Tokyo's Metro System

sinjahaag
3. Jan.
8 Min. Lesezeit

Aktualisiert: 10. März

Getting around Tokyo (and Japan in general) can be easily mastered with Japan's outstanding metro- and railway system. Familiarize with Tokyo's metro system in the article below, including both subway and JR lines to find the best possible solution for your upcoming trip!

Tokyo's Metro System

Tokyo's metro system is one of the best and most convenient ways to travel around the city. Quick, easy, punctual and reliable. It is a combined network, operated by Tokyo Metro (privately-owned subway system operating a total of nine lines) and Toei Subway (operating four lines).

Covering a total of 13 subway lines collectively, each subway line is represented via a certain colour and alphabetical letter. For instance, the Ginza line is outlined with a capital "G" (G for Ginza) circled in orange (orange = colour of Ginza line). Beneath each capital letter, you will find a numeric number representing the station number along the line, e.g. G 16 (= Ginza line, station number 16).

Next to Tokyo Metro and the Toei line, there are several JR Lines, for which you can use a JR Pass. Please not that for all Tokyo subway lines, the JR Pass cannot be used!

For a holistic overview on Tokyo's subway route map, check out the following link: https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/index.html

Also not that physical subway route maps are available at all stations for free (usually close to the ticket vending machines).

Navigation through Tokyo's Metro via Google Maps & Apple Maps

The easiest and most convenient way to find out how to reach your destination is to plan, cross-check and navigate with the help of Google Maps, alternatively Apple Maps. These apps will show you different options of train (connections) + possibly applying transfers. In addition, you will see the overall price of getting back- and fourth, which is convenient to check your card balance and top it up in case needed. Another plus is that the apps state the respective exit to take when getting off the train, easing your travels tremendously, as, depending on the station, the uncountable options of exits might be a bit confusing. Last but not least, you will be able to see which stations you are approaching prior to exiting the train in real live modus when pressing "start" once you get on the train. If the arrow on your app is not moving closer to your final end destination ... you probably picked the wrong train.

Japan's unwritten Subway Rules

Taking the metro in Japan is connected with a couple of unwritten cultural norms you should take into consideration when riding the trains:

No talking on the phone and/or taking phone calls (there are even public announcements at the station and/or inside trains pointing that out sometimes)
Put your mobile phone on mute to not disturb others
When listening to music, kindly use headphones
No loud talking and/or laughing
No eating or drinking (only outside the subway gates where you will also find several bakeries and/or convenience stores)
No pushing or shoving! Japanese are very structured when it comes to entering trains. The respective entry points are clearly marked on the ground for adequate queuing. Get in line and wait for your turn.
Priority seats should be dedicated to elderly people, pregnant women, families with kinderwagen, people with special requirements and/or disabilities. In case the train is overly crowded and you have a seat, you might also want to offer your seat to others

Subway Operating Times: pay attention to morning- and night fares!

Tokyo's subway is the most convenient way to travel, whether during day- or night time. Even if crowded during peak times, you will prevent getting stuck in traffic for hours. The only downside of the metro system are the respective operating hours to which you should pay attention to! Trains usually start running between 5 - 6am, whereas they stop running between 11pm - midnight. There are no night buses operating and taxi fares can be quite expensive, especially during late hours when no other alternative of transportation is at-hand. Hence, if you are planning a night out partying or have to catch a super early flight the next morning, it is wise to pre-check your transportation options at an early stage (please note that taxis usually do not operate any earlier than trains themselves).

Japan's IC Cards: Suica and Pasmo

Getting the most out of your travel experiences trough Japan, Tokyo and other cities, purchasing a Suica or Pasmo Card is a highly recommendable thing to do to flexibly hop onto different metro lines and buses all across the city!

What are Suica and Pasmo Cards?

Suica and Pasmo are both prepaid and rechargable IC Cards, allowing you to take advantage of Japan's public transport system all around the country, including Tokyo's subway, buses & even boats, cash-free and without buying single tickets prior to every ride you're getting on. This allows you to travel both flexibly and time- efficient without any further huzzle to worry about.

What is the difference between Suica and Pasmo?

The only difference between the Suica and Pasmo Card is that they are operated by different companies. Suica, for instance, is run by JR East, whereas Pasmo is operated by Tokyo Metro & Keikyu Electric Railway. Regardless of their operators, both IC cards can be used for all Tokyo subway lines.

Where can I purchase Suica and Pasmo?

You can purchase both IC cards at a ticket automat or at the ticket counter (at bigger train stations or the airport, for instance). The easiest way is to directly purchase them at the airport one you arrive. Make your way towards the subway lines and stop at one of the ticket counters. With the purchase of either IC card, you can already top up your desired amount of money (1000 - 20.000JPY).

How and where to recharge Suica and Pasmo?

Both cards can easily be easily recharged at any ticket automat and/or ticket counter. In order to top up your money, you will need to pay cash. You can choose between a top-up amount between 1000 - 20.000JPY.

Recharging your IC Card at the ticket automat

Can Suica and Pasmo solely be used for Tokyo's metro system?

No. Both IC cards allow you to take advantage of Japan's public transport with regard to many different modes, such as buses, trains, subway and even boats.

How to use Suica and Pasmo when taking the metro?

Quite easy. Once you enter the subway, you will find yourself in front of several entrance gates. To get through, meaning inside the subway or train station, you simply need to tap your IC card onto the visible "IC card" surface. A beeping tone will come up (this is your sign that you are "checked in") and you are allowed to pass through. In parallel, you will be able to see how much money is still left on your IC card via a small screen. Once you exit the metro, the same procedure applies and the respective amount of money for your travels will automatically dedicated from your card (again shown at the screen when checking out).

How to use Suica and Pasmo when taking public buses?

Taking a bus is a slightly different story, compared to taking the metro. If you are from Europe, you might assume that entering the bus at the very front is the way to go. to simply tap your card and enjoy the ride. Well, in Japan the procedure is - depending on the bus and destination- a bit different.

Scenario 1:

When taking the bus, you will most likely enter the bus from the back. In some cases, you will find a tapping surface for checking in with your IC card (once you exit, you tap the surface again), in other cases, you will only be asked to tap your card at the very front, next to the bus driver, when exiting the bus (the amount of money for the respective route will automatically be deducted).

Scenario 2:

In other cases, especially rural areas, you might be entering the bus from the front, where the bus driver will ask you to pay a certain amount of money to take you to your respective destination. This is mainly the case for buses covering dedicated tourist sttractions/ sightseeing spots, such as temple sites. In these cases, no checking in- and out is required. Once you reach your destination, you simply press the stop button and exit the bus. Please note that bigger bills are not accepted, e.g. 10.000JPY, and cash payments are mandatory (no credit card payments accepeted). Smaller change is therefore favourable to have in your pockets.

If you are uncertain what to do, don't worry. People are happy to help you and usually all you need to do is to watch locals and copy paste their way of doing.

Bus stations are usually located directly to your left or right outside the station.

Another kind advice: ensure is to have enough money on your card. Bring some additional cash as back-up, especially when traveling to some sightseeing attractions outside the city and/or rural areas to not be stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Using Suica and Pasmo for purchasing purposes

Next to using both IC cards for public transport matters, you can also use these for purchasing items, e.g. snacks & beverages from convenience stores or drinks from vending machines. In most cases, payment options of choice clearly label Suica and Pasmo next to other available options, e.g. PayPay, Alipay, WeChat, Credit Cards, etc. If not labeled, you are most likely not able to pay with these. If you are uncertain, simply ask the cashier for help.

Japan's Railway & JR Pass

The term JR refers to Japan Railway, a company which is owned by the government. Compared to Japan's subway, these trains run on the surface, not the underground. The JR network is spread all around the country, covering an area of over 19.000km, connecting Japan's most desired scienic spots & sight attractions. As for Tokyo in specific, the most commonly used lines for travellers will be the Yamanote Line, also known as "Loop Line" (covering areas of central Tokyo in a circle/loop) & the JR Chuo Line (crossing Yamanote line basically in its centre)

The JR lines can be accessed with either a Suica or Pasmo Card or via a JR Pass.

What is the JR Pass?

A JR Pass is a, for tourists designed ticket, which can be used for all existing JR lines throughout Japan. Tickets can be purchased online to receive a digital QR code. The pass then needs to be used within the matter of three months to keep its validity. You can choose between different time period, e.g. 7, 14 or 21 days.

The Pass offers the benefit for reserving seats free of charge when using it, which is a great thing, as taking the Shinkansen can be a pricey matter when trying to reserve additional storage room for your luggage.

Which lines does the JR Pass cover?

With the JR Pass you can ride all JR lines, including Yamanote and Chuo. As can be seen on the map below, the major stops and cities are covered within this network. However, please keep in mind that from any bigger station, e.g. Kyoto, your further travels to any sightseeing spot, e.g. Fushimi Inari, will need to be covered by subway rides and local buses- meaning additional purchases will apply. The JR Pass cannot be used the for any subway lines running within the city centres. In return though, IC cards can be used to take the JR lines. So, in case you obtain a JR Pass, I'd still recommend to buy an IC Card to not buy individual, day- or week pass tickets in certain areas to save up time!

Is it worth purchasing the JR Pass?

This is dependent on your length of stay as well as planned distances in-between places and cities are you aiming to see. I personally did not purchase a JR Pass, as I did not see an benefit or value for money due to the fact that for most sightseeing attractions local trains, buses and subways have to be taken anyhow to reach your final destination. Plus, the overall purchase of a JR Pass is quite expensive.