東京

Tokyo

Credit: Jezael Melgoza (Unsplash)

Getting Around Tokyo

Tokyo is a wide sprawling city, with densely interconnected train networks run by a variety of operators. The easiest and most cost-efficient way to get around is by taking the subway, run by Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway, which covers almost every major spot in Tokyo. While the JR Yamanote Line covers the major spots on a loop, the subway covers those spots and all the little places in-between for a more comprehensive coverage.

In terms of the city, you can group areas into Eastern Tokyo (Ueno (上野), Asakusa (浅草), Akihabara (秋葉原, Akihabara), Tsukiji Market (築地市場, Tsukiji-shijō)), Western Tokyo (Shibuya (渋谷), Shinjuku (新宿), Harajuku (原宿), Ikebukuro), Central & Northern Tokyo (Tokyo Station (東京駅区, Tōkyō Station Ku), Imperial Palace (皇居, Kōkyo), Yanaka (谷中), Jimbocho (神保町, Jinbocho)), and Southern Tokyo (Ginza (銀座), Roppongi (六本木, Roppongi), Odaiba (お台場)). You still typically need to take a train one or two stops even within an area, as each of these neighborhoods are usually around 30 minutes apart by foot, at the very least.

Recommended Pass

Tokyo Subway Ticket

¥800

24 Hours

¥1,200

48 Hours

¥1,500

72 Hours

The Tokyo Subway Ticket gives you unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines in Tokyo. If you are traveling around Tokyo, these tickets can be quite a good deal and give you a piece of mind in terms of your transport costs. The combined network of Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway also allows you to get to almost every major destination within central Tokyo.

This is the recommended pass for any visitor to central Tokyo. Note that this pass does not cover routes to Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Odaiba, and Tokyo suburbs, all of which are outside of central Tokyo.

Modes of Transport

The easiest and most cost-efficient way

Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway

Tokyo Metro

Toei Subway

Tokyo is a wide sprawling city, with densely interconnected train networks run by a variety of operators. The easiest and most cost-efficient way to get around is by taking the subway, run by Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway, which covers almost every major spot in Tokyo. While JR’s Yamanote Line covers the major spots on a loop, the subway covers those spots and all the little places in-between, and thus has a more comprehensive coverage.

In addition, you can get a 24/48/72 hour Tokyo Subway Ticket that allows you to take unlimited rides on the subway, letting you hop on and off as you please, and exploring the various neighborhoods of Tokyo. There are other variations of this pass, including the Tokyo Metro 1-Day Pass, but that only lets you take lines under Tokyo Metro and not Toei Subway.

Map

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Passes

Tokyo Subway Ticket

¥800

24 Hours

¥1,200

48 Hours

¥1,500

72 Hours

Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket

¥2,890

One-Way & 24-Hours

¥3,290

One-Way & 48-Hours

¥3,590

One-Way & 72-Hours

¥4,880

Round-Trip & 24-Hours

¥5,280

Round-Trip & 48-Hours

¥5,580

Round-Trip & 72-Hours

The Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket is a combined ticket that gets you a round-trip (or one-way) train ride between Narita Airport (成田空港, Narita-kūkō) and Ueno (上野) as well as the Tokyo Subway Ticket that lets you ride unlimited rides on the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway.

Riding the Yamanote Line

JR

JR East

Of course, Japan Rail (JR), which runs Japan’s nationwide railway system also has network coverage in Tokyo. The JR Yamanote Line runs a loop around Tokyo, running through all the major city centers. Transferring between JR and the subway will incur an extra fare. If you are looking to head out of Tokyo on day-trips, JR is a good choice for getting around, but if you are only looking to stay within Tokyo, then Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway are more convenient and cost efficient.

If you already have a JR Rail Pass, you can use it on lines within Tokyo, but you won’t be getting the full value out of it, as traveling within Tokyo is much cheaper than the cost of the pass.

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Passes

都区内パス

Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokunai Pass)

¥760

1 Day

The Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (or Tokunai Pass) is the JR alternative to the Tokyo Subway Ticket, covering JR lines in the central Tokyo area for ordinary cars and ordinary seats. It covers the entirety of the JR Yamanote Line, and other JR line that run through the centre of Tokyo and up to nearby suburbs.

Unlike Tokyo Subway Ticket though, for first time visitors to Japan, it might not be entirely clear which lines are valid and up till what point on the line. This pass is only recommended if you need to use JR lines for a particular reason.

Due to changing circumstances, readers are advised to do their own additional research. All information on this site is purely for reference only.

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