Tokyo subway line offers commuters free noodles for avoiding morning crush
If 3,000 commuters take an earlier train, they'll get free tempura and soba
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Commuters who use one of Tokyo’s most crowded subway lines outside morning peak hours are being rewarded with free noodles.
Tokyo Metro is offering commuters on the Tozai line, one of the network’s most crowded routes, free tempura and soba noodles for taking earlier trains to avoid the crush.
Around seven million people use Tokyo’s metro system each day and, of those, more than 1.65 million use the busy Tozai line, which literally means “east to west”.
The challenge runs from 21 January until 1 February.
If at least 2,000 commuters take an earlier train during the two weeks, they’ll get free tempura. If 2,500 do, they’ll get free soba noodles. And if 3,000 people take earlier trains to work they’ll get a bowl of free tempura and soba.
Takeshi Yamashita, a Tokyo Metro spokesman, told AFP: “This is our most congested line. We are always trying to ease the rush hour congestion.
“We hope this will encourage people to continue (taking early trains) to help ease the rush hour situation.”
The Tozai line, which runs through Tokyo’s busy Otemachi and Nihombashi business districts, has long tried various “challenges” to persuade commuters to use trains out of the busy peak hours.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments