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. Beatriz says:
    July 15, 2017 at 6:31 am

    Hi Takeshi, thank you for all the information, this is a great and useful site and I am organizing my trip with it.
    However, I can not figure out which is the best ticket option during my stay in Tokyo.
    We arrive in the afternoon to Haneda airport and our hotel is located in Asakusa. We are spending the next 3 days in Tokyo ( we want to cover the main tourist areas). We will activate our JR Rail Pass on the fourth day, so no coverage in the JR line during our stay in Tokyo. Which would be the best option for us? Single tickets? Thank you!

  2. Maniyarasan says:
    June 24, 2017 at 12:30 am

    Hi, am from Malaysia and booked flight for me and my spouse for Malaysia – Osaka – Malaysia trip from 16 – 26 Dec 2017. Find your article quite informative and would be great help to us for this trip. Appreacite if you assist us in suggesting a suitable itinerary for my DIY trip. TQ

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      June 24, 2017 at 7:55 am

      Hi Maniyarasan,

      Please see the link below. You will find some sample itineraries.
      https://jprail.com/category/sample-itineraries

      I recommend you to decide where you want to go first before you make a trip plan.

      Sorry but I cannot make an itinerary for you personally. Otherwise everybody ask me and it’s too much for me.
      If you make a plan and need my suggestions, you can show me it and I will give you a suggestion.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Julliene says:
    June 13, 2017 at 9:16 am

    I am travelling to Tokyo and will go to Osaka on June 19 1/2 day sightseeing;
    June 20 to Kyoto;
    June 21 to Universal Studios ;
    June 22 will travel back to Tokyo on the 22.
    June 23 Tokyo Sightseeing
    June 24 Mount Fuji
    June 25 Disneyland
    June 26 1/2 Tokyo Sightseeing.
    What is the best train ticket or pass for me.
    Thank you

  4. Tiny says:
    May 4, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Hello, Takeshi

    I have a plan to travel in Tokyo and around in one day but i’m not sure one day pass or single ticket which one is reasonable

    I stay in Shinjuku and I would like to go there;
    – Kawagoe (Saitama prefecture)
    – Asakusa
    – Tokyo sky tree
    – Ueno
    – Akihabara
    – Imperial palace
    and back to hotel in Shinjuku.

    At first, I would like to buy ‘Tokanai pass’ but i don’t know is
    this pass cover ‘JR saikyu line to kawagoe’

    So please give me some advice.

    Thank you!
    Tiny

  5. sara says:
    April 9, 2017 at 4:12 am

    Hi! I need help!

    There will be 11 of us. So we are travelling to Tokyo on the 19th of november and will be staying there for five nights. Until the 24th of november. Which pass should we take then to go around Tokyo? Also i’d like to know if we should get the 7-day JR pass to travel to these places?

    24th-26th Hakone

    26th-1st Kyoto

    1st-3rd Osaka

    Much help is needed. Thanks

  6. Gace H says:
    March 6, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    My family and I are visiting Japan during our children’s spring break.
    I am not sure what would be the best pass or passes to go about for our itinerary which looks like this –

    22nd March – 25th March : Tokyo (probably need a local subway pass or something to cover Tokyo)
    25th : Tokyo to Kaone
    26th : Hakone to Kyoto
    29th : Kyoto to Miyajima
    30th : Miyajima to Osaka
    31st : Osaka to Tokyo
    1st : Tokyo (Flight back from Nirita Airport)

    The way I understand it is, that I should take a local subway pass for Tokyo for the first three days, and then a 7 Day JR pass for the remaining trip till I am back in Tokyo and can take a train to the Airport. Please help me understand this, and suggest the best and cheapest way to go about this.

  7. Jane says:
    February 12, 2017 at 4:01 pm

    Hello Takeshi -san,
    I like to ask if kawaguchi station is part of Tokunai Pass?
    how about Yokohama and shin-yokohama I thought they are both JR stations And it says all exvept reserved sests.

  8. Yin Sun says:
    February 6, 2017 at 1:35 am

    Hi,
    I will be traveling with family of 3 adults and 1 toddler from 5th March to 11st March. We will be arriving at Narita Airport and departing from Kansai Airport. Currently planning for 4nights in Tokyo and 2 nights in Osaka. Could you please advise which pass should we purchase during the time in Tokyo?
    Many thanks for your advice!

  9. shamil says:
    January 30, 2017 at 8:02 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    My wife and I will travel to Japan from 3/4/2017 until 16/4/2017. We will arrive at Kansai Airport and fly back from Narita Airport. We have a difficulty to make a decision which train ticket or pass that we have to buy.

    Basically, our itinerary will be like this:

    3/4/2017 – Arrive at Kansai Airport. Train to Osaka. Tour Osaka. (I will stay in Osaka for 8 night, my Airbnb place is at 大阪市北区中津7-8-5)
    4/4/2017 – 7/4/2017 – Daily commute to Kyoto from Osaka
    8/4/2017 – Day trip to Kurashiki and Kojima Jeans Street
    9/4/2017 – Day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima
    10/4/2017 – Tour Osaka
    11/4/2017 – Take a train to Tokyo (I will stay in Tokyo for 5 night, my Airbnb place is at 東京都台東区駒形1-7-8)
    12/4/2017 – 15/4/2017 – Tour Tokyo. (including Disneysea)
    16/4/2017 – Train to Narita Airport.

    Hope you can advise me on which train passes that I should purchase during my time in Japan. Thanks.

  10. Pamela Abalos says:
    January 8, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    My friend and I will travel in Tokyo on April 13-16. We will be arriving at past 10am in Narita. What pass will I buy that can be used when we go around western tokyo and also from Narita Airport to Tokyo. Our trip will be on Tokyo only. Thank you and have a nice day. ^^,

    —pammy

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