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. Kevin says:

    Hi JPRail, what’s the best and most economical way to travel around tokyo? I have a jr pass which I will activate one day after I arrive because I am staying one day more than the pass allows. I’ve calculated and discovered this is the more economical way. I’m planning to travel from narita to tokyo by the keisei bus @ ¥1000. Should I buy their ‘shuttle and subway pass’ @ ¥1700? I’m staying near Kokusai-tenjijo station along the rinkai line. Can I use the pass along the jr keiyo line rapid and the rinkai line? If I can’t, should I buy the suica pass instead? Can I use the suica pass on the rinkai line? I’ll be in Tokyo for 3 days. Thank you in advance.

  2. VIC says:

    Hi JPRail,

    We’re planning to stay in Tokyo for 5 days, can I purchase the Special 2-Day Open ticket as the place we would like to visit are mostly in JR Yamanote Line (except Disneyland). We are boarding from Haneda Airport as well.

  3. Koh Jia Qi says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I will have 7 days to venture in Japan, however I am confused on which passes to take. As I do want to spend 3 days in Osaka, I’m stuck between the option of getting a national JR pass and getting a regional passes of both Kanto region and Kansai and getting a aeroplane there as it is faster and around the same price. However this 2nd choice would cause me to not have the pass on the last few days of my Tokyo trip. Would a pass be still worth it in my Tokyo trip or should I just pay by prepaid?

    In Tokyo I’m interested into venturing to Yokohama, Mt Fujii and of course central area Shibuya Harajuka Asasuka

    Reading that subways are not covered in national JR passes, it made me more confused. How should I plan my trip?

    • Hi Koh Jia Qi,

      As long as you have one way trip from Osaka to Tokyo, JR Pass (National pass) is not your choice. You must have round trip between Tokyo and Osaka. Otherwise single fare is cheaper.

      At this point, I cannot see the whole picture of your plan. Can you show me your detailed itinerary, such as arrival and departure airport, arrival and departure time, and location to stay?

      I may give you better advice if you give me these info.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. Dimple says:

    Good day. We are a family of four, three adults and one junior (16), and we are staying for four nights in a Disney official hotel then transfer to Universal Osaka hotel for three nights. We plan to go to Disney for two days and one day in Universal. All the rest of our stay will be sightseeing and shopping around Tokyo and Osaka. Would appreciate suggestion on the kind of rail ticket that would best suit of itinerary. Thank you.

  5. Pamela says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m planning to travel from Tokyo (3 days) – shin fuji (1 day)- hakone ( 2 days)- Tokyo (3 days). Could you recommend which pass I should get – JR. Pass (7 days) or pasmo card? I might even give up hakone and spend more days in tokyo.

    Appreciate Ur advice!

  6. Kay says:

    Hi,

    I will be staying at Palace Japan Hotel for 3 nights, 5 minutes walk from minami senju. I wish to go disneyland, shinjuku, fuji, ueno etc.. and 3 nights at Hokkaido (Hakodate, Otaru n Sapporo). May I know what kind of passes are useful for me to move around Tokyo and Hokkaido.

    Tq

  7. jocelyn says:

    Hi, Takeshi,

    I will be staying at Shinagawa for 2 nights,.and I wish to visit some of the spots like Tsukiji, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Ueno, Ooedoonsen… which pass Should I purchase in this case?
    Jocelyn

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Jocelyn,

      Subway pass is the best. However there is no subway station in Shinagawa. You have to pay extra to take Keihin Kyuko train from Shinagaw to Sengakuji.
      http://www.bento.com/pix/subway/subway5.gif

      JR train cannot take you Asakusa and Tsukiji. So subway pass is only your choice. But if you visit Shinjuku and Ueno in different day, you can use just single ticket to take JR train.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Airin says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I have some enquiries here. For my first few days in Japan, I will be staying in Daiba area. I understand that Daiba area is under Yurikamome line. May I know what kind of passes are useful for me to move around Tokyo? Metro day pass? suica? Please advise. Thank you.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Airin,

      First of all, Suica is very convenient. Suica can be used for Yurikamome, JR line, subway and Rinkai line. But Yurikamome takes you just Shinbashi or Shiodeme. After you arrive there, you will take subway or JR line. I think you may add Metro pass as you need.
      And also, Rinkai line is more convenient when you go to west side of downtown Tokyo, such as Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Shinjuku. Rinkai line train goes there directly from Tokyo Teleport station (Odaiba).
      http://www.twr.co.jp/lg/en/route.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • airin says:

        Thanks for your response. Just another clarification on this matter. Suica cannot be used at metro/toei line? What about PASMO? Also same as Suica?

  9. tzewoei says:

    Hi, I am interested in getting Tokyo Tour Ticket.
    What does “23 Special Wards” in “Local and Rapid JR East trains in 23 Special Wards of Tokyo” means?
    Can I travel to all station using JR, Metro, CH01 bus, Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Yurikamome and Rinkai Line if I purchase Tokyo Tour Ticket?
    Can I buy this ticket in Japan?

  10. JAyre says:

    Hi readers,

    I find suica very convenient. I’ve never used any of the pases because of how easy suica is to use. The card has extended functionality and also works on buses (including as far away as Hakone), some taxis, station vending machines, and a selection of stores including kiosks and food places at Tokyo stations, convenience stores near stations and some larger stores like “Yodobashi Camera” in Tokyo.

    The card is also valid in areas where other JR cards are in use. Cities you can use Suica in include Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka/Hakata, Sendai and Sapporo for JR lines and stores, making it great around the nation for small purchases and if you need to pay for short local trains.

    Also, if you’re using suica/single tickets, its cheaper if you stick to one company’s line. You can plan your journey using the fare maps at stations, but many Toei/Metro lines do not have English names, which can be difficult.

    Best regards,

    – Jonathan Ayre –

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