Tokyo Subway Ticket is most useful deal for sightseeing in downtown Tokyo.

Rail pass for visitors
Toei Subway Oedo line connects Shinjuku with Tsukiji Market.
Toei Subway Oedo line

There are some deals available in downtown Tokyo. But if you are not sure where you visit in downtown Tokyo, choose Tokyo Subway Ticket. Tokyo subway system covers most part of Tokyo 23 wards.

In this post, I will explain about Tokyo Subway Ticket and combo deal which include airport access and Tokyo Subway Ticket. And also I will compare Tokyo Subway Ticket and other deals.

What is Tokyo Subway Ticket?

There are two subway companies in Tokyo. These are Tokyo Metro and Tokyo Toei Subway. Tokyo Subway Ticket covers both subway.

Please click the map above to get PDF map. (C) Tokyo Metro

This deal offers unlimited ride in 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours.

DurationPrice(Adult)Price(Child)
24 hours800 yen400 yen
48 hours1,200 yen600 yen
72 hours1,500 yen750 yen

This is not a “Day Pass”. This deal is valid 24 hours, 48 hour and 72 hours after first usage.

e.g. First use of 24 hours ticket at 9:00 am on July 15. Valid until 9:00 am on July 16.

This is subway deal. This deal does not cover other than Tokyo Metro and Tokyo Toei Subway. You cannot use this to take JR trains, Tobu Railway, Seibu Railway, Odakyu Railway, Keio Railway, Keisei Railway, Keikyu Railway and other non JR railways.

Where to purchase

You can purchase at many locations.

  • Narita Airport
  • Haneda Airport
  • Tokyo Metro major station’s pass office
  • Tokyo Metro tourist information
  • Other tourist information
  • BIC Camera (retail store)
  • LAOX (retail store)
  • Major hotels
  • Major local travel agents

Please see the official site to get the details:

Tokyo Metro – Tokyo Subway Ticket

The place in Tokyo where you cannot go by Tokyo Subway Ticket

You can go almost anywhere by subway in downtown Tokyo. In major tourist spots, only Odaiba is connected by any subway lines. You have to take other railway which is called “Yurikamome” from the nearest subway station, such as Toyosu, Shiodome or Shimbashi.

Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are very close to downtown Tokyo but these are not located in Tokyo actually. This is not accessed by subway either. Shin-Kiba is the nearest subway station. You have to take JR trains from there.

You may find more information in other post below:

Access to/from Narita or Haneda airport

Subway does not take you to these airports. But there are a few combo deals available which includes airport access ticket and Tokyo Subway Ticket, such as Keisei Railway Skyliner + Tokyo Subway Ticket, Limousine Bus + Tokyo Subway Ticket. Please find more information at the link below:

Tokyo Metro official site, Airport – Downtown Tokyo Routes and Tickets

How many ride require to get the worth

Please see the faretable for major stations:

StationsTokyoShinjukuUenoAsakusa
Tokyo190160190
Shinjuku190190230
Ueno160190160
Asakusa190230160

The fare is varied by distance but the average fare is around 200 yen. If you use 24 days ticket, roughly 5 rides is an indication to get the worth of it. If you use 48 hours or 72 hours, it is getting easier to get the worth.

Compare Tokyo Subway Ticket and Tokyo Tokunai Pass

As I mentioned above, Tokyo Subway Ticket covers subway only. But JR train is better choice for some travelers. If you want to visit only places on JR lines, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinagawa, Ueno, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, you should ride on JR train. Tokyo Subway is very convenient and has a bigger coverage. However there are so many lines and it is hard to find the best route for a traveler. In downtown Tokyo, there are a few JR lines, like Yamanote line, Chuo line. It is much easier to travel. For this type of traveler, JR deal, “Tokyo Tokunai Pass” is better choice.

Please make sure where you visit before you choose the deal.

Compare Tokyo Subway Ticket and IC card (Suica or Pasmo)

Suica or Pasmo gives you convenience but it does not give you unlimited ride. However if you visit a few places a day, you cannot get the worth of Tokyo Subway Ticket. And if you want to take both JR train and subway, you may not be able to get the worth of either Tokyo Subway Ticket or Tokyo Tokunai Pass. In these cases, IC card is better choice. If you purchase it in downtown Tokyo, Suica or Pasmo is your choice. But if you visit other place(s) before you come to Tokyo, you have other IC card, such as ICOCA. You can use it in Tokyo too. Please see the link below to find more information about IC card:

Comments

  1. Stacey Kunch says:

    Hello:

    I am asking about the TOKYO SUBWAY TICKET.
    Does it cover the SKYTREE LINE ?
    I will be travelling back and forth on this line from downtown to KOSHIGAYA Station.

    Thank you

  2. Janice Long says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    We are going back to Japan again this year.. this round we intended to visit Tokyo and cities surrounding it (Nagano, Yokohama, Kamakura, Disneyland). We will also be staying in Hakone for a few days. Pls advise which rail pass we should purchase. We are coming from Narita Airport.

    Thanks,
    JL

  3. Catrina says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    Can i used the icoca in tokyo for the metro and other train etc??
    I already bought the metro subway pass 24hours for my one day tour, but i have 2nd day to mt. fuji tour (joining local tour start Shinjuku VIP Lounge) and last day to disney. i was thinking of using the icoca to pay for the train/metro on the 2nd and last day. Or maybe you have better suggestion ?
    Also which or how is the best way from hotel to Haneda airport, i will be staying around shiodome station?
    Arigato Gozaimasu.

  4. Hello Takeshi,

    I noticed that some of the toei subway asakusa line goes all the way to Narita Airport and the train changes it name along the way.

    If I’m not mistaken, the coverage area of Tokyo Subway 24 hour ticket only as far as Oshiage, right? How to buy the separate ticket to cover my travel between Oshiage to Narita Airport? Do I need to to disembark in Oshiage, purchase the separate ticket, and ride a different train?

    Thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Tera Prameswara

    • Hi Tera,

      You don’t need to get off a train at Oshiage. You can go through Narita airport and when you exit Narita airport, you can pay for this extra charge. Just go to the man’s gate and show your subway pass to pay extra.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Liyun Zhuo says:

    Hi there,
    your advise above have been very helpful!

    Could you help me double check if I am on the right track? We are departing from JR Meijiro station.

    3 day Tokyo metro pass for:
    Ikebukuro Station to Kōrakuen Station.
    Suidōbashi Station to Uchisaiwaichō Sta.
    Toranomon Station to Omote-sando Station.
    Omote-sando Station to Shibuya station
    Ueno station to Asakusa station.

    Also, I am thinking of getting the 1 day JR Tokunai Pass.
    Shinjuku
    Shibuya
    Harajuku
    Tokyo Station
    I do understand the pass may not access Odaiba. I intend to alight at Osaki Station. Does that cover Osaki station?

    Many thanks!

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