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Another thing that came up recently that I thought I'd share. Trains, buses and taxis. If you go out for a night on the town, it's a good idea to be aware of how you're going to get back to the hotel. Tokyo has one of the most extensive subway systems in the world, but it doesn't run 24/7. The last trains are usually between 11 PM and midnight. There's a load of speculation as to why, but suffice to say that is the reality. The last trains are usually packed, like during rush hour, with gloved attendants pushing people in until the doors can close (no joke, this sometimes takes more than 10 tries!). A lot of the people are really drunk, and it's not uncommon to have someone reeking and reeling next to you. The only thing that keeps them from falling over is the mass of people around them. It is a possibility to have someone in close proximity boot/piss/shit themselves. In other words, the last train is not the best way to end a fun evening.
Taxis are always available, and in Tokyo, they don't hesitate to pick up foreigners. There are regularly placed taxi queues in high-traffic areas, but if you hail one, look for the red-lighted letters in the lower left side of the windscreen. If they are green, the taxi is occupied. We drive on the opposite side here, so the driver is on the right side. When the cab stops, everyone should enter through the left-side door. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR YOURSELF!!! The driver has a special lever that opens the door for you. Once inside, resist all temptation to close the door, the aforementioned lever does that as well. It is very helpful to have a business card or something with the name and address of your hotel printed on it, that you can hand to the driver. Most taxis have navigation systems, so they can easily find your hotel. Taxis are very expensive, however. Some take credit cards, some don't. If you pay cash, they will give you exact change. Do not tip! It's a good idea to get a receipt with the taxi company's name and the car #. If you leave anything in the cab, even an umbrella, they will have it, and usually bring it to your hotel at no charge.
Buses are very difficult to figure out. Unless you can get good instructions from a concierge, you may want to avoid them.
If you rent a car, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!! There is a zero tolerance policy here, and if you're stopped for DUI, expect a few weeks, minimum, in jail with no lawyer, contact, or charges. If they do charge you, you will at least be deported. If you cause an accident while DUI, expect jail time. This is not something to take a chance with. If you rent a car, have a stone-cold sober designated driver.
If you find yourself out after the last train, you can always go to a love hotel, all night bar, or internet cafe to kill the few hours till first train. The love hotels deserve their own entry, and are something you should try if you come here with a SO. The internet cafes aren't the best place for a good night's sleep, but they usually have a comfortable recliner type chair in a private booth, and they will rent you a blanket and alarm clock. For Westerners, they are probably more comfortable that a capsule hotel, in which you sleep in a space that holds one person, like you would see in sci-fi movies. They are also segregated by gender, so no love, just a place to sleep.
Cheers
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The difference between theory and reality is that in theory there is no difference.
"God made man, but he used the monkey to do it." DEVO
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