Greater Tokyo Pass offers unlimited ride of Tokyo Subway and major Non JR lines in Tokyo and surrounding area.

Rail pass for visitors
Downtown Tokyo (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

This new deal covers all subway lines in Tokyo and major non JR railway services in Tokyo and surrounding area. Both Haneda and Narita airports are covered by this pass. You can start using this pass right after you arrive in Japan.

In this post, I would like to share the information about Greater Tokyo Pass. You will find how you use this pass and what type of travel you can get the worth by.

Overview

In Japan, there are many train companies. Especially in Tokyo, JR, Tokyo Metro, Tobu Railway, Odakyu Railway, Keisei Railway and many more railway lines run in downtown core. Actually even for Japanese who do not live in Tokyo, this is very complicated. JR used to be Japan National Railway. It was public sector but it was privatized many years ago. JR has train network throughout Japan. There are many rail passes, such as JR Pass, JR East Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass.

But when you travel in Japan, you will use other train companies. For example, when you go to Hakone, Odakyu Railway is very convenient. When you go to Nikko, Tobu Railway is very convenient. However there was no deals to cover both Odakyu and Tobu railways. When you visit the places in downtown Tokyo, Tokyo Metro has bigger network than JR.

Greater Tokyo Pass is first ever deal to cover all major non JR train companies and Tokyo subway lines.

Please see the link below to find the press release from Tokyo Metro. You will find more information there.

Press release from Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Toei Subway Transportation

The deal offers three consecutive days unlimited ride on the railway and subway which are covered. You can have only one pass to cover these many trains.

Prices and valid period

DurationAdultChild
3 days7,2003,600

Child rate is applied to 6 to 11 years old. Child who is 5 years old and younger is free of charge.

One day means midnight to midnight, technically 0:00 to 23:59. Even if you start using the pass at 23:00. you will spend one full day for just one hour. So try to start in the morning. It does not make sense to start to use in late evening.

How to purchase Greater Tokyo Pass

Keio Railway Shinjuku station is one of the sales locations.

You cannot purchase this pass in advance. But there are many locations to buy this pass in Tokyo, such as Narita airport, Haneda airport, most of Tokyo Metro station’s commuter pass sales window and many major non JR station. You may find the sales location list in the press release which I mentioned above.

Valid railway lines

Greater Tokyo Pass covers all subway services in Tokyo. And also it covers most of major non JR railway lines. Please see the list below to find which train companies are covered:

  • Tokyu Railway (line map)
    Shibuya is the terminal station in Tokyo. This railway runs to Yokohama, Shimo-Takaido, Chuo-Rinkan. Many of trains go through Yokohama Minatomirai line. In train operation, Yokohama Minatomirai line is a part of Tokyu Railway line. You can get Yokohama bay area directly from Shibuya.
  • Tobu Railway (line map)
    Tobu Railway has two terminal stations, Asakusa and Ikebukuro. From Ikebukuro, train runs to Saitama prefecture, such as Kawagoe, Yorii. From Asakusa, train runs to Saitama, Gumma and Tochigi. You can get Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen from Asakusa by this railway.
  • Seibu Railway (line map)
    Seibu Railway has two terminal stations, Seibu-Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. It connects these terminal stations and many places in Saitama, such as Hon-Kawagoe, Tokorozawa, Chichibu.
  • Keio Railway (line map)
    Keio Railway connects Shinjuku and western part of Tokyo, such as Tama, Hachioji, Takaosan. Keio Railway also connects Shibuya and Inokashira.
  • Odakyu Railway (line map)
    Shinjuku is the terminal station in Tokyo. This railway line goes to Odawara and Enoshima. Limited Express “Romancecar” goes through Hakone-Yumoto via Odawara. But this pass does not cover Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto. Hakone Free Pass is required to visit Hakone. Enoshima is the gateway to Kamakura.
  • Keisei Railway (line map)
    Ueno is the terminal station in Tokyo. This railway runs to Chiba and Narita Airport. Some of the train go through subway line. Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree), Asakusa and Ginza are located on this subway line. You can get these places from Narita airport directly. Both subway and Keisei are covered by this pass.
  • Keikyu Railway (line map)
    Shinagawa is the terminal station in Tokyo. This railway connects Sengakuji, Shinagawa, Haneda airport, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Uraga, Msakiguchi. This railway line connects to subway line at Sengakuji. Many train go through this subway line. This line is same subway line as Keisei railway connection. Many trains run on Keikyu railway, subway Asakusa line and Keisei railway.
  • Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway (line map)
    Tokyo Subway lines belong to two companies and both are covered by this pass.
  • Sotetsu Railway (line map)
    Sagami Railway lines has train network in Kanagawa prefecture, such as Yokohama.
  • Tokyo Saraku Tram / Arakawa line (line map)
    Sagami Railway lines has train network in Kanagawa prefecture, such as Yokohama.
  • Yokohama Municipal Subway (line map)
    Sagami Railway lines has train network in Kanagawa prefecture, such as Yokohama.
  • Yokohama Minatomirai line (line map)
    This line runs between Yokohama and Motomachi-Chukagai. This line runs along Yokohama bay area. This is very convenient for sightseeing in Yokohama. In train operation, this is a part of Tokyu Railway line. Most of trains run from Shibuya.

The following link is in Japanese but you can find the coverage map in page 5 of the link below:
Greater Tokyo Pass (Japanese)

Valid bus lines

There are so many bus lines which are covered by this pass. The following bus companies are covered. But actually I do not have any detailed information about which route is covered by this pass. I show you only bus company’s name here:

  • Tokyo Toei Bus
  • Tokyu Bus
  • Keio Bus
  • Kanto Bus
  • Seibu Bus
  • Kokusai Kogyo Bus
  • Odakyu Bus
  • Keihin Kyuko Bus
  • Keisei Bus
  • Tobu Central Bus
  • Tachikawa Bus
  • Nishi Tokyo Bus
  • Hitachi Jidosha Kotsu Bus
  • Keio Bus Higashi
  • Tokyu Trance Bus
  • City Bus Tachikawa
  • Keisei Town Bus
  • Keio Bus Minami
  • Keio Bus Chuo
  • Keio Bus Koganei
  • Yokohama City Bus
  • Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Bus
  • Kawasaki Tsurumi Rinko Bus
  • Kawasaki City Bus
  • Sotetsu Bus
  • Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Nishi Bus
  • Enoden Bus Fujisawa
  • Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Higashi Bus
  • Enoden Bus Yokohama
  • Kominato Tetsudo Bus
  • Chiba Kotsu Bus
  • Tobu Bus East
  • Chiba Chuo Bus
  • Toyo Bus
  • Hanto Jidosha Bus
  • Tokyo Bay City Kotsu Bus
  • Narita Airport Kotsu Bus
  • Chiba Kaihin Kotsu Bus
  • Chiba Nairiku Bus
  • Chiba Rainbow Bus
  • Chiba Green Bus
  • Chiba City Bus
  • Heiwa Kotsu Bus
  • Asuka Kotsu Bus
  • Keisei Transit Bus
  • Chiba Seaside Bus
  • Tobu Bus West
  • Ibaraki Kyuko Bus
  • Kawagoe Kanko Bus
  • Asahi Jidosha Bus
  • Seibu Kanko Bus
  • Kokusai Juou Bus

These above bus companies have local bus lines in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures. In my understanding, most of city bus lines are covered. But express bus, long distance bus, overnight bus and airport limousine bus are not covered.

Valid train

Tobu Railway 100 series Spacia
Tobu Railway Limited Express Spacia

The above railway lines are covered but extra surcharge is required to take the following trains even the trains run on the coverage line.:

  • Odakyu Railway limited express train “Romancecar”
  • Tobu Railway limited express train “Spacia”, “Revaty”
  • Seibu Railway “Red Arrow”, “S-Train”, “Haijima Liner”
  • Odakyu Railway “Romancecar”
  • Keisei Railway “Skyliner”
  • Keio Railway “Keio Liner”
  • Keikyu Railway “Wing”, “Morning Wing”
  • Tokyu Railway “S-Train”
  • Yokohama Minatomirai line “S-Train”
  • Tokyo Metro Subway “Romancecar”, “S-Train”

These above trains have reserved seat. You have to pay for that. The extra fare is 300 to 1000 yen. It is varied by the distance or the type of train.

Coverage area and place

Town of Kawagoe (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

This pass covers most part of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba. The following tourist places are covered by this pass.

  • Nikko
  • Yokohama
  • Enoshima
  • Kawagoe
  • Chichibu
  • Mt. Takao

This pass covers all lines of Tokyo subway system. You can visit most of places in downtown Tokyo. But subway and other covered train lines do not go to Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea and Odaiba.

This pass covers Haneda airport by Keikyu Railway line and Narita airport by Keisei Railway line. You can start using this pass right after you arrive in Japan if you want. Of course you can purchase the pass in both airports.

You can use this pass for the trip to Hakone partially. This pass covers only Shinjuku to Odawara. You need to add Hakone Free Pass (Odawara departure version) for sightseeing in Hakone.

Compare regular fare and Greater Tokyo Pass

When you think about purchasing this deal, you have to make sure that you get the worth or not. I show you some one day trip sample fare tables. You may combine these and if total fares reach 7,200 yen, you can go for this pass.
*All rates are based on the base fare as of March, 2018.

Trip to Nikko and Tokyo Skytree from Shinjuku

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to AsakusaSubway240
Asakusa to Tobu-NikkoTobu Railway1,360
Tobu-Nikko to Tokyo SkytreeTobu Railway1,360
Oshiage to ShinjukuSubway270
 Total fare3,230

Trip to Kinugawa Onsen and Nikko Edo Wonderland from Shinjuku

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to AsakusaSubway240
Asakusa to Kinugawa OnsenTobu Railway1,550
Kinugawa Onsen to AsakusaTobu Railway1,550
Asakusa to ShinjukuSubway240
 Total fare3,580

Trip to Yokohama from Shinjuku

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to ShibuyaSubway170
Shibuya to Minato-MiraiTokyu Railway
Manatomirai line
450
Minatomirai to Motomachi-ChukagaiTobu Railway180
Matomachi-Chukagai to ShibuyaSubway480
Shibuya to ShinjukuSubway170
 Total fare1,450

Tokyo sightseeing

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to Meiji-Jingumae
(Harajuku)
Subway170
Meiji-Jingumae to GinzaSubway170
Ginza to Sakuradamon
(Imperial Palace)
Subway170
Sakuradamon to AkihabaraTobu Railway170
Akihabara to UenoSubway170
Ueno to AsakusaSubway170
Asakusa to Tokyo SkytreeTobu Railway150
Oshiage to RoppongiSubway270
Roppongi to ShinjukuSubway220
 Total fare1,660

Trip to Kawagoe from Shinjuku

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to IkebukuroSubway170
Ikebukuro to KawagoeTobu Railway470
Kawagoe to IkebukuroTobu Railway470
Oshiage to ShinjukuSubway170
 Total fare1,280

Trip to Enoshima from Shinjuku

SegmentTransportationFare (Yen)
Shinjuku to Katase-EnoshimaOdakyu Railway630
Katase-Enoshima to ShinjukuOdakyu Railway630
 Total fare1,260

Fares for Narita Airport to Ueno by Keisei Railway

Base fare is from 1,240 yen

Fares for Haneda Airport to Shinagawa by Keikyu Railway

Base fare is from 410 yen

How to get the worth of Greater Tokyo Pass

This pass is sold at 7,200 for 3 days. That means you have to spend 2,400 yen value averagely every day. However as I showed some sample fare tables, it is not easy to spend 2,400 yen value everyday to visit only one place. Only trip to Nikko or Kinugawa Onsen can give you a big value. You basically have to visit a few places a day. Otherwise you cannot get the worth of this pass.

Compare Greater Tokyo Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass

JR sells Tokyo Wide Pass. These two passes seem to be similar. You may be wondering which pass the is better deal. Actually these are quite different.

Price

Tokyo Wide Pass 10,180 yen
Greater Tokyo Pass 7,200 yen

Greater Tokyo Pass is cheaper but there are some reasons.

Coverage area of outside Tokyo

LocationTokyo Wide PassGreater Tokyo Pass
NikkoYesYes
Kinugawa-OnsenYesYes
HakoneNoNo
Kawaguchiko
(Mt. Fuji)
YesNo
KawagoeYesYes
Kusatsu OnsenYesNo
YokohamaYesYes
EnoshimaNoYes
KamakuraYes (*1)Yes (*2)
Gala YuzawaYesNo
Atami, IzuYesNo
Hitachi Seaside ParkYes (*3)No
KaruizawaYesNo

*1 You can get Kamakura by Tokyo Wide Pass. But some of places in Kamakura are not located near Kamakura station, such as Big Buddha. You have to take Enoden Railway which is not covered by Tokyo Wide Pass.

*2 You can get Kamakura by Enoden bus from Fujisawa.

*3 You can get Katsuta station. But you have to take other railway or local bus to get Hitachi Seaside Park. Those local transportation are not covered.

Tokyo Wide Pass offers much bigger coverage area. If you intend to visit Kusatsu Onsen, Izu, Gala Yuzawa and/or Karuizawa, your choice is Tokyo Wide Pass.

Coverage area of inside Tokyo

LocationTokyo Wide PassGreater Tokyo Pass
Toyosu MarketNoYes
GinzaYes (*)Yes
Marunouchi
(Tokyo station)
YesYes
ShinjukuYesYes
ShibuyaYesYes
HarajukuYesYes
UenoYesYes
AkihabaraYesYes
RoppongiNoYes
AsakusaNoYes
Tokyo SkytreeNoYes
OdaibaYesNo
Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySeaYesNo

* The nearest station to Ginza by Tokyo Wide Pass is Yurakucho. But Ginza is located within walking distance from Yurakucho.

Greater Tokyo Pass covers more in downtown Tokyo because subway network is much bigger than JR train network. However Tokyo Wide Pass covers Odaiba and Tokyo Disney Resort. These are big benefits.

Limited express trains

Tokyo Wide Pass covers reserved ordinary seat fee on all limited express trains except for Shinkansen (bullet train) ride between Tokyo and Atami. Greater Tokyo Pass does not cover any express train fee. I show you some examples:

Trip to Nikko

Tokyo Wide Pass covers the following trips fully:
Shinjuku (Limited Express Nikko) Tobu-Nikko
Tokyo/Ueno (Shinkansen) Utsunomiya (Local train) Nikko

Greater Tokyo Pass covers the following trips:
Asakusa (Tobu Railway) Kurihashi (Tobu Railway) Tobu-Nikko

You can get Asakusa by subway from most of places in downtown Tokyo. From Asakusa, you can take Tobu Railway. But there is no direct train options available by this pass. Limited Express Spacia and Revaty go to Tobu-Nikko directly from Asakusa but you need to pay limited express fee on top of Greater Tokyo Pass.

Trip to Hakone

Both passes do not cover Hakone and both cover until you get Odawara. But Tokyo Wide Pass offers more comfortable train trip. Please see the link below:

How to build the trip plan to Hakone. Various sample itineraries of Hakone

Assessment

Honestly I am not impressed by Greater Tokyo Pass. If it includes all part of Hakone and Enoshima Dentetsu in Kamakura, and all limited express surcharge, this pass is much more attractive. This pass covers many bus lines but I cannot find which route this pass covers. It is very difficult for even Japanese. This pass is too expensive to use in downtown Tokyo. Actually this is a bit hard to get the worth of this pass. Tokyo Wide Pass is more useful even though the price is higher than Greater Tokyo Pass.

But this pass has just been launched. It may be improved and change some conditions. I appreciate all non JR railway companies cooperate and release new deal.

Please try to find the way to use of this pass. It may save your cost to stay in Japan!

Comments

  1. Joanne Tan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am arriving into Narito and from Narita I planned to travel to Nikko (1night stay) > Fujikawagochigo (1 night stay) > Hakone/Odawara(1 night stay) > Kamakura/Yokohama(1night stay) > Tokyo (2 nights stay)

    I am torn between buying Tokyo Wide Pass or Greater Tokyo Pass but after some reading on your site, due to the limitation of Greater Tokyo Pass to Mt Fuji, I am thinking I should get 1x Tokyo Wide pass to cover my trip from Narita, Nikko & Kawaguchigo, Suica and a Keisei Skyliner with 48 hour Tokyo Subway Ticket for my trip in Tokyo. Is this the best arrangement my such trip? Can I make my seat reservation only when I arrived in Japan?

    • Hi Joanne,

      You can use Tokyo Wide Pass for Narita to Nikko and Nikko to Kawaguchiko. This is the best choice. Before you go to Kawaguchiko, try to drop by Shinjuku and get Fuji Hakone Pass Odawara version (7,180 yen).
      https://www.odakyu.jp/english/passes/fujihakone/

      After arriving Kawaguchiko, Tokyo Wide Pass does not cover anything. Fuji Hakone Pass covers everything until you get Odawara.

      You also have to add the fare for Odawara to Kamakura/Yokohama to Tokyo. You may use Suica for this trip. And as you think, you can use subway ticket and Skyliner.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Svennie says:

    Hi there,
    I’m going to Japan real soon, within one week and I’m still figuring out which pass, which deal or pass I would use to cover my first week.
    I will be in Tokyo for 5 days, with a daytrip to Nikko and Kamakura.
    The “Greater Tokyo Pass” has a autumn promo now, same price (7200Y) but for 5 days instead of 3.
    So which pass would be best:
    – Greater Tokyo Pass for 7200 Y, metro included for 5 days + maybe express ticket price + Skyliner extra fare + Enoden Line = 10 880 Yen
    – Buy 72hrs Metro Pass twice for 3000Y and buy Nikko Heritage pass for 2050 + express fare + Kamakura JR ticket + Skyliner = +/- 11.110 Yen

    Can’t really decide which one would suit best my 5 day intenary.

    • Hi Svennie,

      It looks almost same. The only difference is how to get Kamakura. If you stay near JR stations in west side of downtown Tokyo, the second options is better. Because if you use Greater Tokyo Pass to get Kamakura, you have to take Odakyu Railway from Shinjuku to get Katase-Enoshima. So it depends on how you want to get Kamakura.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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