The Tokyo Subway
Tokyo Underground Made Easy
5 Tips on Tokyo Subway system and a Tokyo subway map. How to buy the Tokyo Underground rail pass.
The Tokyo underground system is perhaps the most impressive example of public transportation on earth. It serves around 35 million people, 8 million of those people commute into the city every morning !
Any point in the center of the city is hardly five minutes walk from the nearest subway station.
Rush hours on Tokyo underground extend from 7.30am to 9am and from 5pm to 7pm.
Planning ahead before you plunge in on these hours is wise. This is certainly not a venture for those who value their personal space.
Some subway lines have women-only cars during the morning rush hours, so women and young children can ride safely.
If you're an adventurous soul you wouldn't skip it, at least once on your trip.
The average Japanese office worker spends an hour and a half every morning standing like this. This repeats itself in the evening. It's part of understanding Japans culture.
The benches on board fold up to maximize capacity, platform attendants wearing white gloves push passengers through the doors.
In spite of the amount of commuters, the Tokyo subway system operates so efficiently and punctually that it would put most other cities of the world to shame.
Tokyo underground operates between 5 am and 1 am.
Thats why
Tokyo nightlife scene
fades out during weekdays before the last train.
Maintenance people clean the subway continuously. They take care of things that are unheard of in other countries - wiping the railing! Disinfecting the ticket vending machines! No wonder the subway smells good.
The subway map can be downloaded right here.
Please be patient as it takes a while to upload.
Tokyo subway map is the most useful Tokyo city map for Tokyo Attractions.
It is very simple to navigate the Tokyo underground system.
Signs on subway stations include the station names in English. Each line has a letter (example: the Ginza line has a line symbol of G) and a color.
When you arrive at the platform you have to decide between the two sides – each side takes you to the opposite direction of the line.
There are two ways of recognizing your preferred station / direction-
- Using the station name as your guide – they appear in English.
- Each station is also given a letter and number code to identify it. The letter stands for the line, the number reflects where on the line the station is.
How To Buy The Tokyo Underground Rail Pass?
Subway tickets and rail passes are sold from automated vending machines.
Prepaid fare cards are convenient and I highly recommend them, although they don't give you any discounts.
If you don't buy a rail pass you will be spending a lot of time trying to figure out Tokyo Transportation fares which are based on distance.
There are two major brands of Tokyo subway rail pass: Suica, and Pasmo. They can be used on just about every subway, train and bus line in Tokyo (with the exception of JR's Shinkansen and limited express trains).
The rail passes are rechargeable 'smart cards'. The ticket vending machines have an English language option.
There is an initial ¥500 deposit that you must pay when purchasing a rail pass, this fee is refundable when you leave.
Entering The Tokyo Subway
Swipe the Pasmo/Suica card over the card reader on the gate, which is indicated by a blue light.
When you place your ticket, it will display the amount of cash left on your pass.
On the platform - line up behind the white line which indicates where the doors will open.
For exiting the fare gate you once again swipe your card over the card reader on the gate.
Going out of the station without knowing the right exit number for your desired destination is not a good idea, unless endless walking in the passageways of the Tokyo subway system is your thing.
You can find your exit number easily on the vicinity maps which are located on the platforms and after exiting the fare gate.
Subway inspectors are also very willing to help.
Several railway transportation companies operate the Tokyo subway system, but it's very likely you won't even notice it, since the same ticket is valid for all railway companies.
You will probably be overwhelmed by the amount of shops/restaurants in the Tokyo underground passageways, it's like a parallel city underground.
The bus system is more complicated for visitors as most destinations are written in Japanese only, and bus drivers don't speak English.
Cars in Tokyo are not a good idea,since finding a specific address in Tokyo can be a struggle. One of the most frustrating
Tokyo facts
is that Streets have no names and the buildings are numbered in the order in which they were constructed.
Saving with the Japan Rail Pass
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