Even during rush hours, the fully packed trains remain unfamiliarly quiet. People sleep, read, communicate in hushed tones, or play pointless games on their smartphones. Talking, eating, or the sounds of a ringing phone are not just unpleasant for other passengers—they are perceived as rude.

The exception is the trains to and from Shibuya Station in the evening. At these times, young people and Westerners crowd the trains, challenging the unwritten rules of Japan's strict society.