A quick visual overview: Osaka vs. New York City

There’s no question that New York City  has far more lines and might evn be better compared with Tokyo, but even factoring in PATH, Metro North, etc. ,NYC doesn’t have anywhere near the mix of public and private lines that Tokyo does.  I’ve travelled in Tokyo, I find it far easier than NYC

What Osaka has going for it is clarity. If there’s a stop, the train stops. End of story. None of this, it’s a cold Wednesday and there’s a squiggly at the stop name so we’re going to go express.

Not to mention the PA systems actually work in the Osaka trains so you can tell if, for some reason, a stop was going to be skipped.   No, I didn’t miss my stop, I scooted out the door in time at Union Square so that I wouldn’t have to backtrack from Canal to Astor Place, but I can see how easily it would happen.

Signage is a very good thing.

That said, the NYC system has some definite pluses: the fact that you can get almost anywhere at any time and it’s convenient. Rarely have to walk more than a block or two in Manhattan before you stumble across a line or fiv, but I think there’s a lot of room for improvement.

*And yes, I mean the train, not the restaurant. A similar analysis could apply though, I miss Subway Japan’s free tote bags

Overall an interesting article, which asks an interesting question:

If this many people will show up in New York with little prodding, imagine how many would come if the city actively encourages them.

That left me wondering about the amount of prodding that a destination such as New York City requires. It’s not a destination that you have to explain a lot about: people know New York. Based on what they know, they make a decision as to whether it’s a place that fits their needs and wants. Can you convince someone who’s more interested in a rural village or a ski holiday that New York is the place to spend their time and money? Probably not. However trying to catch those who are considering NY is where this increase could possibly come about.

It’s interesting that the article mentions the perception of cost. I think that’s a problem that plagues many international cities: Tokyo and London for two. NYC is now in a similar situation as Tokyo in that neither city is as expensive as they used to be. It’s also likely that they were never as expensive as they were perceived. When I lived in Japan people would gasp about how expensive they heard it was–but a lot of that was based on the exchange rates of old and the stories of the hundred dollar melon. Sure, they exist, as does the hundred dollar fish, but they’re the exception rather than the rule. I tell people all the time, you can eat gourmet foods or you can eat like the locals. A destination is only as expensive as you make it. So while yes, things in NYC cost more than they would in a smaller town (aka dinner for 11 for $218 including tip in Gettysburg), I think they’re comparable to other large cities.

I knew there was a reason I waited so long to discuss that article, because it fits so well with this one!

ONE reason people visit New York is to catch a glimpse of things they’d never see in the average American city.

No debate or disagreement from me on that one. NYC is, hands down, the number one place for people watching. Osaka is great too because of the strange sights (yes, Santa in fishnets!), but NYC has such an odd mix that makes it all the more intriguing.

But then again, it’s home and I’m biased.