The 5 Worst Parts of Tokyo, According to Your Taxi Driver | ④ Chiyoda
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CONTENTS
The heart of Japan is really a terrifying place.
One of Tokyo’s Top 3 Areas
Here’s a little taxi trivia for you! Among the taxi drivers of Tokyo, the city’s Chiyoda Ward, Chuo Ward, and Minato Ward are known as the Top 3 Areas (3高エリア in Japanese). Experienced drivers will tell you to stick to these parts of the city if you really want to keep your revenue up. But for all of you Tokyo experts, you might have noticed.
My last article was about Roppongi, which is in Minato Ward.
The one before that was about Ginza, which is in Chuo Ward.
And this time we’re discussing Chiyoda Ward.
Yep, that’s right, these Top 3 Areas are also on my list of the worst parts of Tokyo to be a taxi driver. The unfortunate truth is that the bulk of taxi passengers are found in some of the city’s busiest areas, and these frequent-flyer taxi passengers are likely to have high expectations for their drivers, making it especially stressful.
The Horrors of Chiyoda Ward
What makes Chiyoda so very scary? Let’s look at the major points of stress:
① Mornings Are Tense
Chiyoda is home to the head offices of many of Japan’s biggest companies, and office buildings line the streets. During rush hour, passengers are always in a rush, and everyone is on edge.
“Can’t you go any faster?” Even when driving at the speed limit, passengers won’t hesitate to pressure you, trying to get you to go faster and faster. Even seasoned drivers dread the anxiety-laden atmosphere of rush hour traffic. Some drivers just decide to step away from the stress entirely, passing potential customers by, and taking a break to eat a relaxing breakfast instead.
② There Are SO MANY Lanes!
All around Chiyoda Ward, it’s not uncommon to see streets with four or even five lanes. With all those lanes, what could possibly go wrong?
Unsuccessful lane changes cause accidents! Even aside from the physical danger, sometimes ending up in the wrong lane will literally send you speeding in the opposite direction of where you’re trying to go. Backtracking to fix that mistake is not only a waste of time, it can also run up the meter, which isn’t going to make your customer very happy.
③ Real Horror Stories
Once upon a time, in the early hours of the morning, in a land called Otemachi, a figure appeared from behind a building. The voice in my head whispered “There’s nobody in Otemachi past 2 am…” and I was ready to continue on my way, when the figure started frantically waving its hands. Could it be? Was this ghostly apparition some kind of scary spirit?
It was, in fact… a living, breathing person! The shock! I couldn’t help but ask “Excuse me sir, but do you always work this late at night?” And he answered me truthfully, “Yep. Well, it’s technically overtime… but I’ll be heading back to the office in the morning anyway. This is pretty normal for me.”
Perhaps the true horror story is the delayed reform of Japan’s work-life balance.
④ Near-Misses in the Dark
Another late-night saga from Chiyoda Ward comes courtesy of a customer who got in at Kita-no-maru Park, on the northern end of the Tokyo Imperial Palace grounds. Their destination was Takebashi – just a couple minutes away.
Late at night, long after (most of) the busy office workers had headed home for the night, the area was pitch-black and visibility was surprisingly low. Fortunately, we made it safely to our destination, and the passenger left the taxi and went on their merry way. A happy end for this dark and gloomy story. Or so I thought! I went into reverse to get back onto the road, and found myself a hair’s breadth from slamming into the Imperial Palace walls. For a moment, I think my heart stopped beating.
Chiyoda in Retrospect
Back when I was actively working as a taxi driver, I was really haunted by the pressure of anxious passengers and the frightening prospect of a car accident around every corner. I understood the struggles of earning a living in a whole new way. I felt it deep in my bones.
So these days, the new me who spends her days doing things like turning silly taxi stories into articles is still a bit of a surprise!
Next up is our fifth and final installment of “The 5 Worst Parts of Tokyo, According to Your Taxi Driver”! For all of you readers who live or work within the borders of Tokyo, are you (secretly, deep at the bottom of your heart) hoping your own neighborhood might be next? Even if your favorite Tokyo haunt doesn’t make it onto this particular list, you should know: for a taxi driver, anywhere in Tokyo is a new battleground! But to find out the final location on this list of terrible places to be a Taxi driver, you’ll just have to keep an eye out for my next article!
Tokyo Trivia: Did you know that the holy land of Japanese nerds and all things otaku culture, Akihabara, is also a part of Chiyoda Ward? Stop by for a dose of “Cool Japan,” and pick up some Gunpla kits while you’re at it.
Original Author: Marina Yokomizo
English Edition: Sophia Appelbaum
Details
NAME:Chiyoda Ward (千代田区)
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Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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