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Japan Is Convenient

May 25th, 2008 by Neil

When it comes to day to day living, Japan can be very convenient.

Take the transport system, specifically the trains. One thing that makes it easy, for residents and tourists alike, is the ability to perform “Fare Adjustment” at the other end. If you’ve short changed the ticket or had a change of plans and decided to go on to another station you have the ability of balancing the fare prior to leaving the station, rather than being fined. It makes things very easy.

Although these days i have a Pasmo, before i did I found many stations, not as ‘big’ and ones that have a far less foreign population using them, with little if not no English at all when it comes to deciding what ticket to purchase.

The solution is simple, buy the cheapest ticket, then when you get to the other end use the Fare Adjustment machine and away you go.

Fare Adjustment 

It’s a pleasant surprise dealing with such a system, coming from Australia where they’ve been known to handle things a little differently.  

Take Michael here for example, touched up by the Connex tough guys .. for what, i still really don’t know. 

Connex

In Australia, rather than make it easy to pay, they prefer to try and enforce fines upwards of $50 for fare evasion. Now granted, many people try and evade the fare on purpose, it’s easy to do. It’s also easy to get caught short and not have change for the train or tram. 

Either way, my point is, it’s better to make it easier to pay than than take the strong arm tactics.

What’s the transportation system like in your home country with regards to Fare Evasion?

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21 Comments »

Comment by neko
2008-05-25 19:02:05

That’s one of the best fare system i’ve ever seen. Your tip with the “cheapest ticket” is nice, used this quite a few times.

Here in switzerland there’s nothing like that. If you buy the wrong ticket you have to pay the full price for a new ticket, most of the times. If you’re lucky the guy/gal who checks the ticket is in a good mood he issue you a new ticket and you only pay the difference.

If you get cought without a valid ticket you will be fined around 80$ and no chances of getting away with even a good or honest excuse LOL.

Ps.
hey neil,
what do you think about link exchange? I’ve added you onto my blogroll some time ago, mind to add me to your blogroll? :)
thx

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Comment by Neil
2008-05-25 19:56:28

No problem Neko, done.

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Comment by neko
2008-05-25 20:29:26

thanks a lot.
How about fines in japan when riding without a ticket?

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Comment by Neil Duckett
2008-05-25 20:58:42

Unheard of as far as i know …. it would mean busting through the barrier at each end …. and for the cost of a ticket, between 130 yen and 400 yen for the average fair, it just doesn’t happen.

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Comment by neko
2008-05-25 21:58:35

yeah i see that.
Oh you can even run true the barrier, just fast enough and it closes when you already passed.
No, i never did this myself, i promise. :) saw a vid on some guys blog i think.

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Comment by travelphilippines
2008-05-25 19:23:09

yrah same here if you buy the wrong ticket you will have to pay for the longest journey..

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Comment by Shane
2008-05-25 19:50:32

No mass train system in Hawaii but they are working on it. I think that they have some sort of fare adjustment system on the SkyTrain in Vancouver, Canada though but it’s been a long time since I lived there so my memory could be faulty ;)

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Comment by Tyler
2008-05-26 17:01:44

Nah, no such thing here. SkyTrain has ticket booths at every station, but you have to pay ahead of time for a 1, 2 or 3 zone ticket. No adjustments can be made once you are on it. You could, I guess, get off once you hit a different zone and buy a new 1 zone ticket if you needed, but that’s as close as you’ll come to “fare adjustment”.

Cheers!

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Comment by matt
2008-05-25 23:29:21

oo any chance I can get added to your blogroll too? I know it’s not a Japan blog but hey why not ask!

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Comment by Moomin
2008-05-26 08:51:39

The Australian system really is easy to circumvent, at least the Sydney one, with buying a one station ticket, and then going anywhere one likes with it.

In Finland, for metro/subway, city train, and regional train, they don’t even check your tickets, or have gate systems to put your ticket, so you can ride all day without a ticket. All of them are run by VR, which is a state run company, so it kind of makes sense to go soft on people that ride the system for free (as people pay for it in taxes).

However, they have a couple of teams of ticket inspectors that move in the system, so it all comes down to luck if you don’t get inspected and don’t have a ticket. The fine is about the same that you would pay for a monthly pass.

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Comment by Neil
2008-05-26 09:50:01

Prevention is the easiest way in my opinion ….. ticket to enter, ticket to exit … removes the need for inspector and then fines.

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Comment by Contamination
2008-05-26 16:06:20

I have to wonder which is more profitable.

Make it easy for your customers to buy the right ticket, pay the right fare (Suica/Pasmo/Fare Adjustment machines) OR emphasize enforcement of ticket purchases even though the average station only has one machine and the ticket office is closed.

Woe betide the person who doesn’t have correct change for their ticket.

Here in Japan I would never feel worried about going to buy a 160￥ ticket with a 10,000￥ note. Then again, I’ve had a Suica for over 2 years now, I don’t need to waste that extra minute buying a ticket (or even longer to queue up)

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Comment by Contamination
2008-05-26 16:24:12

I liked this post so much I wrote about it here:
http://www.jdonuts.com/2008/05/using-trains-in-japan-easy.html

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Comment by Mike Huang
2008-05-26 09:37:52

This is something that America needs lol. The American government wants to take every cent from us :(

-Mike

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Comment by billywest
2008-05-26 14:43:36

The Tokyo train and subway system is amazing! It’s no wonder that things are made so easy here; Train rides are incorporated into most people’s lifestyles. Indeed, Tokyoites have a very personal relationship with their local trains. Go to Tokyu hands and check out the miniatures and stuff. I mean, they have models of trains and train stations that most people have never heard of.

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Comment by -Paul
2008-05-27 06:21:27

I remember the story of the guy who the train police beat up n Australia.. from memory he even had a correct ticket, he just refused to give his full name, date of birth etc etc all the private stuff that you may not want to tell complete strangers.. so they decided to strong arm him… UFB… Japan sure is convenient.

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Comment by Leo
2008-05-27 10:02:15

In Vancouver, the Transit Authority (public transit police) likes to taser uncooperative fare evaders. It’s just awesome!

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Comment by Kezia
2008-05-28 19:56:03

That’s another great things in Japan. I know that this country is so admirable even I’ve never been there.

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Comment by R.O.
2008-06-04 04:31:39

Japan is probably the most convenient nation besides Korea and Thailand. You can get anything you want quite easily.

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Pingback by Japan Is Convenient | Neil Duckett
2008-06-19 06:24:42

[...] go the hard sell for a new pair of glasses. In Japan it’s free, that’s what i call another example of Japan being [...]

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Comment by Philippe
2008-07-01 23:41:14

Well…hahaha…I live in Yellowknife, NorthWest Territories in Canada…we barely have buses here and the price is about 2,50$ where ever you go! And its an isolated area. Fare adjustment is not a concern…But i love the system in Japan very smart people i have to say!

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