Do this now
Follow these steps in order.
- 01
Look for the priority-seat symbol and differently colored seats, usually near the end of a car.
- 02
Leave the seat open when people are standing who appear to need it.
- 03
If you sit there while the car is quiet, stay awake and ready to offer it without being prompted.
- 04
Offer with a simple gesture toward the seat; accept a polite refusal and do not insist.
- 05
Remember that pregnancy, illness and disability may not be visible.
- 06
If you need the seat, show a relevant badge if you use one or ask politely without disclosing private medical details.
- 07
Follow the operator’s current phone notice near priority seats, especially during crowded periods.
What to know
Who priority seats are intended for
Tokyo Metro identifies older passengers, disabled passengers, passengers with infants and expectant mothers. JNTO gives the same core principle across public transportation.
The list is not a visual test. Someone may need to sit because of pain, fatigue, balance, a heart condition or another non-obvious reason. A tourist should not decide that another passenger is ineligible based on appearance.
What to know
Can you sit there if you do not need priority?
JNTO advises that if you inadvertently sit in a priority seat, you should move or be prepared to offer it. On an uncrowded train, sitting there is not usually treated like occupying a legally reserved ticketed seat.
The responsibility is to remain observant. Do not fall asleep, spread bags across the area or focus so completely on a screen that a passenger who needs the seat must struggle to ask.
What to know
How to offer a seat
Stand, make brief eye contact if appropriate and gesture toward the open seat. “Douzo” means “please” or “go ahead” and is enough; fluent Japanese is not required.
The person may decline because they are getting off soon, find standing easier or do not want the seat. Accept the first clear refusal gracefully instead of insisting or explaining why you think they need it.
What to know
How to ask when you need to sit
A priority-seat label does not automatically make someone stand, and the current passenger may also have an invisible need. Ask generally and politely rather than accusing one person of misusing the seat.
A simple phrase is “Sumimasen, suwatte mo ii desu ka?”—“Excuse me, may I sit?” You can show a maternity, disability or assistance badge if you carry one, but you do not need to discuss a diagnosis with strangers. Ask staff for support if standing is unsafe.
What to know
Maternity marks communicate an early, less-visible need
Tokyo Metro provides Maternity Mark keychains and asks passengers to show consideration to people wearing them, including during early pregnancy when physical changes may be less noticeable.
The mark is a request for awareness, not a demand that one named passenger must move. Offer a seat when possible and keep the area around doors and handrails clear.
What to know
Passengers with infants and strollers also use the area
Tokyo Metro includes passengers with infants in its priority-seat guidance and asks riders to be considerate of stroller users while keeping paths unobstructed.
Do not place luggage in stroller, wheelchair or mobility spaces. The layout and whether a stroller should be folded vary with the operator, crowding and safety conditions, so follow signs and staff directions.
What to know
Phone instructions may be stricter near these seats
Tokyo Metro asks passengers near priority seats to turn phones off during rush hour and other busy periods, in addition to using silent mode and avoiding calls throughout the train.
This wording is operator- and condition-specific. Read the sign in your car and follow announcements rather than assuming that every railway in Japan uses exactly the same rule all day.
What to know
Priority does not mean guaranteed
A busy train may have more passengers who need seats than seats available. If the journey would be unsafe without one, travel outside the peak when possible, ask staff which car is less crowded or use a service with reservable seating.
In a sudden illness, contact staff instead of relying only on seat etiquette. Safety assistance and medical needs take priority over avoiding inconvenience.
If that does not work
Use the fallback.
- If your offer is declined, sit or step away without asking again.
- If you need a seat and no one responds, ask staff at the next station for assistance or a less crowded route.
- If a seated passenger does not appear eligible, assume there may be an invisible need and do not confront them.
- If the priority area is full of bags, ask the bag owner or staff politely rather than moving property yourself.
- If standing becomes medically unsafe, use the onboard or station emergency assistance available.
- If the operator’s sign differs from this general guide, follow the local sign.
Before you need it
Save this offline.
- The phrase: Sumimasen, suwatte mo ii desu ka? (Excuse me, may I sit?)
- A Maternity Mark or assistance badge if you use one
- A route outside peak commuting times when possible
- Station accessibility and staff-counter locations
- Essential medical information and emergency contacts available offline
Primary evidence
Official sources used
Open these pages again before travel. External links lead to the responsible Japanese authority or transport organization.
