What are priority seats and women-only cars, and do I have to obey them?
Trains have marked priority seats for elderly, disabled, pregnant and injured riders, and some run women-only cars at certain times.
Priority seats are intended to be used first by people who need them. Women-only cars are provided so that women can travel with greater peace of mind on crowded trains.
Why — five layers
Railway companies provide priority seats and, on some lines, operate women-only cars during crowded hours. The applicable times and cars are shown in station and onboard information.
Urban trains in Japan are often crowded, especially during commuting and school hours, so many people share a confined carriage. Consideration for others, such as giving a seat to someone who needs it, is therefore important. Priority seats and women-only cars are among the systems designed to make travel safer and more comfortable in this environment.
In Japan, consideration for others and the idea of not causing inconvenience are highly valued. On trains, giving seats to people who need them and acting thoughtfully toward others in the confined carriage are considered important.
International view
Priority seats exist in many countries, but how they are treated varies. In some places, passengers give them up when someone needs them; elsewhere, they are generally left empty. In Japan, ordinary passengers may sit there when the seats are free, but should give them up when someone in need arrives.
But not always
Some people who need priority seats have conditions that are not visible from their appearance. They may carry a maternity badge indicating pregnancy or a Help Mark showing that they need consideration or assistance for a reason that is difficult to see.
What to do
You may sit in a priority seat if it is free. Because someone may need it, however, other passengers might watch the area. Especially when the train is crowded, give up the seat promptly if someone needs it. For women-only cars, check the signs at the station and inside the train. Entering one by mistake may feel a little awkward.
Sources
- Railway operator priority-seat and women-only-car policies
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