Crowds do exist in Japan, especially in the major cities. While this may be a culture shock in itself when you visit Japan, unless you see rush hour in motion, you won’t get the full picture of how crowded it really can be at times. At other times and places, Japan can be as quiet and empty as any other place.
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The most crowding you’ll see is in Tokyo at rush hour on the trains. They actually hire people who wear uniforms of long blue coats and white gloves that wait until it is almost time for each train to leave. They then start pushing all the people inside the train so the doors will close completely. The passengers are shoved in tightly like sardines.
Other crowded areas are wherever festivals are taking place. During the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, all the parks are packed with picnickers sitting on the grass enjoying their meals beneath the beautiful blossoms.
Certain parts of cities are very crowded in the evenings as people enjoy the lively nightlife. Shibuya, one of the most popular areas in Tokyo, is often very crowded as people flock there for shopping and entertainment. On hot days, pools are so crowded it is hard to see the water. Even cemeteries are crowded, with monuments packed shoulder to shoulder.
Even with the crowds, Japan’s cities work like clockwork. Twenty-four hours a day, everything flows smoothly. The 
inhabitants know what they need to do to keep the pace, and everyone fits this fast pace into their lives. Rural areas are less crowded, but there are fewer opportunities to make a good living. They don’t have access to the luxuries of city living, but they do have more space per person.
