1. Public transport options in Tokyo
Subway The subway is by far the most convenient way to get around Tokyo. No matter where you are in the city, you’ll never be too far away from the closest subway stop to bring you to your next destination. Make sure to download Tokyo Metro’s subway app or use HyperDia to help you navigate!
- Yamanote (also known as the loop line, it’s a circular line that covers all major stations such as Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Tokyo)
- Keihin-Tohoku (covers the eastern half of Yamanote including Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, Shimbashi, and Yokohama)
- Saikyo (covers the western half of Yamanote including Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya)
- Chuo-Sobu Local and Chuo Main/Rapid (cuts across the Yamanote line, including Yoyogi, Shinjuku, and Suidobashi. The local line goes to Akihabara, and the rapid line goes to Tokyo station)
- Tokaido Shinkansen (Inter-city or inter-prefecture travel, stopping at Tokyo and Shinagawa stations heading to Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka. We recommend using a JR pass if you’re planning to take the Shinkansen - keep reading to find out how! You can also purchase single Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto or Osaka via Klook for a convenient journey.)
- Avoid rush hours (morning ~7.30am - 9.30am, evening 5pm - 8pm) as trains can get extremely crowded (especially for those travelling with prams, wheelchairs etc.).
- If you can’t avoid travelling during rush hours and you have prams or wheelchairs with you, there are usually dedicated spaces for prams in the 1st and last carriages of subway trains.
- Priority seats can usually be found at the start and end of most carriages, but do note that during busy periods it may still be difficult to get a seat.
- Maps and direction signs almost always have English words. Just note that for several major stations, there tends to be multiple floors/exits so we recommend planning ahead to check which is the nearest exit for you to get to your destination.
- Plan ahead and find out which bus stop you need to head to - some of them are as simple as the one above!
- Check the map to find out which route you need to take
- Arrive at the bus stop and look out for a list of timings. These will tell you when the bus is expected to reach that stop.
- Flag down the bus once it arrives, and board from the front door.
- Use an IC card or insert your fee into the fare machine - try to have exact change as not all machines give out change!
- Priority seats are reserved for elders, pregnant women, disabled or injured people, and young children. You can sit here during off-peak hours but there is a strong cultural taboo against sitting there if you look able-bodied so do try to give up your seat if you see someone who might need it more!
- Once you reach your destination (look or listen out for electronic displays or recorded announcements so you won’t miss your stop) press the button on the side or ceiling to disembark
2. Must-visit attractions and how to get there
Asakusa
- Tokyo Subway: Ginza line
- Toei: Asakusa line
- Tobu Railway: Nikko-Kinugawa, RYOMO, Shimotsuki-Kirifuri, Tobu Skytree lines
- Buses: Services S1, 草63
- Tokyo Subway: Marunouchi line
- Toei: Oedo, Shinjuku lines
- JR: Yamanote, Chuo-Sobu, Chuo Main, Saikyo lines
- Buses: Shinjuku’s bus terminal is one of the busiest in the city, with routes within and leading out of Tokyo. Click here for a full list of all routes. You can also pre-purchase tickets for popular day trips such as Mount Fuji on Klook to save money and time!
- Tokyo Subway (Meiji-Jingumae Station): Chiyoda, Fukutoshin lines
- JR: Yamanote line
- Tokyo Subway: Ginza, Hanzomon, Fukutoshin lines
- JR: Yamanote, Saikyo, Shonen-Shinjuku line
- Buses: 都06, 渋88, 都01
- JR: Transfer to the Keiyo/Musashino lines from Tokyo Station (JR Chuo Rapid or Yamanote)
- Bus: Express Bus (Shinjuku Station), Keisei Express (Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit), Transportation Plaza (Akihabara Station Central Exit East)
- Tokyo Subway: Hibiya line
- JR: Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Chuo/Sobu Local lines
- Tobu Railway: Tsukuba Express
- Buses: 茶51
- Yurikamome Railway (Monorail)
- Rinkai Railway
- JR: Saikyo line
- Buses: 海01, 森30
3. What passes or cards should I get?
Reloadable IC Cards (500 yen deposit)
- Can be used across subway, trains, and buses, as well as in convenience stores and some shops or vending machines.
- Nation-wide use is available for IC cards, so you can use the Suica and PASMO even if you’re in Osaka or Kyoto! Similarly, IC cards such as the Kansai region’s ICOCA can also be used in Tokyo.
- Prices for subway, train, or bus rides are discounted if you use an IC card (compared to a single-ride ticket).
- Suica introduced the Welcome Suica in September 2019 exclusively for tourists! The card works just like a normal Suica but no deposit is needed and it can be used for up to 28 days from the date of purchase. It even comes with a unique cherry blossom design so it’s the perfect souvenir to bring home! ?
- The Welcome Suica can be purchased for 1,000 - 10,000 yen so you can pay for a starting balance that will suit your transport needs.
- If you’re planning a commute-heavy day an IC card may not be worth it as the individual rides will quickly add up.
- If you’re ending your trip outside of Tokyo you won’t be able to get the deposit back BUT you can still use them again for up to 10 years across Japan!
- Can be used across all subway lines for a convenient and easy journey - it’ll save you time AND money too as line transfers can sometimes come with a small fee!
- Good for short trips or commute-heavy days so if only 1 day out of your itinerary will require you to commute across the city, we recommend you get the 24-hour pass to save money.
- No need to purchase tickets or top up your card.
- Can be pre-purchased outside Tokyo on sites such as Klook, or at major spots in Tokyo such as Haneda and Narita airports, and major travel/electronic stores.
- Only valid for up to 72 hours - won’t be effective for any trips 4 days or longer. We recommend combining it with an IC card if you’re in Japan for at least 4 days!
- Can’t be used on the JR railway lines, so you might need to transfer multiple times to reach major stations such as Shibuya or Harajuku. While using the pass means you won’t have to pay extra fees, it might be slightly inconvenient especially if you’re on a tight schedule.
- Good for a layover within a day.
- Can be used across different subway lines.
- Can be purchased up till the day itself at any station in central Tokyo.
- JR lines are not included - we recommend using this pass only if you’re visiting more niche places or are only in Tokyo for an extended layover. Do remember to plan out your itinerary in advance to maximise it!
- Unlimited access across that selected subway line.
- Good for those who have been to Tokyo before, and want to explore more hidden gems or niche attractions.
- If you’ve done your research and planned your itinerary out perfectly, these day passes can definitely be worth it.
- Only valid on that 1 line, with no access to JR trains.
- Validity period is just 1 day long.
- Not suitable for first-time visitors or visitors planning to visit the major attractions.
- Tokyo’s JR lines cover most major stations and tourist attractions so it’s totally possible to see Tokyo’s best sights using just the JR line!
- If you’re taking day trips or travelling to/from different prefectures via the shinkansen, a suitable JR pass will definitely be much cheaper than buying individual tickets.
- The pass can be quite expensive and you should calculate the amount you save first before deciding to purchase one.
- If you’re only using the JR pass, you won’t be able to use other subway or bus lines so you might have to plan ahead.
- 5-Day JR East Tohoku Area Pass, which includes Nikko, Mount Fuji, Sendai, and Aomori too. We recently went on a trip around East Japan using this pass - check out our Instagram story to see more! You can pre-purchase the JR East Tohoku Area Pass on Klook for an easy and convenient journey. Just pick it up at the airport once you arrive. ?
- 5-Day Nagano/Niigata Area Pass, which includes Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, Yokohama, Mount Fuji, and Hakone. Click here to read our 5D4N itinerary where we used this pass to explore a hidden side of Japan! ☺️ You can also pre-purchase your Nagano/Niigata Area Pass on Klook for a convenient pick-up in Japan.
- Tokyo Wide Pass, which includes the GALA Yuzawa snow resort, Mount Fuji, Yokohama, and Nikko. The Wide Pass covers most of the popular day trips from Tokyo which makes it convenient if you don’t plan to go to other prefectures!
- Tokunai (or Tokyo Metropolitan District) Pass, which is a 1-day pass that allows for unlimited JR East and monorail access within the 23 wards of Tokyo. While day trips outside of Tokyo aren’t covered under this pass, it’s a great option if you’re only in Tokyo for 1 day or an extended layover and want to use the JR lines!
- JR Whole Japan (7/14/21 days), which covers JR lines across the entire country. We recommend getting this if you’re visiting for more than 7 days and are planning to cover Tokyo and at least 1 other prefecture! For a quick and easy trip, pre-purchase it on Klook so you can pick it up when you arrive in Japan!
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