Women-only Passenger Cars in Japan

Women-only passenger cars (女性専用車) are railway or subway cars intended for women only.

In Japan, women-only cars were introduced to combat lewd conduct, particularly groping (chikan).^[5]

Women-only policies vary from company to company; some are effective during rush hour, others throughout the day, while some limit women-only cars to rapid service trains, as they tend to be more crowded and have relatively longer distances between stops. But in general, the policy is effective only on weekdays, excluding holidays.

Platforms and train doors are marked with signs indicating boarding areas for the cars, and the days and times when the cars are women-only. Though intended to be exclusive to women, most train operators in Japan allow male elementary school pupils, disabled persons, and their assistants to board women-only cars.^[6][7]