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. Nora says:
    November 1, 2015 at 8:28 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I’m planning to use this takunai pass from Ueno to Showa Kinen Goen. Up to my understanding, this pass does not cover up to Showa Kinen Goen. Can you advise where should I transfer the other train so that I can maximize the usage of this pass? Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 1, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Hi Nora,

      If you use this pass, you have to pay extra for Nishi-Ogikubo to Nishi-Tachikawa or Tachikawa. Actually single ticket from Ueno to Nishi-Tachikawa is cheaper than Tokunai pass + extra fare. If you want to take JR trains after this trip, Tokunai pass and extra is okay. Otherwise purchase single ticket is simply cheaper.

      You can take JR Yamanote line to Kanda. And transfer to Chuo line rapid to Tachikawa. If you want to get off at Nishi-Tachikawa, transfer to Chuo line local at Tachikawa again.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Peter says:
    October 25, 2015 at 3:02 am

    Hi,

    I have used this pass before, but not for trips outside the area.

    I have a day planned where I will make at least two JR trips inside the area, totalling Y380, and also a return JR trip to from Ryogoku to Ofuna which is Y920 each way.

    Without the pass the total would be Y2220.

    Am I correct that if I used the pass at Ryogoku, when I got to Ofuna I would need to pay Y550 for the additional distance?

    And when I return can I use the pass in the wickets at Ofuna and pay the additional in Ryogoku?

    This would be a total cost for the day of only Y1850 instead of Y2200 and give me the chance to make extra JR trips if I have spare time.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      October 25, 2015 at 9:03 am

      Hi Peter,

      You are right. If you use this pass, you need to add 550 yen x 2 = 1100 yen on top of this pass. Total cost is 1850 yen. It’c cheaper than regular fare.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Alim says:
    October 5, 2015 at 11:57 pm

    Hi Takeshi, I will be traveling to Tokyo for only 3 days and will arrived at Haneda airport. Which pass would you recommend me to get. As I will only be travelling and sightseeing the areas within the Yamanote line. Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      October 6, 2015 at 12:09 am

      Hi Alim,

      I think this deal, Tokunai pass is the best. But you have to pay single fare from Haneda to Hamamatsucho or Shinagawa. This deal does not cover Haneda and you cannot purchase it at Haneda either.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • Ann says:
      October 6, 2015 at 3:29 am

      Dear Takeshi san
      I stay at Toyoko inn in Shinagawa area and I plan to vitsit Kichijoji. Can I use Tokunai Pass to go there?
      Thank you very much.
      Ann

  4. Sue says:
    September 29, 2015 at 1:54 am

    Hi Takeshi
    Trying to get my head around all the trains in Tokyo. Is the metro line and the subway the same train? Looking at buying a Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Toyko Tokunai) 1 day Pass for 750 yen. Can I use that pass on Metro line but not subway?
    Thanks for your help.
    Sue

  5. unie says:
    September 12, 2015 at 6:07 am

    Hye..i need ur help if u dont mind.am going to tokyo very soon.
    Everyday, my journey will start from Seibu Koremasa station(fuchu),becoz am renting a room nearby this station.am really confuse dont know what to do with the transport go get to the places that i want to visit..help me to combine the places easy acsess to each other..from day 2 until day 7..becoz i think its mess up..appreciate ur help.thanks

    DAY 1 (19 october)
    -renting a car to kawaguchiko area, gotemba n mt fuji. This one settle.

    DAY 2 (20 0ct0ber) 
    – whole day visit disneyland tokyo

    DAY 3 (21october)
    Odaiba , kabukicho, tokyo dome

    DAY 4 (22 october) 
    -shinjuku-shibuya-roppongi, roppongi hills and mori tower 
    -tokyo tower

    DAY 5 ( 23 october) 
    – tokyo imperial palace-koishikawa botanical garden-ginza 
    -akihabara electric town

    DAY 6 (24 october) 
    -euno, euno park-asakusa,asakusa shrine-asakusa tourist centre 
    -tokyo sky tree
    -tokyo cami mosque

    DAY 7 (last day-25 october) 
    -check out.-university of tokyo, hongo campus.-takeshita street harajuku 
    -free and easy untill off to airport haneda.

  6. Akmal says:
    August 31, 2015 at 11:47 am

    Hi takeshi, Can i buy tokunai pass at haneda airport? Will be arriving at haneda airport on midnight and heading to TDR on next morning.

  7. Denise says:
    July 5, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    Hi,

    Does the Tokunai pass(unlimited JR pass 1 day) include the JR Narita Express?

    Thank you!

  8. Ana says:
    July 4, 2015 at 4:09 am

    First of all thanks for your recommendations 🙂

    Now, I have a doubt. The map about the coverage area for the Tokunai Pass, does it include all the stations of the JR lines you can use? I understand that the answer is no. I mean that you put the final stations of the diferent lines you can use with this pass, but not the whole stations. Am I right? For exemple, I have my reservation in a hostel located at Nihashi Jujo station (Jr Keihin Tohoku Line), and that line arrives to Akabane (included at the map you share), so I understand that Tokunai Pass allows me to arrive to my hostel. Is that right? Thank you very much.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      July 4, 2015 at 9:22 am

      Hi Ana,

      The map shows you major stations and the station that is located at the border of coverage area. So you can use any stations in the coverage area. Higashi-Jujo is in coverage area so you can use this pass to get the nearest station to your hostel.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. jay says:
    April 2, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    Hi

    I already purchase JR Pass, will be going to tokyo for 3 days, My itinerary
    4/10 – Osaka
    4/11-kyoto

    4/12 -Tokyo disneyland/ Tokyo disneysea
    Shibuya crossing

    4/13
    Imperial palace
    Chidorigafuchi Tokyo
    Asakusa Sensoji Temple
    Tokyo tower/ Skytree
    Ueno Park
    Meguro park
    Oriental Bazaar

    4/14
    Mt fuji

    4/15
    back to Osaka

    Is it better to purchase another pass for tokyo subways? As i know not all station cover by JR Pass
    Thanks

  10. Lydia says:
    February 2, 2015 at 12:38 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Would like to know if possible to purchase the Two-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway in 7 days advance? Where to purchase besides Haneda Airport?

    Thanks.

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