Can I go with a stroller? Tokyo Station December 12, 16:43
Is it annoying to use a train or bus in a stroller?
When I interviewed about this theme before, there was a great response.
News Up Are strollers annoying on the bus? (Released July 30, 2019)
This time, we looked at the stations in Tokyo's 23 wards to see how many stations can be used with strollers by using elevators, etc., rather than “heart problems”. When I interviewed railway companies and subway companies, most of them were available. However, when I actually went to the site ... There were difficulties beyond imagination.
(Network reporter reporters Momoko Ariyoshi, Aya Noda, Naoko Okubo)
First I asked the business
We interviewed three of us in charge of the special site “Do not worry alone”. I use a stroller on a daily basis, but there are many things that don't go as expected.
So, this time, I decided to investigate how much hardware has been developed.
Next year, we interviewed railway and subway operators to see how far barrier-free is progressing in Tokyo, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games are ahead.
“8/309”
The main station in Tokyo's 23 wards is 309.
Of these, there were 8 stations where there were no elevators or slopes, and even if there were stairs on the way.
<No elevator or slope (even if there are stairs on the way)>
JR: Shin-Okubo Station Nakano Station Keikyu Line: Sengakuji Station Tobu Isesaki Line: Horikiri Station Tokyo Monorail: Maintenance Station Station Showajima Station Tenkubashi Station New Maintenance Station Station
“16/179”
There are elevators at all 179 stations of Tokyo Metro, but there are 16 stations where you have to use stairs etc. while going back and forth from the ground.
<Use of stairs during round trip to the ground (Tokyo Metro)>
Ginza Line: Asakusa Station Inaricho Station Ueno Hirokoji Station Suehirocho Station Toranomon Station Aoyama 1-Chome Station Marunouchi Line: Otemachi Station Awajicho Station Hibiya Line: Nakaokachicho Station Kayabacho Station Tozai Line: Takebashi Station Nakano Station Kayabacho Station Hanzomon Line: Nagatacho Station Yurakucho Line: Ginza 1-Chome Station
“2/119”
Of the 106 Toei Subway Stations and 13 Nippori Toneri Liner Stations, there were two Toei Subway Stations without elevators.
<No elevator (Toei Subway / Nippori Liner Liner)>
Toei Subway: Takanawadai Station Sengakuji Station
It seems that barrier-free is more advanced than I expected.
However, when I asked a business operator, “I can use it for the time being…” the answer is crisp. When I listened to it, I heard that there is actually a station that has an elevator but is difficult to use.
You can imagine that the huge terminal stations at Shinjuku Station and Shibuya Station will be quite difficult. However, there should be a lot of places that are unexpectedly difficult to use at other stations. I decided to go to the site and check.
Although it is a subway, go to the ground! ?
“Adult town”, Roppongi.
Recently, there is a large commercial facility, and you can often see parents with children.
Roppongi Station is a transfer station for the subway Hibiya Line and Toei Oedo Line. The number of passengers a day is about 140,000 on the Hibiya Line and about 100,000 on the Oedo Line.
Bringing your own stroller to make it easy to use.
We decided to transfer from the Hibiya line to the Oedo line. Get off at the Hibiya Line platform and go to the ticket gate in the direction of the Oedo Line. I can't find the elevator.
To change to the Oedo Line, the shortest distance is from the ticket gate near Kamiyacho, but the elevator can only be reached at the ticket gate near Hiroo.
Somehow, I went out of the ticket gate from Hiroo, but it seems that there is no choice but to go to the ground to change to the Oedo Line. Exit the station and use the Roppongi Hills elevator to get to the ground.
Walk through the busy street in the direction of Tokyo Midtown.
Although we interviewed in November, the maximum temperature of the day was around 24 degrees. I was sweating a little while walking.
When we arrived at Midtown, there was an elevator leading to the Oedo Line. When I arrived at the platform by transferring two elevators, it took about 18 minutes.
I tried changing without a stroller. The time required is about 5 and a half minutes. If you use this shortest route through the basement, you will need to fold and lift the stroller on escalators and stairs, but if it was raining, I felt it might be better than going to the ground with an elevator .
Watch out for transfer times!
How about changing between the subway and JR?
I went to Ochanomizu Station (Shin Ochanomizu Station) where I can transfer JR Chuo Line, Chuo-Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Chiyoda Line.
We switched from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line to JR Chuo Line. From the Chiyoda Line platform on the 5th basement floor, take a lift to the 1st basement floor. Go out the ticket gate, go up the slope, and move to the ground floor by the elevator in the building adjacent to the station. When you leave the building, you will see the “St. Hashiguchi” of JR Ochanomizu Station in front of you.
However, when entering from this ticket gate, you have to go down two steps: a short staircase and a long staircase that goes down to the platform. If you hold a child in a strap, fold it in a stroller, and have a larger baby bag, there is a risk of tripping over the stairs.
I decided to move to "Ochanomizu Bridge" where there is an elevator. Walk 130 meters on the public road and arrive. I entered the ticket gate, proceeded further, got on the elevator and reached the Chuo Line platform.
The time required so far is approximately 9 minutes.
If you enter from the St. Hashiguchi Gate, it only takes about 4 minutes.
If you search on the transfer information site, the transfer time is 7 minutes. Even if you search in advance, you will not be able to get on the planned train.
You might be told that strollers are the norm, but I knew that even if it wasn't that big station, I had to leave the house with enough time to transfer.
It ’s like a “maze”
It's not just time.
A station with multiple routes is a maze because the route is too complex.
Akihabara Station where JR Yamanote Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tsukuba Express are on board.
It is one of the “gateways” that connects the city center with the rest of the Kanto region.
First of all, I checked the “Inside Map” of JR Akihabara Station.
"Mu ... difficult"
It may be because we are not familiar with railways and are not good at maps, but it was impossible to immediately understand which elevators to take because there are multiple lines running vertically and horizontally.
The next thing we saw was the “Floor Guide”.
As you can see, the first floor is the ticket gate, the second floor is the home of the Keihin Tohoku Line and the Yamanote Line, the third floor is the home of the Sobu Line, and the transfer route between the Hibiya and JR lines is also a star. arrived.
If you are transferring from the Hibiya Line, take the elevator twice from the platform and go up to the ground, and you will be in front of the “Showa Dori Gate” at JR Akihabara Station.
To get to the JR Keihin Tohoku Line platform on the second floor, go down the Sobu Line on the third floor, then go down to the first floor, and then take the elevator. After all, to go from Hibiya Line home to Keihin Tohoku Line home, it was decided to transfer the elevator five times.
If you enter from another ticket gate (“Central ticket gate” or “Electric Town ticket gate”), you can go directly to the platform on the Keihin Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line by elevator, but if you change from the Hibiya Line, it will be a detour.
We interviewed us while avoiding commuting and attending school hours, but if this was a busy day, I felt it was quite difficult.
I asked Tokyo Metro
Can use, but difficult to use.
I asked the person in charge of Tokyo Metro why.
The first time an elevator was installed at a Tokyo Metro station when the Namboku Line opened in 1991. As a result, the existing stations have been improved, and more recently, barrier-free has been promoted for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Even so, the reason why it is not possible to proceed at a stretch is that it is difficult to secure land on the ground that will be the entrance to the elevator.
Mr. Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tokyo Metro “We need to check and negotiate with each other who knows where to go when we dig up the ground from the basement to the ground, and who owns the land. The renovation cannot proceed with just the will of the company. "
Even in such a situation, it means that the route is being refurbished to improve convenience.
Even at Roppongi Station, where we took 18 minutes to transfer, a new elevator is being installed next to the Roppongi Station intersection in the middle of the route.
Mr. Takahiro Yamaguchi, Tokyo Metro “As usage changes with the times, we are making efforts to improve according to customer needs, taking into account customer opinions and surrounding environment.”
Tokyo Metro launched a site called “Baby Metro” last March. This site provides information such as the floor plan that shows the location of the slope, etc. for each station used, whether it is possible to move from the ground to the platform using only an elevator without using stairs, and where the boarding location is convenient for transfer. It is.
You can also find information on whether there is a bench at the home and whether there is a toilet where you can change diapers.
This site is a service developed by employees who are actually raising children.
JR is ...
I also asked JR. According to the JR East Tokyo Branch, there is a situation where Ochanomizu Station is not barrier-free.
The reason is its “location”.
Ochanomizu Station is sandwiched between St. Bridge and Ochanomizu Bridge on the east and west, and on the north and south between Tokei-dori and Kanda River. It seems that it is difficult and time-consuming to secure work space. It is also necessary to dispose of objects buried in the ground, and it seems that the construction is rushing toward 2023.
As for Akihabara Station, the concourse, Keihin Tohoku Line, and Sobu Line overlap, and it is an unusual “three-layer structure” station, so it is difficult to construct an elevator structurally.
JR East Tokyo branch office person in charge "There are restrictions at each station and it is difficult to proceed all at the same time, but we will continue to make barrier-free"
JR tells us that if you are in trouble, feel free to consult with the ticket gate or the intercom beside the escalator.
In addition to helping the station staff move, if the wheelchair or stroller is of a compatible type, it can be used by switching the escalator steps.
JR also publishes information on barrier-free facilities on its website, and calls on them to use it when moving.
JR East homepage
https://www.jreast.co.jp/setsubi/
Easy going out net
https://www.ecomo-rakuraku.jp/en
(* Leave NHK site)
Please tell us your experience
During child-rearing, we move with a baby stroller and luggage, so we want to make the burden as light as possible. Hardware maintenance requires time, effort, and money, so it cannot be handled immediately. For the time being, it seems that we users need to investigate the travel route in advance.
To that end, it would be nice if there was an easy-to-understand floor plan and guidance at the station. I hope it will become a convenient world little by little.
NHK's special website “Do not worry alone” raises questions and issues related to the use of strollers.
The site has a dedicated submission form.
We look forward to your experiences and information.