Transportation in Tokyo: Getting Around

Tokyo is known for its excellent public transportation. It consists of an enormous and compact network of train, subway and bus lines. It has the largest urban rail network in the world and is used by several transportation companies. The most important train is the JR Yamamote Line; it is a circular train line that connects the different city centers of Tokyo.

Operated by 2 companies, the 13 subway lines of Tokyo cover central Tokyo. The Toei lines operate 4 lines: Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku and Oedo. Tokyo Metro operates the 9 other lines: Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku and Fukutoshin. Additionally, the most notable train lines of JR East are the Yamamote, Kelhin-Tohoku, Chuo/Sobu, Chuo, Saikyo and the Shinkansen.

Multiple passes and tickets are available for sale. But a lot of these tickets and prices can be considered overpriced, since many of them don’t cover all of the different companies or do so only partly. A prepaid card like Suica or Pasmo is the recommended way of getting around within the Tokyo area.

• Tokyo Free Kippu (aka Tokyo Tour Ticket) (1590 yen) - Unlimited use of all subway lines (Toei and Tokyo Metro) and JR trains in the central Tokyo area on one calendar day (i.e. from the first to the last train of the day). It is also valid on buses and streetcars operated by Toei. The pass is overpriced and will unlikely provide any savings over regular tickets or prepaid cards.
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours: 800 yen, 48 hours: 1200 yen, 72 hours: 1500 yen) - Unlimited use of all subway lines (Toei and Tokyo Metro). Not valid on JR trains. The pass is sold at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, ticket offices at some major subway stations and Bic Camera electronic stores in central Tokyo to foreign tourists only (passport required). Furthermore, it is sold to both foreign tourists and residents of Japan through selected travel agencies outside of the Kanto Region.
• Toei and Tokyo Metro One-Day Economy Pass (900 yen) - Unlimited use of all subway lines (Toei and Tokyo Metro) on one calendar day. The pass only pays off if you use the subways excessively. The pass is not valid on JR trains. Unlike the lower priced Tokyo Subway Ticket (see above), this pass can be purchased at the subway stations in central Tokyo.
• Tokyo Metro 24-Hour Ticket (600 yen) - Unlimited use of the nine Tokyo Metro subway lines, but not the four Toei subway lines and JR trains. The ticket is available through ticket machines at Tokyo Metro stations.
• Toei One-Day Economy Pass (700 yen) - Unlimited use of the four Toei subway lines, buses and streetcars on one calendar day. It is not valid on the nine Tokyo Metro subway lines and JR trains. The pass is available at ticket machines and ticket counters at Toei stations.
• Tokunai Pass (750 yen) - Unlimited use of JR trains in the central Tokyo area on one calendar day. The pass is available at the purple vending machines and ticket counters at JR stations.