Today any modern multi-million urban conglomerate is unimaginable without the metro (underground, subway). Underground is the most convenient and fastest means of public transport. Over the last century there were created well developed underground metro systems in most megapolises of the world. And Japanese capital Tokyo was no exception.

Tokyo Underground Railway Company was established on August 29, 1920; and it had begun building the first section of Tokyo underground in late September 1925. Tokyo Metro was launched and became operational in December 1927, when a tunnel of just over two kilometers long tied together two stations: Ueno and Asakusa. Thus, Japan became the first Asian country that had launched metro.

The length of today lines of Tokyo metro is the third in the world with London and New York having the lead. Nowadays Tokyo Metro has 13 lines. Many people, especially foreigners, believe that the scheme of Tokyo subway is too complicated and it is easy to get confused.

Rapid development of Tokyo metro system was stipulated by applying the principle of "reasonable cost” during construction. This resulted in that many subway lines are connected to the ground railways. In addition, due to the fact that construction was carried out right from the surface and directly in places where the roads were running (which was associated with reluctance "to disturb" the foundations of nearby houses), most of the subway stations are not deep under the surface. And upon completion of construction, the tunnels had been covered by steel sheets which subsequently were used as roadway by ground transport. Therefore, in case of an accident or any emergency situation it is very easy to get quickly to the place - just to remove the steel sheets.

Tokyo metro holds the first place in terms of annual passenger traffic in the world. During the morning rush hours Tokyo metro system carries unbelievably huge number of passengers. According to various sources daily morning passenger traffic is about 6-8 million people. Shinjuku Station has tremendous passenger load: about two million passengers a day, while being the largest in terms of number of passengers and the second largest station in terms of size and capacity in the world. It should also be noted that the transition passways from one line to another are combined with a string of shopping malls, restaurants and cafes. For example, at Shibuya station the trains stop on the fourth floor of a big shopping mall.

There are not only beautiful passages when changing lines in Tokyo underground, but almost everything is very convenient and, as they say, "Designed for passengers". Announcements of stations and metro schemes are required to be spoken and written in two languages ​​- Japanese and English. If you are going to change the line, then the schemes for sure will show you the cars that are the closest thing to go to another line. Each car has an electronic indicator board with "human intuitive interface", so to know Japanese is not at all necessary.

http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/pdf/routemap_en.pdf - Map of Tokyo Metro in English (pdf format).

http://www.tokyometro.jp – Tokyo Metro official website.