Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokunai Pass) Guide

There are many transportation deals available in Tokyo, and the Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass is one of the most popular options.
In this post, I will explain how to use this pass, compare it with subway passes, and help you decide which one is best for your trip.

Price and Validity

• Adult fare: 760 yen (one day)
• Child fare: 380 yen (ages 6–11)
• Children aged 5 and under: Free of charge

A “one day” pass is valid from the first train of the day until the last train around midnight.
Most JR trains in Tokyo start running around 5:00 a.m. and stop around 12:30 a.m. the following day.

Example:

• If you purchase the pass on April 27, you can still use it on trains that depart after midnight, up until the last train early on April 28.
• However, if you buy the pass at 0:01 a.m. on April 28, you cannot use it for trains that departed earlier that same morning.

Important note:

• This pass is only valid on local and rapid JR trains.
• If you ride a Shinkansen, only the base fare is covered—you must pay the limited express surcharge separately.
• Since the distances within central Tokyo are short (e.g., Tokyo–Ueno or Tokyo–Shinagawa are about 10 minutes by local train), there is no practical reason to take a Shinkansen in this area.

How to Purchase and Use

The pass can be purchased at JR EAST reserved seat ticket vending machines in the usage area.

To use it, simply insert the ticket into the automatic ticket gate, then retrieve it after passing through.

Coverage Area

The map below shows the coverage area.
The green solid lines represent routes where the pass is valid.

Major stations covered include:

• Tokyo
• Akihabara
• Ueno
• Ikebukuro
• Shinjuku
• Shibuya
• Shinagawa

Notes:

• Harajuku is included, even though it may not be labeled on some maps.
• Yurakucho is also included and is just one stop from Tokyo Station, making Ginza easily accessible on foot.

Popular spots NOT covered by this pass:

• Asakusa
• Tsukiji Market
• Tokyo Skytree
• Odaiba
• Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
• Ghibli Museum (Mitaka)

Tip:

• Odaiba, Tokyo Disney Resort, and the Ghibli Museum are not accessible by subway passes either.
• If you plan to visit Asakusa, Skytree, and Tsukiji all on the same day, a subway pass is your best (and only) option.
• However, if you don’t plan to visit these spots, or only plan to visit one of them, the Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokyo Tokunai Pass) may be a better deal.

Important:
If you already have a Japan Rail Pass, JR East Pass, or Tokyo Wide Pass, this pass is unnecessary—those passes already cover this area.

Comparison with Subway Passes

The Tokyo Subway Ticket is another popular option:

• 24-hour pass: 800 yen
• 48-hour(1,200 yen) and 72-hour (1,500 yen) passes are also available, with lower per-day costs.

The subway network covers more areas than JR trains, especially for tourist attractions.

Key difference in validity:

• Tokyo Subway Ticket: Valid for 24 hours from first use.
  • Example: Start at 17:00 on March 24 → valid until 16:59 on March 25.
• Tokyo Tokunai Pass: Valid only from midnight to midnight on the same calendar day.

Pros and Cons

• Tokyo Subway Ticket
  • ✅ Great coverage, can reach almost anywhere
  • ❌ Complicated network with many lines—may be confusing for first-time visitors
• Tokyo Tokunai Pass
  • ✅ Simple, fast, and direct routes, especially along the Yamanote Line
  • ❌ Limited coverage (JR lines only)

If your itinerary mostly includes Yamanote Line stations like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Akihabara, or Ginza, the Tokyo Tokunai Pass is easier and more convenient.
If you need to visit places only accessible by subway, choose the Tokyo Subway Ticket instead.

How Much Travel You Need to Make It Worthwhile

Below are sample one-way fares between major stations (in yen):

As you can see, JR fares in Tokyo are quite reasonable.
To make the pass worthwhile, you generally need to take 4–5 one-way trips in a single day.
If you only plan a couple of rides, buying single tickets will be cheaper.

Trips Outside the Coverage Area

You can travel beyond the coverage area by paying additional fares.

Example: Tokyo Disney Resort

• Maihama Station (gateway to Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea) is one stop beyond the coverage area boundary (Kasairinkaikoen Station).
• Additional fare: 140 yen one-way.
• Regular fare Shinjuku → Maihama: 390 yen one-way.
  • Total round trip: 780 yen
  • This may be cheaper than combining the pass (760 yen) with additional fares unless you plan extra JR trips before or after visiting Disney.

Example: Ghibli Museum (Mitaka)

• Mitaka Station is two stops beyond the boundary (Nishi-Ogikubo Station).
• Additional fare: 160 yen one-way.
• From Ueno or Shinagawa to Mitaka: 390 yen one-way.
  • Same logic as above: If you will make many other JR trips that day, the pass may still be worthwhile.

My Itinerary Example

When I used this pass, I traveled the following segments:

Why I chose this pass:

1. My hotel was near JR Akihabara Station.
2. I needed direct transfers between Tokyo and Akihabara.
3. Shinagawa does not have a subway station, so JR was the best option.
4. The Tokyo Skytree was my only destination outside the coverage area.
   • Even though I paid 170 yen one-way on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, the total savings still made the pass the best choice.

Summary

• The Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass is best for travelers whose itineraries focus on central Tokyo and Yamanote Line stations.
• If you plan to visit places like Asakusa, Tsukiji, or Tokyo Skytree, consider a Tokyo Subway Ticket instead.
• To make the pass worthwhile, aim for 4–5 rides per day or more.
• For day trips slightly outside central Tokyo (like Disneyland or Mitaka), the pass can still be useful if you plan extra JR travel before or after.