I recently moved to the Osaka area and found out the hard way the trains all stop at or around midnight (12:00 am/ 00:00). What’s the most efficient/ cost effective method of transportation late at night? or is it wise to simply not be out late?
There is basically no cost effective method. Taxis start expensive during the day, and then get *more* expensive at night because they’re the only option.
Young people and/or people without money generally either go home on the last train or stay out all night and go home on the first train.
Taxis are safe and readily available, but not cheap. I luckily live pretty close to some places I like to go out, so I can dodge having to worry about the trains or busses.
The best course of action is to go home. Most people burn out by 1 am anyway, and those 4 hours until first train are absolutely excruciating. Leave while you’re still having fun, get some sleep in your own bed.
Once the trains stop you’re mainly depending on taxis. Of course with higher rates. Depending on where you’re going back to it can be quite expensive. I have seen people negotiate a flat-rate though…a former boss of mine offered a driver 10,000 man to take me home, where I knew from experience the actual fare would be 15,000.
If you have a drivers license and weren’t drinking, you can utilize car share to get you home. You’ll have to return the car in the morning, but it’s cheaper overall than a taxi, and you do get to sleep in your bed.
Otherwise you’re going to have to find places to kill time. There are some late/24-hour izakaya, then internet cafes, and karaoke.
Car or bicycle.
* Catch the last train. * Miss the last train, funnily enough in an area that happens to be replete with love hotels. * Taxi. * Get an OL to ask the CEO if it’s ok to use his car and driver. * Strategically secrete bicycles around town. * Take the long walk. * Ask a koban cop to call a patrol car to give you a ride home. Make sure you have your zairyu card. * Abide. 7-11, Lawson, Daily Kamikaze, etc sell fresh underpants, socks, and toothbrushes. You’ll need to stash a fresh shirt in your drawers at the office yourself.
Bicycle.
Taxi, walking, bicycle, electric scooter (from July)… the latter two without alcohol.
Alternatively, find a capsule hotel or net cafe and hang out/sleep until the first train home.
Find a good bar that let you drink and stay until first train in the morning!!
7 comments
There is basically no cost effective method. Taxis start expensive during the day, and then get *more* expensive at night because they’re the only option.
Young people and/or people without money generally either go home on the last train or stay out all night and go home on the first train.
Taxis are safe and readily available, but not cheap. I luckily live pretty close to some places I like to go out, so I can dodge having to worry about the trains or busses.
The best course of action is to go home. Most people burn out by 1 am anyway, and those 4 hours until first train are absolutely excruciating. Leave while you’re still having fun, get some sleep in your own bed.
Once the trains stop you’re mainly depending on taxis. Of course with higher rates. Depending on where you’re going back to it can be quite expensive. I have seen people negotiate a flat-rate though…a former boss of mine offered a driver 10,000 man to take me home, where I knew from experience the actual fare would be 15,000.
If you have a drivers license and weren’t drinking, you can utilize car share to get you home. You’ll have to return the car in the morning, but it’s cheaper overall than a taxi, and you do get to sleep in your bed.
Otherwise you’re going to have to find places to kill time. There are some late/24-hour izakaya, then internet cafes, and karaoke.
Car or bicycle.
* Catch the last train.
* Miss the last train, funnily enough in an area that happens to be replete with love hotels.
* Taxi.
* Get an OL to ask the CEO if it’s ok to use his car and driver.
* Strategically secrete bicycles around town.
* Take the long walk.
* Ask a koban cop to call a patrol car to give you a ride home. Make sure you have your zairyu card.
* Abide. 7-11, Lawson, Daily Kamikaze, etc sell fresh underpants, socks, and toothbrushes. You’ll need to stash a fresh shirt in your drawers at the office yourself.
Bicycle.
Taxi, walking, bicycle, electric scooter (from July)… the latter two without alcohol.
Alternatively, find a capsule hotel or net cafe and hang out/sleep until the first train home.
Find a good bar that let you drink and stay until first train in the morning!!