When you stay in Tokyo, many subway lines offer you much more convenient and faster transfer than Japan Railways. Some of the popular spots in Tokyo, such as Asakusa (浅草), Tsukiji Market (築地市場) and Roppongi, are not close to JR stations but are very accessible from the subway stations.

There are two subway companies, Tokyo Metro (東京メトロ) and Toei (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) Subway (都営地下鉄) operate the subway. Tokyo Metro has nine lines and Toei Subway has four lines. You can download a map (PDF) from Tokyo Metro website.

Tokyo Metro offers several kinds of value tickets.

Tickets	Price	Description
Tokyo Metro One day open ticket	(A)710yen (C)360yen	You can take all nine Tokyo Metro lines. You can buy this ticket at the vending machine on the spot.
Tokyo Metro and Toei Line One day open ticket	(A)1000yen (C)500yen	You can take all nine Tokyo Metro lines and four Toei Subway lines. You can buy this ticket at the vending machine on the spot.
Tokyo Metro One day tourist open ticket	One day: (A)600yen(C)300yen Two days: (A)980yen(C)490yen	This ticket is cheaper than common one day open tickets. But this is sold at Narita airport only. You can take all nine Tokyo Metro lines but not available for Toei Subway lines. You can buy this ticket at the arrival level in both Terminal 1 and 2 of Narita airport. This ticket is designed for the foreign tourist so you have to show your air ticket when you purchase.
Limousine and Metro Pass	Narita airport to Downtown: (A)3100yen (C)1550yen Narita airport to Shinkiba, Rinkai Fukutoshin: (A)3000yen (C)1500yen	This ticket includes one way ride for Airport Limousine bus and unlimited ride on all nine Tokyo Metro lines, but not available for Toei Subway lines. This ticket is valid for six month from the day of purchase. And you can use Metro and Limousine on separate days. You can buy this ticket at Tokyo Metro pass offices (most of major stations), T-CAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal), Shinjuku Station west exit and the limousine bus ticket counter at Narita airport.

If you stay in Japan for more than seven day and stay in Tokyo for the first several days, I recommend to get Japan Rail Pass seven days pass and buy Metro ticket for your explorer in Tokyo. Don’t waste you Japan Rail Pass during staying in Tokyo.

Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:

• Compare many discount tickets and passes for sightseeing Tokyo. How to choose the right tickets?
• Compare many rail services and shuttle bus. How to get downtown Tokyo from Narita airport.
• How to access to Tsukiji Market by Japan Rail Pass
• How much can we use Japan Rail Pass in downtown Tokyo?
• How to access from Haneda airport to downtown Tokyo

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6 Comments to “Fast, economical and convenient for sightseeing in Tokyo. Learn about Tokyo Subways.”

1. Filip says:

   February 21, 2012 at 2:15 pm

   I’m not sure if it’s true but I found the information about the 2 day open tokyo pass on the tokyometro.jp webiste (Japanese website), and it says you can order 2 day open ticket at Haneda airport. More info here (note; it’s a google translation):
   http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=pl&rurl=translate.google.pl&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://www.tokyometro.jp/ticket/value/travel/index.html

   If anyone knows Japanese, please explain why do they provide Haneda airport map for the 2 day open ticket…
   What do you think?
   Filip

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     February 21, 2012 at 9:33 pm

     Hi Filip,
     There is no Tokyo Metro line at Haneda. But Keihin Kyuko Railway is connected with Tokyo Metro line at Sengakuji (one station away from Shinagawa). Some of Keihin Kyuko trains from Haneda run through Tokyo Metro line. So if you get Metro pass at Haneda, all you have to pay for Keihin Kyuko line is to Sengakuji.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. Mary says:

   October 28, 2011 at 12:40 am

   Will be on a ship coming in at Yokohama and will be getting a train to Shinagwa and then the Subway to Asakusa. Would you be able to tell me where you get the subway from at Shinagawa.
   Do not want to spend ages trying to find out where.
   Thank you

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     October 28, 2011 at 12:42 pm

     Hi Mary,
     Take Keihin Kyuko from Yokohama. Some of the trains go through subway Asakusa line. You can get direct transfer to Asakusa from Yokohama. If you want to use JR line from Yokohama, transfer to Kehin Kyuko at Shinagawa, take train to Asakakusa. If you cannot take a train to Asakusa at Shinagawa, take a train to Sengakuji. Sengakuji is one station away from Shinagawa. You can take a subway Asakusa line at same place in Sengakuji station.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. Kelerwin says:

   January 20, 2011 at 7:39 am

   Dear Jprail,

   Can u advise me on Keisei Line? Does it cover transfer from narita to tokyo shinjuku? How much does it cost ? I go to the link on the above and its 1200yen?
   Im confused.
   Thanks

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     January 20, 2011 at 12:41 pm

     Hello Kelerwin,
     Keisei line does not go to Shinjuku. Keisei line goes to Ueno or Nippori. If you want to go to Shinjuku, take Narita Express or Limousine bus.
     Please see my post about Narita Express and “How to get from Narita airport to downtown Tokyo”.
     It costs 1,200 yen to take Keisei line to Ueno or Nippori. But this is a basic fare. If you want to take express train “Skyliner”, it costs another 1,200 yen, total is 2,400 yen.
     Takeshi / JPRail

     Reply