Riding the Train in Japan: Erik's Guide to Japan

by Erik Curre

The Japanese rail system is one of the modern wonders of the world. Trains connect every major city (and most minor ones) in Japan, and if you are visiting the country soon, chances are good you will end up riding one. Unfortunately, the sheer scope and size of the train network often makes it very confusing for first time visitors to get around.

What better way to learn about Japan than getting advice from someone who lives there? Author Erik Curre is a long-time Tokyo resident and veteran rider of the Tokyo trains. In this short guide he shares with the reader all the bits of wisdom he has accumulated from years of daily commuting through some of the world's busiest train stations. Navigate the Japanese rail system in confidence after learning about the following subjects:

1. How to deal with crowds
2. How to use a ticket machine
3. How to buy a train pass
4. Navigating through train stations
5. What to do upon arriving at Narita Airport
6. Tips & tricks for effective riding
7. Survival words & phrases for when you need to ask for help

Read this guide as an essential part of your trip preparation, and be in the know before you go!

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2011

About the author

Erik Curre was born and raised in the scenic Pacific Northwest near Seattle, Washington. Influenced by a boy's love of video games and the presence of industry giant Microsoft, he studied computer programming from an early age, spending many hours sifting through the local library. This led naturally to a love of reading and writing.

Erik graduated from the University of Washington in 2003 with a B.S. in computer science and a minor in mathematics. Freed from the grind of higher education, he promptly moved to Japan and got a low pressure job teaching English to the masses. While there he fell in love with a beautiful girl named Ayumi and married her.

After several years of teaching, Erik's natural inclination toward computers reasserted itself. In 2010 he became a software engineer for a large global investment bank. Around this time he began to experiment with writing e-books, drawing upon his experiences in Japan for inspiration.

In 2011, Erik published his first work Riding the Train in Japan for Amazon Kindle. This was followed up by Japan Quake - Surviving the 9.0, which recounts his experience of living through the Great East Japan Earthquake. Eager to avoid being pigeonholed as a "Japan author", Erik then branched out into the realm of the supernatural with Cascade Spirit, a fictional tale of a haunting set in the mountains where he often went camping as a boy.

Mr. Curre still lives in Tokyo with his loving wife and daughter to this very day. All his books are available on the Amazon Kindle store.

Reviews

[Kellye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful information

I appreciate the time the author spent, particularly on things that might trip up a visitor, like types of ticket machines, types of trains and the handy vocabulary guide, including pronunciation of Japanese words that would be helpful to know.

[Gerald Kinro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information. It is a bit dated, however, since it was written 7 years ago. Buying tickets got a lot more user friendly. Also, coming into to town from Narita has the Keisei Line option.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handy.

[Estela Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book to help with a trip to Japan with my daughter and her family. It was helpful to navigate the Japanese train system.