Tokyo Subway Explained

Three separate operators run what visitors see as "the subway":

Operator	Lines	Coverage	Type
Tokyo Metro	9 lines	Most of central Tokyo	Underground subway
Toei Subway	4 lines	Gaps Metro doesn't reach	Underground subway
JR East	Multiple (incl. Yamanote)	Circles city center, connects suburbs	Mix of above/underground

All three use the same physical infrastructure—underground platforms, color-coded signs, IC card readers. But they're separate companies with separate fare zones.

For a detailed breakdown of how JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei, and private railways differ—and which passes work on which systems—see our complete operator comparison.

Why the operator split creates friction:

Issue	Impact	Solution
Transfers between operators cost extra	Metro to Toei means exiting gates and re-entering = 2 separate trip charges	IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) calculate splits automatically
Day passes are operator-specific	Tokyo Metro-only pass won't work on Toei lines without combined version	Buy combined pass or use IC card for flexibility
Maps can be misleading	Routes cross multiple fare boundaries without making it obvious	Check which operators your route uses before traveling

The distinction is invisible until you're standing at a gate that won't let you through, or you realize your "unlimited" pass doesn't cover the line you need.

Real scenario: You're staying near Roppongi (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line). You want to reach Ryogoku for sumo (Toei Oedo Line). The map shows one transfer at Tsukiji. What it doesn't show: you'll pay separately for Metro and Toei portions, and transferring means leaving one system and entering another through different gates.

Suica and Pasmo IC cards eliminate most of this friction—they work on all three operators and calculate the split automatically. But understanding the structure prevents surprises when you're deciding between passes or planning routes.

Tokyo has 9 Metro lines, 4 Toei lines, and multiple JR lines. You'll realistically use five of them for 90% of tourist movement.

Line	Color	Coverage	Why It Matters
JR Yamanote	Green	Loops around central Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Ueno, Ikebukuro	Above ground, runs both directions. Most tourists use daily
Tokyo Metro Ginza	Orange	Asakusa to Shibuya via Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza	Oldest subway, covers tourist-heavy neighborhoods, frequent service
Tokyo Metro Hibiya	Silver	North-south: Ueno to Roppongi to Ebisu	Connects residential areas to nightlife zones
Tokyo Metro Marunouchi	Red	Horseshoe through city center: Tokyo Station to Shinjuku via Ginza	Parallels Yamanote but underground
Toei Oedo	Magenta	Massive loop: Shinjuku, Roppongi, Tsukiji, Ryogoku	Reaches places Yamanote misses, but platforms are deepest

Lines you might never touch:

• Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (light blue) runs east-west through business districts

• Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line (green) connects suburbs to the center but overlaps with other options

• Toei Mita Line, Asakusa Line, Shinjuku Line serve specific corridors but aren't on most tourist routes

The decision framework: if your itinerary focuses on Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Roppongi, and Ueno, the five lines above cover everything. For more on which neighborhoods each line connects, see our neighborhood guide. If you're staying in outer neighborhoods or visiting specific museums, you might need one of the secondary lines occasionally.

Suica and Pasmo are rechargeable IC cards that work on all trains and subways in Tokyo. Both cost ¥500 deposit (refundable) plus whatever credit you load. They're functionally identical—Suica is issued by JR, Pasmo by private railways, but both work everywhere.

When to use IC cards:

• Most trips. They're faster than buying tickets, work on buses, and calculate complex fares automatically.

• You can refund unused balance when leaving (minus ¥220 handling fee).

Tokyo Subway Tickets are unlimited-ride passes valid on Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway only (not JR):

Duration	Adult Price	Child Price
24 hours	¥800	¥400
48 hours	¥1,200	¥600
72 hours	¥1,500	¥750

IC Cards vs Tokyo Subway Tickets — Decision comparison:

Factor	IC Card (Suica/Pasmo)	Tokyo Subway Ticket
Coverage	All operators (Metro, Toei, JR, buses)	Metro + Toei only (no JR)
Cost model	Pay per ride (¥180-330)	Unlimited rides during validity
Flexibility	Use anywhere, anytime	Limited to 24/48/72 hour window
Best for	Mixed itineraries, 4-5 rides/day, using JR	6+ Metro/Toei rides daily, concentrated sightseeing
Setup	¥500 deposit (refundable -¥220 fee)	Purchase at airport/Metro stations
Break-even	N/A (pay-as-go)	5 rides at ¥180, or 3 rides at ¥300

When a pass makes sense:

• Staying multiple days and visiting 8+ attractions daily that cluster around Metro/Toei stations

• Accommodation is on a Metro line and you rarely need JR

• Concentrated sightseeing blitz (Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara, Ginza, Tsukiji in one day)

When it doesn't:

• Hotel is near a JR station (passes don't cover JR)

• Taking taxis or walking between neighborhoods

• Visiting 2-3 major sites per day rather than rapid-fire touring

• You value flexibility to use JR when more convenient

The IC card is the default choice for most visitors. Passes are an optimization for specific itinerary patterns, not a universal recommendation. If you're still deciding where to stay based on subway access, proximity to your most-used lines matters more than pass compatibility.

Tokyo's transfer stations aren't platforms across from each other. They're multi-level complexes where "transferring" means navigating underground shopping streets, long corridors, and multiple escalators between lines that might be 5-10 minutes apart on foot.

Why transfers take longer than expected:

Complexity Type	Description	Example
Vertical	Deep platforms require multiple escalators	Toei Oedo 40+ meters underground. Ginza to Oedo at Shinjuku: 12-15 min
Horizontal	Long walking distances between fare zones	JR Shinjuku to Toei Oedo platform: 200+ meters through passages
Gate confusion	Metro ↔ Toei requires exiting one system, entering another	Never surface but must tap out/in, adding time and cost

Specific transfer examples:

Transfer Route	Time	Navigation Notes
Shinjuku: JR to Toei Oedo	10-15 min	Follow yellow JR signs to west exit area, then descend to Oedo platforms. Budget extra time for first attempts
Shibuya: JR Yamanote to Ginza Line	5-8 min	Lines on different levels but relatively direct. Peak hours add congestion
Tokyo Station: Marunouchi to JR	5-7 min	Enormous but well-signed. Stay alert—there are 10 JR platforms

The mental model: Think of transfers as traveling between connected buildings, not just changing platforms. Signs will guide you, but the physical distance is real.

When you pay twice: Transferring between Tokyo Metro and Toei requires tapping out of one system and into the other. Suica handles this automatically, but you'll see two separate charges. Metro-to-Metro or Toei-to-Toei transfers stay within the same fare zone.

Minimizing transfer complexity:

Strategy	Benefit
Check Google Maps transfer times before committing	Reveals which routes have 15+ min transfers
Budget 10 min minimum for unfamiliar transfers at major hubs	Prevents missed connections
Follow color-coded line signs religiously	More reliable than station name kanji
Don't panic if you miss a train	Next train arrives in 3-5 minutes during daytime

Three stations cause 90% of tourist confusion:

Station	Complexity	Key Challenge	Best Exit Strategy
Shinjuku	World's busiest. 50+ exits across multiple buildings	Multiple disconnected exit areas (East/West/South), no dominant entrance	Know your line before arrival. East Exit → Kabukicho; West Exit → Government Building; South Exit → Takashimaya. Budget 20 min first time
Tokyo Station	10 JR platforms, Shinkansen, Metro	Marunouchi (west) and Yaesu (east) sides structurally separate	Know which side you need. Shinkansen transfers need extra time. Specify exact gate when meeting people
Shibuya	Platforms spread across 5+ levels	Lines occupy different elevations, ongoing renovation	Use Google Maps exit-by-exit. Hachiko exit crowded but reliable. Expect stairs for Ginza Line

General principle: These stations evolved over decades to handle volume, prioritizing flow over clarity. Getting lost once is the cost of learning. This is why many visitors arrange meet-and-greet services for arrival day—guides eliminate navigation stress while you're still jet-lagged. For more on common subway mistakes visitors make, we cover the most frequent navigation errors.

Station complexity reflects how Tokyo developed—multiple private rail companies built competing hubs, each becoming a mini-downtown. The how Tokyo works guide explains this polycentric structure, which helps the station chaos make sense (even if it doesn't make it easier).

Tokyo uses a color-coded signage system. Each line has a color and letter code. Ginza Line is orange (G). Yamanote Line is green (JY). Signs show both the line color and the station codes along that line.

Finding your platform and boarding correctly:

Step	Action	Why It Matters
1. Identify line color	Check map for your line's color (orange, green, red, etc.)	Color is faster to follow than reading kanji
2. Follow color signs	Track colored signs through the station	Works even without Japanese literacy
3. Check platform destination	Verify destination names before boarding	Trains on same platform may terminate early
4. Verify the 終 symbol	終 = last stop	Train terminates there, doesn't continue full route
5. Confirm platform side	Check electronic board for departing train's final destination	Wrong platform = opposite direction

Direction navigation and recovery:

Situation	How It Works	What To Do
Direction signs	Show terminal stations, not compass directions	Learn terminal names: "Shibuya/Shinjuku direction" not "clockwise"
Loop lines (Yamanote, Oedo)	Trains go both ways to reach same destinations	Check platform's destination list—if your stop is listed, board
Wrong train boarded	Lines are bidirectional	Get off next station, cross to opposite platform, return. IC cards make re-entry seamless
Uncertain which train	Trains every 3-5 min during day	Stand behind yellow line, let one pass, verify next train's destination
Crowded station	Japanese announcements + kanji signs	Follow color signs—orange to Ginza Line is clearer than parsing station names

Period	Time	Intensity	What It Means
Morning rush	7:30-9:30 AM (peak 8-9 AM)	Severe	Platform crowding, 150-180% train capacity, physical contact unavoidable
Evening rush	5:30-7:30 PM	Moderate	More dispersed, still crowded but less compressed than morning

With luggage: Morning rush hour at major hubs like Shinjuku is actively unsafe with a large suitcase. The crowds compress and surge. You can't control your movement. Your bag becomes a blocking hazard.

The alternative: store bags before navigating rush-hour trains. Tokyo's luggage storage options cover lockers, app-based services, and forwarding—knowing what's available prevents the "dragging a suitcase through Shinjuku at 8am" scenario.

Where this matters most:

• Arriving at Narita/Haneda during morning hours and transferring to reach your hotel

• Checking out with luggage during evening rush

• Any multi-station trip with transfers during peak times

Elevator reality: Most stations have escalators and stairs. Elevators exist but are rare, often located away from main flow, and not always marked clearly on maps. Assume stairs. If you need elevator access, research specific station layouts in advance. For guests with mobility needs, private car tours remove the elevator search entirely—you never enter a station.

Alternative: luggage forwarding services

Yamato Transport (Takkyubin) and other services will pick up luggage from airports or hotels and deliver to your next destination by the next day.

Service Aspect	Details
Cost	¥1,500-3,000 depending on distance and size
Drop-off	7-Eleven, FamilyMart, hotel front desks
Delivery time	Next day for most routes within Japan
Benefit	Removes luggage problem entirely

When to use alternatives vs when the subway still works:

Scenario	Subway Works	Use Alternatives
Timing	Off-peak (after 9:30 AM, before 5 PM)	Rush hour with luggage or tight schedules
Luggage	Small bags, backpacks	Large suitcases, multiple bags
Group size	Solo or pairs	Families, groups of 4+
Mobility	No constraints, comfortable with stairs	Seniors, strollers, accessibility needs
Route	Direct, minimal transfers	Multiple transfers at major hubs

Rush hour isn't a permanent barrier—it's a 2-hour window. Plan around it when possible. When you can't, luggage forwarding is the norm here, not an edge case.

The subway is efficient, cheap, and comprehensive. It's also a constant stream of micro-decisions that accumulate over days: which exit, which platform, which line, which transfer route.

Scenarios where complexity overwhelms the benefits:

Situation	Challenge	Impact
Jet-lagged arrival with luggage	9 AM rush + Shinjuku transfer + 2 more connections	Each decision point compounds fatigue. Wrong exit = 20-30 min lost
Mobility limitations	Seniors, strollers, stairs	Elevator routes exist but need pre-planning. Default assumes stair capability
Large groups/families	Keeping 4-6 people together through transfers	Someone always lags. Regrouping wastes time
Multi-day fatigue	Day 3+ of constant navigation	No autopilot mode. Mental load affects trip enjoyment
Time-sensitive connections	Flights, reservations, meetings	One wrong exit creates cascading delays

When alternative transport makes sense:

Not because the subway is bad. Because removing navigation decisions entirely changes the experience. Private cars eliminate transfers, platform confusion, luggage management, and crowd navigation. Taxis work for direct routes. Luggage forwarding solves the baggage problem.

The subway handles volume brilliantly. What it doesn't do is reduce cognitive overhead for people unfamiliar with the system. After 3-4 days, most visitors have internalized the key routes and stations. Before that threshold, every trip is active problem-solving.

This isn't a warning to avoid the subway. It's recognition that "manageable" and "enjoyable" aren't the same state. Some visitors reach day three and realize they've spent more energy navigating than experiencing Tokyo. For more on when navigation overhead outweighs subway benefits, we break down the decision factors.

This guide is published by Hinomaru One, a Tokyo-based private tour operator.