No need to go into extensive description of the transportation networks in Tokyo. Yes, it can be daunting at first to navigate (Tokyo has about a dozen different companies operating the various train, subway, and bus lines), but since everything is highly organized, incredibly efficient and ALWAYS on time, one can very quickly get the hang of it. While walking through the city, it's impossible to escape the sight of railroad tracks and highways elevated on multiple levels, coming in front of one building and disappearing behind another. Train and subway seem to be the primary mode of transport, along with bicycles and walking of course. In fact, I was struck by the lack of cars on the roads, or I should say, by the volume of cars. Experiencing many traffic jams in big European (Athens, oh boy!) or American cities (last time on Park Avenue in Manhattan, what a nightmare!), I expected similar conditions in Tokyo. But angry honking drivers and traffic moving at a snail's pace does not seem to exist in Tokyo. Perhaps it is the efficiency and reliability of the public transportation that does not force people into driving (or even owning) a car, or perhaps I just wasn't at the right place at the rush time... but so far; it seems to be the former.
