Have you ever seen this mark?

 
It says a “baby is inside tummy”.

It’s called ‘Maternity Mark’, and
was officially announced by the
Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare in March, 2006, in an
effort to help create a friendly
environment for pregnant
women.

It is difficult to recognize women
in the early stages of pregnancy, especially here in
Japan where maternity fashions that hide swollen
tummies are very popular. It was created in response
from comments by pregnant women who desired to get
‘assistance at staircases’ and be “offered a seat on
public transportion”. This mark also makes it easier to
give assistance or your seat to women displaying this
mark. One does not want to offend a young woman for
misjudgment from her appearance alone. 

This item can be obtained from your local ward office
(kuyakusho) when reporting pregnancy to obtain a
‘Maternity and Child Health Handbook’. 

Check the website below for more symbols for
priority seats:

http://www.ecomo.or.jp/barrierfree/pictogram/data/seats%20data.pdf

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Convenient Value-Added Tickets

Here are some tickets good for one day only that can
save you money and time.

 One-day Tokunai Pass
(Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass):

One-day pass for travel on all JR lines (only) within the 23 wards of
Tokyo. It can be purchased from automatic ticket vending machines.

              Adult:  730 yen                      Child: 360 yen                     

One-day “Tokyo Free Kippu”
(Tokyo Round Tour Ticket):

One-day pass for all JR train lines,
subways and Toei buses or classic Toei streetcars in the 23 wards of Tokyo.
It can be purchased at JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-madoguchi)
and Travel Service Centers (View Plaza)

Adult:  1,580 yen                  Child:  790 yen

For details, check the JR East website : www.jreast.co.jp/e/

Subways: There are 2 different subway operators in Tokyo. One is
called “Tokyo Metro”, and the other is “Toei”, the latter of which is run
by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Tokyo Metro One-day Open Ticket 

One-day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro
lines.  It can be purchased on the day of use or
in advance.

    Adult: 710 yen                        Child: 360 yen
       

One-day Economy Pass (Toei-Marugoto-Kippu) for Toei streetcars, Toei  subway lines, Nippori-Toneri liner and
Toei buses

This pass is valid for travel on Toei streetcars,
buses and subways for one day, and available
at automatic ticket vending machines in Toei
Subway stations, and Nippori station and also
on Toei streetcars and buses.   Advance
purchase is available at station counters,
pass vending machines and Toei Streetcar/
Bus offices.

            Adult  700 yen                       Child: 350 yen

          
Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei
Subway

Good for one day of unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and
Toei subway lines.

            Adult: 1,000 yen                   Child: 500 yen

For details, check the Tokyo Metro
website:

http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/valueticket.html

Buses:  There are numerous “Toei” buses routes within 23
wards of Tokyo.

This pass allows one day of unlimited
use on Toei Buses.
It is valid for 6 months after the date of purchase, (but activates on the day used). 
It can be purchased at Toei bus offices,
Toei bus pass vending machines or on Toei buses.

            Adult  500 yen                       Child: 250 yen
          

For details, check the websites for “Toei” Transportation
Information:

http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/english/

For passengers using Narita International Airport, discount
tickets can be purchased.  Check the Tokyo Metro website
for details:

http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/narita.html#narita1

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Autumn National Traffic Safety Campaign is held from
 September 21^st to September 30 this year.

The campaign focuses on the following objectives:

l       Prevention of traffic accidents especially by senior drivers

l       Prevention of traffic accidents occurring during twilight hours
and at night

l       Promoting the proper use of all seatbelts including child
seatbelts

l       Promoting the safe use of bicycles

l       Eradication of drinking driving

The slogan of this autumn is "Drive through the city with care and consideration".

 

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Have you ever seen these markers on the front or back side of a
vehicle? Do you know what each one means?

              a                                               b
                                  

                 c                                                d
                     
 

a.      Beginner’s Mark

b.      Senior Driver’s Mark

c.       Aurally Challenged Driver’s Mark

d.      Physically Challenged Driver’s Mark

a.      When you obtain a driver’s license for the first time, you are
required to place this mark both in the front and back side of
a vehicle for one year.  It's called 'Wakaba Mark'.

b.      Senior drivers aged 70 or older should attach this mark, but anyone over 75 must attached this mark.  It's called 'Momiji Mark'.

c.       Aurally challenged drivers should attach the mark.

d.      Physically challenged drivers should attach the mark.

Drivers are prohibited from pulling alongside or cutting in front of any vehicles, especially with the above marks attached.

From 1st of June, 2008, you must wear a seat belt even you are
sitting in the back seat.

There's no penalty by driving without wearing seat belts 
in the back seats on general road/local street, however,
you will lose 1 point on Express way.*

Remember, seat belts save lives.  Please fasten your seat belt,
doesn't matter you sit in the front seat or in the back, wherever you go.

*As of 30, May 2008.  Rules may change in near future.







Another new rule.
When a person who is aged 75 and over drives a car,
he/she should endeavor to display the mark called 'Momiji Mark'
like below picture.  There's no fine for offenders at this moment,
but the rule may change in near future.

 









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New ticketing system for public transport in Tokyo
will start from the 18th of  March, 2007.


PASMO








PASMO is a rechargeable contactleess smart card
ticketing system for public transport to be introduced inTokyo
from March 18, 2007.

Pasmo is a development of the Passnet system used by
many NOT JR railway lines in the Tokyo region.
The system will offer interoperability with the JR SUICA system,
as well as integrate private bus companies into the existing
Passnet network. (from Wikipedia)

For more information about Pasmo, please click here.


SUICA









SUICA is a rechargeable contactless smart card and
it was introduced in 2001.
The card is usable currently in the Kanto region at
JR East stations near Sendai and Niigata, and in the Kinki
region on JR West. 
The card can also be used interchangeably with
JR West's ICOCA card in the Kansai region.

The card is also increasingly being accepted as a form
of electronic money for purchases at stores and kiosks
within train stations.

Suica stands for 'Super Urban Intelligent CArd'.
An additional meaning comes from the expression
'sui sui', meaning 'smooth' and an abbreviation for 'card',
'ka' intended to highlight the smooth simplicity of using the
card compared with traditional train tickets. (from Wikipedia)


So from the 18th of March 2007, you can use either
PASMO or SUICA card for most of the transportation
in Tokyo.

However, many people already have Suica card which's
been around for over 6 years.  It might be easier just charge
Suica card and use it for JR or Subways or buses.

It is totally up to you which card you choose to use, but 
just remember that you cannot use both cards at the same time.
When you use 1 card, the other card shouldn't be in a same
pass case otherwise the automatic ticket wicket system 
can't pick which card to read!!

For more information about Suica, please click here.





Now, there is a tip for TOEI BUS.
You can use Pasmo or Suica for Toei Bus, if you purchase
Common Bus Card, you get a credit.








For 1,000 yen card, you pay 1,000 yen but  get
extra 100 yen credit.  If you purchase 3,000 yen card,
you get extra 360 yen, and if you purchase 5,000 yen card,
you get 850 yen extra!

There are individual rules and conditions with each card,
so please read them carefully and choose your favorite card!


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Catching a taxi in central Tokyo is not so hard.
There are about 50,000 taxis operated in Tokyo.
The maximum number of passengers per
standard size taxi (sedan) is 4.


HOW TO CATCH A TAXI

Major stations or hotels, they have cabstand.
If you go to the main street, you will be able to
catch one quite easily.  (at night with rain, right after
the pay-day (most of people get paid on the 25th or
15th for government worker),  and the time after the
last train sometimes hard to catch one.)

First, you look for a taxi with the top lights on,
also with red sign says 'Kusha'. (*see the sign below)
ku=empty sha=car; means vacant




Then just raise your hand. 
(Look at the driver like you really want him to stop!)

The minimum fee starts from 660 yen for the first 2km.
(some private taxi companies only charge 650 yen.)
After 2km, the charge will be added 80 yen per 1km.

There will be 20%-30% extra charge after 11pm until 5am,
it is called 'shinya warimashi ryokin.' (late-night-charge).  
And the sign looks like this:



 
*So if you are looking for a taxi after 11pm,
you'll see this sign.

*Please click here to check new taxi fare & rule.


OTHER TAXI SIGNS

1. Chinsou - no vacancy




2. Kaisou - out of service




3. Geisha or Yoyakusha - reserved, on a way for pick-up




4. Kashikiri - reserved for certain amount of time





TAXI CONVERSATION
When you get in a taxi, you will be asked:

Driver: "Where would you like to go?"
              Dochira made?

You: "Please take me to Roppongi 3-chome".
         Roppongi san-chome made onegai shimasu.

Driver: "Ceretainly."
            Kashikomari mashita.

Giving directions

You: "Please turn left at the next corner."
         Tsugi no kado wo hidari ni magatte kudasai.
        (or Tsugi no kado hidari desu.)

        "Please stop just before the traffic lights."
         Shingou no temae de tomete kudasai.

        "My apartment (house) is right on the next corner."
        Watashi no apato (ie) wa tsugi no kado desu.

        "Please stop here."
         Koko de tomete kudasai.

        "How much?"
        Ikura desuka?

        "Please give me a receipt."
        Ryoshusho wo kudasai / Reshiito wo kudasai.

WORDS
        Right: Migi
        Left: Hidari
        Straight: Massugu
        Turn: Magaru
        Stop: Tomaru
        Here: Koko
        There: Asoko
        This: Kore
        That: Are
        It: Sore
        I'm in a hurry: Isoide imasu.
        Please drive faster: Isoide kudasai.


TAXI RESERVATION

You can reserve a taxi in English with these companies: 

1. Nihon Kotsu
    Reservation: 03-5755-2336
    24hours, 365 days on line in English       
http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/en/taxi/ephone.html

2. Tokyo MK Taxi
    Reservation: 03-5547-5551
    Credit card accepted.  Larger size taxis available.
http://www.tokyomk.com/eng/index.html

3. Hello Tokyo Taxi
    Reservation: 050-3160-0601 (8am - 8pm)
    or 03-5653-7921 (Japanese only)
    Larger size taxis available.
http://www.hello-tokyo.co.jp/english/index.htm