Ekipedia highlights train station accessibility

Written by: Michael Keferl on July 18, 2008 at 2:12 am | In Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Technology & Gadget Trends | No Comments

During our Tokyo Trend Tours, one of the most inevitable questions that arises has to do with train stations. Specifically, “How do elderly and handicapped people get around in Tokyo?!”. It’s not exactly a secret that Tokyo’s train stations can be a bewildering maze of tunnels, escalators, gates, and hordes of people rushing around. It’s also true that very few elderly and handicapped individuals can be seen using public transport in these busy areas due to such hectic conditions.

Of course, Japan’s public transport systems all have easy access, but it’s often difficult to know where you’re going (despite the ubiquitous yellow lines to follow). To combat this problem, an online and mobile service called Ekipedia has been developed as a user-generated information source. Created by the Town Guidance Support Network NPO, Ekipedia clearly outlines the routes, elevators, toilets, changing rooms, and other useful facilities for 704 train stations throughout Japan.

With interactive maps and photos, users can easily know exactly where to go before they get to their destinations, and avoid the chaos that comes with trying to find the best (only?) accessible route. Information can be accessed via mobile phones for planning before arrival, but it can also be updated by users in the same way.

After all, unless they need it, most riders pay little attention to station accessibility, but users of the service are now adding their own insights and information to make the best service for them.

Tags: Accessibility, Aging Society, Ekipedia, Train Stations, Transportation
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends, Press coverage

Eki Tama and train station kiosk innovations

Written by: Rebecca Milner on June 30, 2008 at 11:58 pm | In Fashion & Lifestyle Trends | 5 Comments

Here is a surreal take on the fast food stand: Tamachi’s station’s new Eki Tama (“station egg”).

This minimal, spacey pod designed by Osaka based Graf and developed by Ecute serves up designer hotdogs and is, appearance-wise, light years away from your average station kiosk or coffee shop.

Tamachi is a relatively high-traffic station near Shinagawa where lots of medium-sized companies have their offices, and in addition to appealing to the local lunching crowd of office workers, the Eki Tama gives Tamachi station a unique talking point to the tune of, “hey since we have to go to Tamachi today for that meeting let’s get food at that egg thing we saw on TV.”

If you spend enough time going to various stations around Tokyo (or enough time watching TV shows that do this traveling for you) you’ll notice that most of them have their unique points. I am personally fond of the okonomiyaki filled taiyaki at Sasazuka station, the cold coffee in glass bottles from the Green Farm at Shibuya station, and often wonder if I’ll ever catch anyone using the umbrella vending machine at Suidobashi station.

Yotsuya Sanchome station recently made a name for itself by becoming the first vending point in Japan for the latest food craze, “Hole’d Baguettes.”

This Danish food innovation involves piercing a sandwich-sized chunk of baguette and filling in the hole with some variety of meat, cheese, etc. Hole’d Baguettes is planning to start a franchise this year, but until then, we’ll have to come up with an excuse to visit Yotsuya Sanchome.

Tags: food, Train Stations
Category: Fashion & Lifestyle Trends
Other categories: Technology & Gadget Trends, Marketing & Ad Trends, Press coverage