What to do if I suddenly need to vomit on a train?

41 comments

1. I really feel for you. I get all sorts of motion sickness and have a vomit bag available at all times, but once I’ve used it there’s often still a way to go. I once walked 12km after throwing up to get to my hotel next to Keisei narita

2. I just had a poop incident like 5mins ago lol i ran to the bathroom and played it cool. Iv had a vomit situation too and had to stop every 2nd station for an hour nos i carry a bag for emergencies

3. Sorry you felt that unwell and had to endure that. Gagging a bit just thinking about having to swallow that back down thrice. But like you said…you wish they barf bags and nobody had a plastic bag. But you were carrying around a backpack. So why not get some of your own plastics bags (like the small plastic trash bags they have for little trash bins) and keep them in your backpack just in case it happens again? You’ll also have them for carrying actual trash like wrappers you might have.

4. Carry a vomit bag. Just like they use on airplanes. Then are thin when folded like a small envelope. Can easily fit in a bag or even pocket.

5. It depends on how crowded it is, but try to crouch down and face the side of the door so it doesn’t splatter or get on anyone.

   But the best choice is the get off if you’re not feeling well. You can always catch the next train if you feel better.

6. Not sure if any of us needed all the details, but what are you supposed to do aside from making sure that there’s no collateral damage? Personally I might sacrifice my backpack since it’s getting old but trains aren’t planes so they aren’t going to have barf bags

7. I carry a plastic bag in my backpack which regularly comes in handy for all sorts of things. They weigh virtually nothing and take up minimal space. Sounds like it could have helped you out.

8. I would’ve forced myself off the train and sprinted to the bathrooms. Or throw up on the platform somewhere discreet if I couldn’t make it. Rather that then vomit on the train.

9. 10/10 writing, would read again.

   If you feel you’re prone to this, there’s no other way but to be prepared :

   a double or triple plastic bag, lay it out fully flat on a surface, then neatly fold or roll it up. It will take very very little space when kept rolled up with a rubber band, you could even carry it in your pocket without much hassle.

   Also, try to stop the midnight snacking altogether but especially if you have things going on the next morning, just not worth the risk.

10. Sorry that happened to you!

    For next time, get some “etiquette bags” from Daiso or Amazon. They are extremely strong and durable, non-see through, and have a packet of absorbent stuff in them which stops the puke from being liquid as soon as it enters the bag. They’ve got strong ziploc tops too, and a wide mouth opening. Just keep one handy in your backpack at all times and put your nose and mouth in there if you don’t feel good. I always carry one because I have young kids and you never know.

11. I was once in a bus (not Japan) where someone projectile vomited on to the window at an angle and it bounced onto the person in the seat infront of them.

    So I’d say at least aim for the floor

12. Getting older is learning through experience, which is why I have all kinds of random medicines, tissues, a small washcloth, two eco bags, and a snack in my bag at all times. It might pay to have some [正露丸](https://www.seirogan.co.jp/seirogan/products/seirogan/) (seirogan) for stomach issues or dramamine-type meds in the bag for the future. Those eco bags are cheap enough that I could hurl and toss ’em in the garbage without a care. Might wanna pack a travelsize mouthwash for post-puke or pre-date/interview situations, too.

    Also, if you’re a walking pharmacy, you’re gonna be the hero for someone else when they run into trouble in the future.

13. If it’s a medium-long distance intercity train they may have restrooms, but I assume this wasn’t. In that case, try to carry some plastic bags.

    I was on the train during Hanami season a few years back and noticed a young lady very clearly in distress. Luckily I had a couple of drinks in a plastic bag which I got out and looped the handles over her ears before she let it go.

    Otherwise I probably would have ended up with some messy shoes.

14. I’m sorry that happened to you. I started carrying around small plastic bags (dark ones so can’t see the contents) after I got pregnant.

15. When I was commuting during my morning sickness phase, I carried a plastic bag with me. Now I don’t do it anymore but I always have an eco-bag with me, so if something happens I don’t mind sacrificing that bag. Carrying a plastic bag is pretty handy when you have to carry trash etc. too though. 

    I once saw a poor high school girl vomit all over the bag of a poor salaryman sitting in front her… when it’s really crowded there really is no escape. 

16. I feel your pain. I had the worst case of food poisoning kick in while driving on the highway. 15km from the nearest exit, 30km from the nearest service area.

    Closest I’ve come to shitting myself since I was a toddler. Absolute pure willpower held me together. It took about 30 minutes before I managed to park at a convenience store.

17. I was once drunk and on the verge of vomiting inside a train when a salaryman handed me a conbini plastic bag. So yeah, if you’ve got a plastic bag, it’s probably the most acceptable way to vomit on a train, definitely way better than making a mess everywhere.

18. I wasn’t there when it happened but my friend (Japanese if that matters) was hung over and apparently he vomited but caught the vomit in the hoodie he was wearing and just sat there with a puddle of vomit on his hoodie until the next stop. I still feel second hand embarrassment from his story.
    In your case, I might have sacrificed my backpack.

    What train line is that where the next station is 20 min away? Some non-bullet trains with the グリーン車 have bathrooms.

19. Yabai. You fought so hard, warrior. Almost too hard. Next time just vomit. It’s shameful if you’re shit faced and don’t care but if you’re unwell that’s the way it goes (which is up and outside your body). I always carry a bag or two and I have it to ppl in similar circumstances several times.

20. After running a marathon in Sendai I was catching the train back to my hotel and suddenly became nauseous in the same manner you describe. I jumped out at the next stop, collapsed on the platform and began retching into my bag. Unfortunately that qualified as an accident on the train. The JR driver stepped out and refused to leave until another station employee could render assistance. I felt terrible holding up a packed train of sweaty marathon runners for about five minutes.

21. Hold your thumb tightly in your fist. It suppresses gagging. Might not prevent it though but it can help (will not help with the nausea/sweating)

22. You are a fucking warrior and a poet. Well done.

23. I just want to say good job dealing with a shit situation.

    Was on a train home once. The guy next to me covers his mouth and 0.5 sec later puke is spraying around. Somehow I only got two small drops on me, but it’s still not exactly a nice experience on the receiving end.

24. Plastic bags or some sealable container are pretty much your option for any bodily function emergency on trains that don’t have bathrooms. Saw a guy once on a local train from Aomori to Akita sheepishly walk to the less crowded end of the train, shit in a plastic bag, double bag it, then walk back with it to his original seat.

    Nasty, but sometimes there’s just nothing you can do to stop it so containing the mess is all you’ve got. Ideally you’re supposed to get off at the closest stop and take care of yourself there until you’re well enough to travel onwards, but emergencies happen.

25. This story made me throw up in my mouth a little. A compliment to your writing I suppose 😉🤢🤮

26. Don’t

27. oops. sorry. I accidentally deleted by comment and then noticed that you had replied. It was done in error. Sorry about that. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to read your comment because I had accidentally deleted mine, but I hope you are feeling better. Take care.

28. Had a similar experience myself, but luckily I was able to get off and make it to a toire at the next stop.

    I have seen others who were not able to “chew it back” as it were, and once they started, they couldn’t stop (keikyuu about 12 or 13 years ago). So as gross as it is, its part of life I suppose.

    Like others have stated and you have already noted, always have some kind of bag with you for w/e comes up; garbage, sitting on, rain protection, barf bag, etc.

    Glad you were able to keep it in and hope you feel better.

29. I have no answers but I hope you’re a writer or an English teacher because the description was fantastic.

30. i got sick on the osaka loop line and my sister called it the osaka puke line

31. My colleague and I once took care of this new guy who joined us for a team building. I think he was very nervous and he drank more than he should have (some of the other guys at work were egging him on). Anyway, we took the train back from Yokohama to Shibuya where he was completely passed out and kept sliding onto the floor even though we kept trying to pull him back up. At one point, he barfs on the floor, and a lot of red wine comes back. The train floor is uneven, so the red wine starts sliding down its way towards the end of the carriage…

    We kept apologizing to everyone. Then when it was time to get off at Shibuya he completely crumpled onto the platform and wouldn’t budge. The fire department finally came, and they started asking him questions like ‘How much did you drink today?’

    The only issue was, he had spent the whole day with me and my team so he had only been speaking English for the last few hours. He kept answering the fire department guy in English who got very irritated and kept asking ‘Nihonjin desuka? Nihonjin desuka?’ And this guy keeps replying ‘Nihonjin desu!’ And then continuing in English. Fire department guy is getting super annoyed and starting to shout ‘Are you making fun of me! SPEAK JAPANESE!’ (In Japanese) while this drunk guy replies back very happily (in English) ‘Sure, sure! We can speak anything you like!’

    My Japanese colleague explained the situation to the fire department guy while howling with laughter. The ambulance finally carted my drunk colleague away.

    Totally separate other time but I once saw this super wobbly drunk person in the train, standing. She clearly wanted to sit but nobody was giving her their seat. She finally ended up barfing on lap of the guy who was sitting right in front of her.

    My point is, it happens! Great if you have a bag with you but if you don’t…well. You won’t be the last one barfing on a train. Hope you feel better!

32. One time, I saw a Japanese guy puke in his shoe on the train.

33. I really relate. I have been very ill for a year now until a recent operation and having occasional bouts of impending syncope while riding on the train. It is not a graceful spiral as seen I movies and on tv at all. My vision starts to go purple and green and swirl like a bad acid trip. The panicky feeling as I feel it coming on is awful because I know that I will plow through a whole squad of innocent traindwellers if it actually fully happens. I have some meds in my bag that can mediate it if I take it immediately tho.

    Another story: I do always carry plastic bags folded up, 5 or 6 of them in the corner of my bag. We were entertaining foreign guests and they all reacted to some bad sushi. We had to get back to their hotels and one was flying out that night. That train ride from Shinjuku ALL THE LONG WAY to Hon-Atsugi …let’s just say that the six plastic bags were THOROUGHLY utilized and thank god I had them.

    Moral: always carry medium sized plastic bags.

34. I was once sitting opposite a tiny Japanese salarywoman clearly worse for wear on the last train home… she was peacefully dozing, then suddenly sat bolt upright, a shocked look in her eyes. She looked around frantically for a few seconds, before getting up and running to the closest door area (the outer doors, not the connecting carriage doors), yanked open her Michael Kors handbag, and proceeded to unleash the most monstrous, unholy-sounding stream of vomit directly into it, apologising profusely between bouts all the while.

    It was… an experience.

35. Was it one of those trains with no toilet? I am not sure what I would have done but I’ve had a few situations in which I have had to shit outside in my life. It happened twice in Japan and twice in Canada. The last time it happened to me, I was maybe 20 minutes from my relatives in Canada (did not go to the rest stop as I figured that I would be okay but it was not okay at all). I pulled over very desperately on the side of the road, ran for the woods, dropped my draws and went. I had to just use my undershirt and call it a day.

36. one time after drinking entirely too much, I was on a train half asleep but then the urge to throw up woke me right up into full alert

    but I didn’t have the fortitude to swallow it, so I sat there with a mouth full of vomit and my hand covering my mouth until I got to the next station

    I didn’t become a spectacle but I also can’t recommend letting that junk sit there brewing in your mouth 🤢

37. Once, I threw up between a train car and the platform. I squatted down, sticking only my head outside the door. Since it was the last train, I went right back inside after throwing up. Luckily, it was around Shin-Okubo and the train wasn’t too crowded. I was drunk and don’t remember much. My friend said I “threw up very neatly.”

38. Plus Ultra. 💀💀💀

39. Oh, your post reminded me of one of the most disgusting experiences I had in Japan. It was probably over ten years ago. I was on my way home on the Yamanote line. It was one of the last trains that day. I got on at Shibuya and quickly noticed this pale, tall but chubby salaryman who somehow stood out. He had round black glasses and looked like any other stereotypical salaryman, but he gave off a strange aura. Others noticed too.

    When we were about to arrive at Yoyogi Station, suddenly vomit started to drip out of his mouth. People began to move away, but it still seemed manageable. Then the doors closed again, and at that moment the guy started to vomit like I had never seen before. A straight beam of puke covered the entire door area, and he wouldn’t stop. People started to run and scream, and then came the smell. It felt like forever until the train finally arrived at Shinjuku. Luckily, I had to get off there anyway.

40. I’ll never forget when I first ever came to Japan. I think the exhaustion made me unwell since it was the longest flight I ever took. I was on the train leaving Haneda. My friend gave me one of those teriyaki puff sticks as a welcome snack. Big mistake. I gagged but powered through it. However 5 minutes into the train a cocktail of stomach acid and teriyaki came up. Did the old hamster cheek method till the doors opened and let it out in the space between the train and the platform. I would suggest this if it’s not too packed you can easily get access to the door. If you’re on something like saikyo line at 7pm this unfortunately is not the META.

41. This was just beautiful *Muhwa*

Comments are closed.