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Lessons from Japan: What Brisbane Can Learn About Public Transport Before the 2032 Olympics
When Civil Project Partners’ Sam Moriera travelled through Japan, she experienced first-hand one of the world’s most sophisticated public transport systems. From the lightning-fast Shinkansen to hyper-local bus connections in regional towns, Japan’s transport infrastructure doesn’t just move people, it does so with speed, care, predictability and a deep sense of social order. For engineers, designers, and planners in Brisbane gearing up for the 2032 Olympics, Sam’s observations offer valuable insights into how public transport can support the mass movement of people across modes, places and cultures.
The Seamless Symphony of Multimodal Movement
Sam visited Tokyo, Shibuya, Kawaguchiko (to see Mount Fuji), and Nagoya—covering cities and regions with vastly different densities and layouts. Throughout her trip, public transport played a central role. She travelled on the Shinkansen, local trains, subways, and buses—often with connections happening within minutes.
Despite language barriers and being a first-time visitor, Sam described the experience as “really, really good and easy.” Why? Because Japan’s transport system isn’t just efficient; it’s designed around users. Multiple transit types connect with seamless timing, and signage in multiple languages is available everywhere. Frontline staff proactively offer help when they see someone who is unsure or confused.
In her words: “If I’m late, I know that thanks to turn up and go scheduling, I know that another train or bus is coming soon. That’s really good and when added to proactive and helpful staff, it gave me confidence to take on a huge transport network in a foreign language explore Japan with ease.”
Culture and Clarity: The Social Contract of Public Travel
One of the standout contrasts between Japan and Australia was not infrastructure, but behaviour. Trains were “very clean” and “very quiet,” with rules clearly posted and strictly followed: no loud conversations, no phone calls without headphones, and no pushing onto trains.
Sam remarked that people in Japan respected queues, waited for others to exit before boarding, and never cut the line. This disciplined culture contributes directly to system efficiency. Japanese commuters seem to have a more inbuilt sense of fairness and behaviour. They don’t break queues, and rules are stuck to. They respect everything and everyone. That’s how it works really well – in a system that moves millions every day.”
The underlying lesson for engineers and planners is this: even the best infrastructure will struggle without social buy-in and clear communication. Building systems that function well requires an understanding of how people interact with them, not just how they’re constructed.
Infrastructure as Investment, Not Expense
When comparing Japanese and Australian approaches to public transport, Sam was candid: “I think Japan looks at public transport as an investment, whereas maybe Australia looks at it as a cost.”
Her experience riding the Shinkansen reinforced this. Though she travelled city to city, she found it faster, cheaper and more comfortable than flying. Trains were reliable, had Wi-Fi, allowed for work to be done in transit, and included built-in luggage storage without extra fees. “It’s relaxing, spacious, and you don’t need to be afraid someone will take your luggage; everyone is really respectful.”
In short, public transport in Japan is built to compete with private vehicles and air travel on equal terms and often wins. That mindset is something Brisbane could harness ahead of 2032.
The Olympic Opportunity: Brisbane’s Moment to Rethink Mobility
As Brisbane prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the stakes for getting public transport right are rising. The 2032 Games will see hundreds of thousands of visitors—many unfamiliar with local geography, potentially non-English speaking, and reliant on clear wayfinding and frequent services.
Sam’s experience suggests three priority lessons:
- Multilingual signage and proactive assistance: Japan’s stations are filled with announcements and signs in English, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. More importantly, station staff actively approach lost-looking passengers to offer help.
- Regularity and reliability: A train arriving every 5–10 minutes meant Sam never had to plan meticulously—she just turned up. That ease removes barriers to public transport use. While such frequency may not be possible for a city the scale of Brisbane 0 the move to a turn up and go approach facilitated by Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail will be significant steps forward.
- System design for inclusion and comfort: Wide seats, luggage areas, and peaceful environments make travel pleasant even with bags and children in tow. Brisbane has the chance to set new standards in accessibility and inclusiveness.
Final Thought: It’s Not About the Trains, It’s About the People
Perhaps the most telling comment Sam made was this: “They have the same types of transport we have here. It’s not about the trains; it’s how they manage them.”
As engineers, designers and decision-makers, that’s a challenge and an invitation. With the 2032 Games on the horizon, Brisbane has the opportunity to rethink transport as a human system, one that’s designed for comfort, predictability, and joy, as much as it is for function. By learning from places like Japan, we can deliver a public transport experience that works not just during the Olympics, but for the generations to follow.