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TRAIN The train/subway system is pretty amazing here. We've discovered that there is a whole new meaning to the term "on time" here in Japan. It means that the trains arrive when they say they are supposed to! Brilliant! 
The above pictures were taken at the station where we catch the train, Shukugawa. So far, we've noticed that there is approximately a 95% chance that the train will stop EXACTLY where the white lines say the doors will be. Guess there's room for improvement!
Below is the always busy Hankyu-Umeda Station in Osaka. Here you can access many other trains, subways and buses for the Osaka area. This is just one section of the station. There are many shopping complexes in the station both above ground and below ground. 
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BIKE If you don't have a bike, you'd better have really good walking shoes. Everything is pretty cramped but it still takes a while to walk if you don't have any form of quick transportation. Thank goodness for the free recycling depot where we picked up two bikes. Saved us money, time and blisters! Bikes Everywhere! 
This is one of maybe 3 or 4 parking areas for bikes around our train station. This lot goes for maybe a hundred yards or more along Shukugawa River. Each train station has a few lots designated for bikes, and finding an open space can be pretty tricky sometimes! 
We'll give you two guesses to figure out which bikes are ours! Finding our bikes after work became so difficult at times that we decided to make them easier to spot. |
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BUS The bus is another way to save energy but it takes a little longer than biking. You can go pretty much anywhere you need to go using public transportation. 
TAXI Taxis are an expensive but convenient alternative. We've done one taxi so far. It was so cool... the doors automatically open and close! The driver was pretty easy going with us in trying to figure out where we wanted to go, us knowing no Japanese and he knowing no English! 
There are usually several taxis waiting at the train station. 
They even park just around the corner from our apartment, waiting for any customers. |
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