Caption: An automated ticket machine. All ticket machines in Japan (including those in the subways) have a number of buttons on them for the different priced tickets available. To operate one of these machines, you first need to look at a system map, usually displayed above the machines, to determine what the fare is to get where you want to go. After putting some money in the machine, the buttons for all the tickets you can purchase for that amount of money light up. You then press whatever the correct button is and the machine spits out a ticket and your change. The red button on the machine on the left is for buying a platform ticket, which lets you onto the platforms to see someone off, pick someone up or, in my case, go railfanning. Platform tickets are pretty cheap, between 100 and 200 yen.
