Getting Around in Tokyo

Part of the Tokyo travel guide — see every topic in All Tokyo Guides.

Tokyo has one of the best train networks in the world, but it is run by several companies. JR runs the Yamanote loop line and lines to the suburbs. Tokyo Metro and Toei run the subway. Private railways run lines out to the suburbs. The good news is that one IC card works on almost all of them. This guide explains the cards, the passes and the best ways in from the airports.

Suica and Pasmo

Suica and Pasmo are prepaid IC cards. You touch the card on the gate when you enter and leave, and the fare is taken off. They work on JR, the subway, most buses and private lines, and in many shops and vending machines. A chip shortage stopped most sales of new cards from 2023, but normal Suica cards came back on sale in March 2025. Visitors can also buy Welcome Suica, a card for short stays. The Welcome Suica app, released in 2025, adds a card to your phone. An iPhone can also hold a normal Suica or Pasmo in its wallet. Top up with cash at station machines.

Subway passes

If you will ride the subway many times a day, a subway pass can save money. The Tokyo Subway Ticket gives unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines for 24, 48 or 72 hours. It is sold to visitors, at the airports, some stations and some travel shops. It does not cover JR lines, such as the Yamanote line, or private railways. Count your trips before you buy. If you mostly walk and take two or three trains a day, an IC card is simpler. The pass is best for days with many short subway hops across the city.

From Narita and Haneda

Haneda Airport is close to the city, about 14 km south. The Keikyu line goes to Shinagawa in about 15 to 20 minutes, and the Tokyo Monorail goes to Hamamatsucho. Narita Airport is much farther, about 60 to 70 km east. The Keisei Skyliner reaches Nippori in as little as 36 minutes and Ueno in about 43 minutes. The Narita Express goes to Tokyo Station in about one hour and continues to Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku. All its seats are reserved. Cheaper options are the Keisei Access Express and airport buses to Tokyo Station. Buses are easy with big bags.

Is the JR Pass worth it?

The Japan Rail Pass gives unlimited travel on JR trains, including most bullet trains, for 7, 14 or 21 days. It is only for visitors with a short-stay status. The price went up a lot in October 2023. At the same time, the fastest Nozomi trains between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka became usable with an extra ticket. For a simple trip from Tokyo to Kyoto and back, the pass is now often worth less than single tickets. It can still pay off for long trips, such as Tokyo to Hiroshima or the north. Compare the price of your planned trips before you buy. Inside Tokyo, the pass does not cover the subway.

Tips for the trains

Use a map app that shows exits and platform numbers. Big stations have many exits, and the right exit can save ten minutes of walking. Rush hour is about 7:30 to 9:30 am and the early evening on weekdays. Avoid it with big bags if you can. Some lines have women-only cars at busy times, marked on the platform. Talking on the phone in trains is not polite. Stand on the left on escalators in Tokyo, but some stations now ask people to stand on both sides. Most trains stop around midnight, so check the last train before a late night out.

Getting Around at a glance

More in Tokyo

All 8 Tokyo guides·Where to stay in Tokyo·Japan tourist maps·Tokyo transit map

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