Train fans the world over are an easy target, and Japan’s teeming mass of locomotive lovers are certainly no different, although taunts aside, such residents of Tokyo in particular are lucky enough to live in what almost amounts to a train utopia. And, regardless of whether it’s an early rise for some serious sightseeing,
or a spot of shopping,
these carriage connoisseurs can also be predictably punctual with a train-themed timepiece.
Which, if being based on different train lines wasn’t brilliant enough, also boasts numerous station ‘jingles’, meaning one can still be at the station while still in bed — sort of.
This YouTube clip amply demonstrating what fabulous ditties the rest of us are disdainfully missing out on.
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Hey I saw that clock for sale in Tokyo Hands – I couldn’t help but stand in the middle of the shop laughing my arse off when I realized it was playing all the station tunes. I’m sure I seemed just like another weird gaijin to the Japanese!
is something wrong with the video? i only saw characters… no video. I figured I’d see trains or tracks?
Nothing wrong with the video – the characters are describing the tune being played (probably what train is arriving, what line, what station, etc.), while the audio plays the tune.
I have to say that early in the morning, perhaps slightly hung over like the rest of the salary men, a nice tune versus the usual “ding ding” or “buzzzzzzzz” of trains from where I come from, is pretty nice.
now i get it. i had my speakers off so i didnt hear the audio! that’s pretty hardcore.
Oh wow! That is like new age trains going on… Perfect for dozing off at the station and losing your train though
WOW! Some of those jingles instantly teleported me back to the past, invoking memories of evenings in Tokyo, lashed on booze and stumbling on to the first train of the day for home…..
….Hang on a tick! That’s what I STILL do every weekend!!!! Thought the music sounded familiar!
I have to admit, one day while checking out Tokyu Hands, I bought a keychain with a miniature of my local train station sign attached.
Not to sound like a complete otaku (can’t help it, afterall), but these little ditties remind me of the sound-clips you hear during an anime commercial bumper. Some of these I swear I’ve heard before… and I’ve never been to Tokyo.
hey! i will visit tokyo next month, where can i find this train fan shop or other!?
thanks!
You can find them in most big electronics shop e_van. This was in Bic Camera.
Thanks!!