Which side of the escalator do you stand on?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,419
Which side of the escalator do you stand on?
Thanks to the concentrated efforts of JR, the answer is rapidly becoming "both", at least inside train stations. Never thought that rushing Japanese would stand for it (heh!), but now more often than not the escalators are packed with standers on both sides.
Or is this just a metro Tokyo phenomena?
Or is this just a metro Tokyo phenomena?
#2
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,833
I am in Tokyo now and haven't seen it that much, maybe I just don't travel enough at rush hour.
My somewhat related question: if people stand on the right in Osaka but are already standing on the left by Kyoto, is there somewhere in between where people stand in the middle?
My somewhat related question: if people stand on the right in Osaka but are already standing on the left by Kyoto, is there somewhere in between where people stand in the middle?
#3
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
Thanks to the concentrated efforts of JR, the answer is rapidly becoming "both", at least inside train stations. Never thought that rushing Japanese would stand for it (heh!), but now more often than not the escalators are packed with standers on both sides.
Or is this just a metro Tokyo phenomena?
Or is this just a metro Tokyo phenomena?
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,599
In London, posters ask travelers to show consideration by standing on the right. ("A little courtesy won't hurt you" is the godawful slogan on one of those posters, I think). By contrast, in Tokyo, the emphasis is on showing consideration by not racing up the escalator and weaving in and out of the people who are standing.
London Underground etiquette posters have really dropped in quality IMHO. Very badly conceived - I'm not the only one to have noticed:
http://www.mhpbooks.com/london-under...rs-and-poetry/
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
I've noticed that the advice on how to be considerate differs in the two cities:
In London, posters ask travelers to show consideration by standing on the right. ("A little courtesy won't hurt you" is the godawful slogan on one of those posters, I think). By contrast, in Tokyo, the emphasis is on showing consideration by not racing up the escalator and weaving in and out of the people who are standing.
London Underground etiquette posters have really dropped in quality IMHO. Very badly conceived - I'm not the only one to have noticed:
http://www.mhpbooks.com/london-under...rs-and-poetry/
In London, posters ask travelers to show consideration by standing on the right. ("A little courtesy won't hurt you" is the godawful slogan on one of those posters, I think). By contrast, in Tokyo, the emphasis is on showing consideration by not racing up the escalator and weaving in and out of the people who are standing.
London Underground etiquette posters have really dropped in quality IMHO. Very badly conceived - I'm not the only one to have noticed:
http://www.mhpbooks.com/london-under...rs-and-poetry/
i do notice the ones in japan tend to be safety motivated.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,355
Went out for yakitori last night with a bunch of old timers. They were telling me when the officials decided that Kansai region was to stand on the right, train staff were using loud speakers and crowd control officers to "encourage' people to stand on the right.
Ever since then, everybody just stands to the right.
However in Tokyo, from the days of the samurai, way the swords were tucked away, they did not want anybody to accidently bump into it so they stand on the left.
Don't know how much of this is believable or if it is the sake and yakitori speaking but that is what they told me.
Ever since then, everybody just stands to the right.
However in Tokyo, from the days of the samurai, way the swords were tucked away, they did not want anybody to accidently bump into it so they stand on the left.
Don't know how much of this is believable or if it is the sake and yakitori speaking but that is what they told me.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,599
The government stopped the samurai from carrying swords in the 1870s, several decades before the first escalators. It's possible that Kanto escalator etiquette stems from traditions that go back to sword carrying days... but if someone is painting you a picture of warriors on the subway, you should tell him about the time your grandfather hunted the last T-Rex.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,355
The government stopped the samurai from carrying swords in the 1870s, several decades before the first escalators. It's possible that Kanto escalator etiquette stems from traditions that go back to sword carrying days... but if someone is painting you a picture of warriors on the subway, you should tell him about the time your grandfather hunted the last T-Rex.
Yes, that is what they meant. The tradition of walking on a certain side of the road, etc....
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,599
In London, we stand on the right on the escalators. I have a theory that the people who decided this were thinking that most circulation within the station obeys the UK pattern of staying on the left ... and it might be better if the people closest to people moving in the opposite direction were standing still rather than walking. This first struck me when I started to swim in a pool that didn't alternate the swimming directions in lanes (in Japan). When my hand and the hand of an oncoming swimmer smashed into each other, I thought "Hmm, I must tuck my hand in. And perhaps that's why the London underground has people standing on the right".
So ... perhaps Tokyo subway owes its traffic pattern to a similar history.
That said, my home underground station has its escalators arranged the opposite way round from what I hold to be "typical". So perhaps this is bollox. And perhaps someone can tell me why Japanese swimming pools don't alternate the circulation for each lane? (clockwise in lane 1, counter-clockwise in lane 2 etc.)
#14
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS Gold (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,259
Should escalators be standing-only?
Some cities think so (in train stations, at least, including at airports supposedly). And so do I, as both lanes will be fully used.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/1...ortation-tokyo
Some cities think so (in train stations, at least, including at airports supposedly). And so do I, as both lanes will be fully used.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/1...ortation-tokyo
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,307
Should escalators be standing-only?
Some cities think so (in train stations, at least, including at airports supposedly). And so do I, as both lanes will be fully used.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/1...ortation-tokyo
Some cities think so (in train stations, at least, including at airports supposedly). And so do I, as both lanes will be fully used.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/1...ortation-tokyo
If it is quiet enough for there to be no crowding, only one side should be used for standing.