Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokunai Pass) Guide

Rail pass for residents
Yamanote line is the busiest train service in Japan.
2014.06.02
JR's Yamanote line (left) and Tokyo Metro (right)
JR’s Yamanote line (left) and Tokyo Metro (right)

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.

Coverage area map (Click to enlarge)
Coverage area map (Click to enlarge)

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:

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

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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):

stationTokyoShinjukuShinagawaAkihabaraUenoIkebukuro
Tokyo–200170140160200
Shinjuku200–200170200160
Shinagawa170200–170200260
Akihabara140170170–140200
Ueno160200200140–170
Ikebukuro200160260200170–

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:

RouteFare (yen)
Akihabara → Kinshicho160
Kinshicho → Akihabara160
Akihabara → Shinjuku170
Shinjuku → Shinagawa200
Shinagawa → Tokyo170
Tokyo → Akihabara140
Total900

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.

Comments

  1. Anne says:
    January 14, 2015 at 1:03 am

    Hi Takeshi / JP Rail,

    Thank you for the information about the trains in Japan. May I know the operating hours for all the trains? especially the train that require tokunai pass.

    many thanks.

    Cheers,
    Anne

  2. Michelle says:
    December 20, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m sorry for bothering you again but I have a few more questions…

  3. Michelle says:
    December 15, 2014 at 2:58 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be going to Tokyo on the 29th of December, can you tell me if I can use a Tokunai pass to get to these places? It’s a Monday so can you also tell me how to avoid the rush hours in Tokyo?
    (I really don’t like packed trains) 🙂

    1.I will depart from keio plaza hotel in shinjuku to in the morning to Harajuku
    2.then from Harajuku I will go to Akihabara
    3.After Akihabara, I will go to Tokyo Disneyland

    I really hope you can help me as I’ve never taken a train in Tokyo before, Thanks in advance!

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      December 15, 2014 at 6:40 am

      Hi Michelle,

      You can use this ticket, Tokunai Pass. But as you read this post, Maihama (TDL) is not in the coverage area. You have to add the fare on top of this ticket.
      If you take after 9:00 am, it’s not peak hours any more.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. Kim says:
    December 9, 2014 at 5:07 am

    Hi,

    If I get the Tokyo Tokunai pass and I want to go to Disneyland, how do I buy the additional fare required? Do I do it before or after I get on the train?

    Thanks for your help!

  5. maysia says:
    November 27, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I assume we can use the ICOCA in Tokyo ? And do we need this Tokunai pass if we do ?

    thanks
    Maysia

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      November 28, 2014 at 12:42 pm

      Hi Maysia,

      You can use ICOCA to take JR train, subway or other major trains in Tokyo as well. If you take a train many times, you can go for this pass. It depends on your plan. As I wrote above, subway pass may be better for your plan.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. anastacia says:
    November 1, 2014 at 11:34 pm

    Hi, I have one question, can I use the tokunai one day pass to asukasabashi? Thanks

  7. Shuhaida says:
    October 16, 2014 at 3:00 am

    Hi Takeshi / JP Rail,

    I will be in Japan for 12 days. Starting 17th Oct- 29 Oct 2014. Appreciate if you can give your comment on the itinerary/ transportation as below;

    I bought Takayama-Hukuriku Area pass for sightseeing in Takayama & Shirakawa-Go

    Plan for other pass as below:
    1. JR KANTO pass to go to Hitachi seaside park and Fuji.
    2. 1 Day Osaka Amazing pass
    3. TOKYO TOKUNAI pass – for sighseeing in Tokyo

    I’m not sure whether its worth to buy KINTETSU pass wide to use from Nagoya Airport, Nara, Kyoto and Osaka and back to Nagoya Airport. Or I should buy KANSAI THRU pass. Because the pass also include discount for sightseeing.

    Detail itinerary as below;

    17/10: Kuala Lumpur – Nagoya – Kyoto (will take Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto)
    18/10: Sightseeing Kyoto
    19/10: Nara
    20/10:Kyoto – Arashiyama
    21/10: Kyoto – kobosan – Osaka – halfday sightseeing Osaka
    22/10:Sightseeing Osaka – Overnite bus to Tokyo
    23/10:Tokyo – Hitachi Seaside Park
    24/10:Tokyo – Fuji – Gotemba
    25/10:Sightseeing Tokyo
    26/10Sightseeing Tokyo
    27/10:Tokyo – Takayama
    28/10:Takayama – Shirakawa-Go – Nagoya
    29/10:Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur

    Just for your info, I will stay in Omiya-Street area in Kyoto and Sakurajosui in Tokyo.

    Thank you.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      October 16, 2014 at 11:01 pm

      Hi Shuhaida,

      If you want to save the cost and okay to spend more time to get Kyoto, Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide is a good choice. It includes Chubu airport to Nagoya transfer. I’ve heard this access ticket can be used out of 5 days valid period. So you can use Chubu airport to Nagoya return trip on Oct 17 and 29. It can be purchased at Chubu airport. Of course Kintetsu pass can be used to get Nara from Kyoto. If you take this choice, you can use Kyoto all day bus pass for Kyoto sightseeing.
      http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

      I think other deals are okay. But if you use Kanto Area Pass to get Mt. Fuji area, access to Lake Kawaguchi is covered. But JR Gotemba station is outside of coverage area. You have to add the fare for Gotemba to Kouzu. And also there is no connection between Lake Kawaguchi and Gotemba. You have to take a bus and this bus is not covered either.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Connie says:
    July 21, 2014 at 9:46 am

    Hi,

    I will be staying at JAL City Tamachi Hotel, I am wondering whether Tamachi JR station is covered in the Tokyo Tokunai Pass?

    THANK YOU.

  9. Rajat says:
    June 6, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    only question I may have would there be English signage at Railway Stations?

  10. Handoko Taniwidjojo says:
    June 3, 2014 at 12:52 am

    I just want to share my recent two days in Tokyo, while the first day was still covered with JRP so I was using only JR lines to move around, but on the other day I purchased the Toei and Metro one day ticket. It was indeed easier to reach many places with the metro as you could reach almost all places within Tokyo, but the metro and Toei lines were not always located at nearby platforms in case you had to change lines, in a station like Ometomachi you might need to walk up to 800 meters just for changing the lines. And I am very much in agreement that holding the Tokunai Pass will be more convenient as it can reach most of the attractive places and if it is the required to go to a place that is uncovered like Oshiage Sky Tree you can take a subway from Kinsicho or even walk from JR Kinsicho.

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