Japan had a interesting mix of private companies providing and competing in areas where public transit is actually profitable and the government providing it in areas where it won't be profitable. To me that's politics done right. The market is the strongest force you can use if it works in your favor. But it's key to understand when it won't. Too bad that on the US that decision is usually driven by ideology rather than practical thought.

As awesome as the network is, I do feel like Tokyo has one of the worst subway map designs I've ever seen.

All the station numbers make it far too busy and crowd out the actual route lines.