can someone please advise on best practice on train travel in tokyo?

im travelling to tokyo this summer with my wife but am worried about the mistreatment of women on the trains and straying hands etc etc...any advice on travelling would be greatly appreciated. many thanks in advance, sam.

Nobody will touch your wife while you are with her. Those guys aren't going to invite trouble with foreign males, there is plenty of easier prey. If they had enough guts for a confrontation they just wouldn't be what they are.

Its really not that bad.
As long as you have a guy near you, people won't bother you. Its like a safety thing.
Just tell her to sit if she can. and if she's standing, try to have to butt to the wall and her bag in front of her so no one can touch her. and then you can stand in front her of.

The prime target for this type of harrassment are young, unaccompanied girls, and it only happens on a packed train, where it's hard to spot a wandering hand. Your wife doesn't have to worry when you're with her, if she's in her mid-30s or older, or when the train is not crowded.

Try to avoid trains during rush hour, though - riding them is not a pleasant experience.

I travel alone on trains in Tokyo every day, and sometimes late at night. I have NEVER had a problem with men who can't behave. It's probably one of the safest cities in the world, and the Japanese are mostly very disciplined and polite.

If you buy train tickets and don't know the price of your destination, always just buy the cheapest option. When you reach your destination you can go to a fair adjustment machine which will update your ticket before you exit through the gates. They are yellow. The trains are punctual, clean and generally easy to use.

The trouble with jampacked trains and thus extreme body contact occurs during rush hours. Thus, the best solution would be to avoid those hours. That would be around 8am - 9am in the morning and 5pm - 7pm at night. If you can schedule your itenerary to ride the trains after those times then you would be playing it safe.

Also, since it is easier to press to a woman from behind, have yourself positioned at the back of your wife. This also gives you a good view of what's happening infront.

Have your train and subway map with you. Sometimes, it is possible to avoid crowded trains by using an alterway subway route and vice versa.

The troubles in train riding actually has been bloated. I've rode trains in Tokyo for years and although troubles do occur, they are more of isolated cases rather than a frequent thing.

Hope you and your wife enjoy your stay in Tokyo.

I have been living in Tokyo for over 5 years and Ive never had a problem on the trains.

However, during rush hours on certain trains there will be extreme body contact which no one can help. Keep your arms straight down with your belongings in front of your knees, otherwise you may find your hand stuck in a precarious position (it happened to me once, I learned quickly)! You will find that during these times, people build a mental "wall" around them to cope.

Its very safe. Enjoy your trip!