ギア

Unlocked.

バッテリーは 取り外して充電するの

Turn on the on button.

よく使うわ

It's on automatic.

みんな！何してるの

So this bike comes with 3 speeds (modes),

ジョシュアが運転してるの？

The middle is automatic, so it's just pretty consistent.

ハンドル争奪戦よ

When I start pedaling, it helps me keep that pace.

ジングルベルみたい

If I'm going up a hill, I just pedal normal and it does all the extra work.

国内線も充実しています

Which is great when I have 2 kids on it.

大抵の場所に2時間以内で行けます

Then there's also one that uses less battery but you have to work a little more.

空港への移動の方が長い事もあります

And there's one that uses more battery and it's like a little mini scooter.

でも日本といえば…

There's also three setting with the gears.

やっぱり新幹線です！

So there's lower gear, the middle gear and the higher gear.

長距離移動といえば新幹線です

And to charge the battery, you have to take it off, take it inside and plug it in.

高いですが 速くて安全 快適です

Pretty much, I get on and I go.

日本の田園風景です

Hey guys! Oh my goodness, what are you doing?

トンネルや橋を駆使した路線網です

Are you driving the bike, Joshua?

在来線とネットワークを構成し

Yeah, we fight for hand space. Ringing the bell?

効率的に全国へ移動できます

Jingle bells. Jingle bells all the way!

他にもあります

For long-distance travel in Japan, flying is often the most affordable option.

特急や路面電車

You can reach just about any major city in Japan in less than 2 hours by plane.

ロープウェイにゴンドラ

In fact, what usually takes longer than your flight is your trip to actually get to the airport!

登山ではケーブルカー

But when you think of Japan, do you think airplanes? No!

地形に応じた乗り物が 作られてきました

You think Shinkansen, or bullet trains!

日本の生活様式に合わせて 発展してきました

These high-speed trains are the go-to option for long-distance traveling in Japan.

泣かなかった？

Although they are expensive, they are extremely fast, efficient and comfortable.

郵便見てくれる？

Enjoy watching the Japanese countryside whiz by

- マッサージは？ - 最高よ！

as you effortlessly move along an incredible network of high-speed rails all made possible by ample tunnels and bridges.

気持ちよくて寝ちゃったわ

These trains seamlessly tie into the public transportation network

顔と肩もマッサージしてくれて

and there is very little time wasted transferring to and from other forms of transportation.

最高だったわ

And then there are all kinds of variations:

次の予約入れちゃったわ

special trains and trams,

勉強してる所 聞かせて

ropeways and gondolas,

ラーメンだね！

and cable cars made specifically for moving people up steep mountain sides.

お口がいっぱい？

apan has figured out how to best utilize its resources for moving people around its unique landscape.

美味しい！

But in the end, it all comes back to what facilitates the everyday life of the people living here in Japan.

ラーメン好き？

You didn't cry?

日本の交通は凄いです！ 皆さんは何を使いますか？

Can you check the mail for mommy?

コメント欄で教えて下さい！ "いいね"とチャンネル登録もお願いします

So how was the rest of it? What happened? It was wonderful.

So, I actually fell asleep because I was so relaxed.

She put more stuff on and she massaged and massaged and then I got a back massage.

Which is just glorious.

And I have my next one scheduled already.

Can you show everyone how well you're reading now? Let me hear.

(Reading in Japanese)

It's Ramen for dinner! Yum!!

Are you getting some of it in your mouth, Dude?

Yummy!

Do you like Ramen?

Well that's a look at how we use Japan's amazing transportation system.

How do you use it?

Please comment below, like and subscribe, and until next time, we'll see you on Life in Japan. Bye bye.