One of the first things to know about the Chuo Line is that there is more than one—and the difference can be pretty important.

The Chuo Main Line operates between all the way from Tokyo to Nagoya, although no single train completes the full journey. The entire route is 424 km and the most relevant section here is the Tokyo-Mitaka section, which is much shorter and is one of the best-connected lines in the city, although it also continues on to Tachikawa and Takao if you catch special services.

The services operated between Ochanomizu and Mitaka are divided between a rapid service (Kaisoku) and local (futsu)—and this is the most important factor to consider. While local trains stop at every station, the rapid service only stops at certain ones, with commuter trains on the rapid line being even more selective.

Lastly, there is the Chuo-Sobu Line, which runs on separate tracks alongside the Chuo Line, from Chiba to Mitaka. It stops at some of the same stations but also additional spots like Akihabara and Ryogoku and is better if you're planning to live a little further out of the city, but we won't be focusing on this route in this article. 

1. The rapid service

If you're looking to commute and want to minimise the time to and fro (and who doesn't), then the rapid service is a great perk. But keep in mind that while it can cut your travel time it can also hike up your rent.

In 1933, the main route was expanded and two tracks were added between Ochanomizu and Iidamachi stations to allow express trains to begin running, initially only stopping at Yotsuya and Shinjuku. The express service became the rapid train in 1961, called kaisoku in Japanese and identified by its orange colour, as the slow trains—called futsu—are yellow. 

Today, the rapid service has different levels: rapid, commuter rapid, Chuo special rapid and the commuter special rapid, which only stops at five of the stations. It is the only train line to cut through the Yamanote circle and is 53km long, taking you farther than the main line as it continues past Mitaka to Tachikawa and on to Takao.

2. Chuo connections

With a direct line to Shinjuku Station alone, this is one of the best lines to have for connections, and when you add Tokyo Station to the mix it just gets better. Shinjuku has the Yamanote, Odakyu, Shonan-Shinjuku, Keio, Toei-Shinjuku, Toei-Oedo and Seibu-Shinjuku Lines so you'll never be far from a transfer (although finding your way to it is a whole other matter). Tokyo Station gives you additional connections to the Shinkansen lines as well as the Yokosuka, Tokaido and Sobu lines. For Metro access you can head to Kanda for the Ginza, Nakano for the Tozai or Shinjuku, Ogikubo or Tokyo for the Marunouchi Line. The Inokashira Line goes from Kichijoji, the Yokohama Line from Hachioji Musashino line from Nishi-Kokubuniji, and that's not even all of them. There aren't many places you can't get to from the Chuo line!

3. The locations

Anyone wanting to live centrally will have a wealth of choices along the Chuo Line, as well as a few more spots that have a quieter charm to them.

Koenji is becoming one of the trendiest places to set up home for younger residents, with plenty of bars and nightlife to experience. Spots like Kichijoji and Mitaka are a little greener and family-orientated, while Yoyogi, Yotsuya and Shinjuku are best for high-flying apartments and busy lifestyles (and higher price tags). 

4. Sightseeing spots along the Chuo Line

So while you may have done most of the sightseeing already, it's always handy to be able to send visitors and guests off to explore with an easy start. The train system in Tokyo is certainly confusing, and having so many sights connected directly can be a real blessing for people looking to find their feet while seeing some sights.

Shinjuku holds many a spot to explore, and Meiji Shrine at Yoyogi Station is one of the top sights in the city. The Imperial Palace near Tokyo Station and the controversial Yasukuni Shrine are all within easy reach for anyone wanting to see Tokyo's culture.

5. Women's carriages and green cars

Sometimes it's the little things in life that make the difference, and on the Chuo Line these will make your daily commute much nicer indeed.

To start with, in 2005 women-only cars were introduced which means women can travel at rush hour in private carriages. This means less crushing, less groping and generally a more pleasant journey, so if you're female, this can mean commuting is a much nicer experience overall, even if the men's rights groups hate them.

There are plans to introduce green cars by 2021 — with two double-tier carriages being added to each ten-car train. Stations will need to be lengthened, but the plans are in place to begin the work. green cars are the first class of the Japanese train line and are usually only found on Limited Express or Bullet trains, but are slowly being added to commuter trains where demand is high. They offer guaranteed seats, smoking areas, top-deck views and legroom — perfect to make your long commute a pleasant experience. 

6. The downsides

 Nowhere is perfect, and no train line comes without its faults, so keep in mind that what can make a train line great can also mean it will be more popular too. 

Rush-hour capacity

Being that it's so great for commuters, the Chuo Line can get more than a little busy during morning and evening travel times. The capacity is measured in percentages, with 100% capacity meaning you have no problem finding your own space and 250% reflecting the absolute crush requiring the infamous train-pushers and their white gloves. The Chuo Line (rapid) reaches approximately 194% making it the 4th most crowded train in Tokyo when measured on journeys from Nakano to Shinjuku. 

Suicide rates

Attributed to the speed of the rapid trains passing along the Chuo Line, it has one of the highest suicide rates of any of the train lines in Tokyo, often nicknamed the Suicide Train. There are some small signs of this, like mirrors installed in an idea-grab from Korea thought to dissuade those about to jump from platforms, but no barriers as of yet. This can mean two things for your travelling: the chance of seeing something happen, and the delays. While the teams that deal with the incident aftermaths are efficient, there are often delays, and the term jinshin jiko (human accident) will be a phrase you soon become familiar with. 

By Lily Crossley-Baxter

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