Metro of Tokyo

Tokyo Metro

For the tourist it's certainly the best way to visit Tokyo as metro take you to shopping areas, churches, museums, parks, such as Sensoji Temple (Asakusa), the scramble crossing (Shibuya), Kabukicho (Shinjuku), Tsukiji Market (Tsukiji), Kabuki-za (Higashi-ginza) and Tokyo Tower (Kamiyacho).

Although at first glance the complex Tokyo subway map, like any other big megalopolis metro system map, may scare you, the Tokyo subway is very easy to use because of its special nomenclature and signs, English being used, used and of course the staff available to support travelers.

Tokyo Metro lines and stations

Tokyo subway nomenclature is fairly easy to learn and remember:

• A letter to name the line.
• A number to name the station
• Station numbers are surrounded by a line of a color corresponding to the line

Lines operated by Tokyo Metro

• Ginza line or line 3: This line is identified with the letter G and orange color. The subway in this line covers Shibuya to Asakusa route. The length of the line is 14.3km Ginza serving 19 stations. Stations: G-01. Shibuya, G-02. Omotesando, G-03. Gaienmae, G-04. Aoyama-Itchomoe, G-05. Akasaka-Mitsuke, G-06. Tameike-Sanno, G-07. Toranomon, G-08. Shimbashi, G-09. Ginza, G-10. Kyobashi, G-11. Nihombashi, G-12. Mitsukoshimae, G-13. Kanda, G-14. Suehirocho, G-15. Ueno-Hirokoji, G-16. Ueno, G-17. Inaricho, G-18. Tawaramachi, G-19. Asakusa
• Line 4 or Marunouchi Line: Identified by the M letter and red color. This line runs in Ogikubo-Ikebukuro route which has 24 stations. The total length of the line is 24.2 km. This line also has a branch in the Nakano-Sakaue to Honancho route with 4 additional stations. The branch is also named after the letter "m" (lowercase) and add 3,2kms to the system length. Stations: M-01. Ojikubo, M-02. Minami-Asagaya, M-03. Shin-Koemji, M-04. Higashi-Koenji, M-05. Shin-Nakano, m-03. Honancho, m-04. Nakano-Fujimicho, m-05. Nakano-Simbashi, M-06. Nakano-sakaue, M-07. Nishi-shinjuku, M-08. Shinjuku, M-09. Shinjuku-Sanchome, M-10. Shinjuku-Gyoemmae, M-11. Yotsuya-Sanchome, M-12. Yotsuya, M-13. Akasaka-Mitsuke, M-14. Okkaigijidomae, M-15. Kasumigaseki, M-16. Ginza, M-17. Tokio, M-18. Otemachi, M-19. Awajicho, M-20. Ochanomizu, M-21. Hongo-Sanchome, M-22. Korakuen, M-23. Myogadani, M-24. Shin-Otsuka, M-25. Ikebukuro
• Hibiya Line or line 2: Identified with the letter H and silver color. This route has 21 stations in 20,3kms. The Hibiya line covers the route between Naka-Meguro and Kita Senju. Stations: H-01. Naka-Meguro, H-02. Ebisu, H-03. Hiroo, H-04. Roppongi, H-05. Kamiyacho, H-06. Kasumigaseki, H-07. Hibiya, H-08. Ginza, H-09. Higashi-Ginza, H-10. Tsukiji, H-11. Hatchobori, H-12. Kayabacho, H-13. Ningyocho, H-14. Kodermmacho, H-15. Akihabara, H-16. Naka-Okachimachi, H-17. Ueno, H-18. Iriya, H-19. Minowa, H-20. Minami-Senju, H-21. Kita-Senju.
• Tozai line or line 5: this line is identified with the letter T and the sky blue color. It has a total of 23 stations. The route covered is between Nakano and Nishi-Funabashi. The total length of this route is 30.8 km. Stations: T-01. Nakano, T-02. Ochiai, T-03. Takadanobaba, T-04. Waseda, T-05. Kagurazaka, T-06. Idabashi, T-07. Kudanshita, T-08. Takebashi, T-09. Otemachi, T-10. Nihombashi, T-11. Kayabacho, T-12. Mozen- Nakacho, T-13. Kiba, T-14. Toyocho, T-15. Minami-Sunamachi, T-16. Nishi-Kasai, T-17. Kasai, T-18. Urayasu, T-19. Minami-Gyotoku, T-20. Gyotoku, T-21. Myoden, T-22. Baraki-Nakayama, T-23. Nishi-Funabashi
• Chiyoda Line or line 9: It is identified with the letter C and green color. The metro runs from Yo Yogi Uehara to Kita Ayase. It has a total of 20 stations and a legnth of 24 kms. Stations: C-01. Yoyogi-Uehara, C-02. Yoyogi-Koen, C-03. Meiji-Jingumae, C-04. Omotesando, C-05. Nogizaka, C-06. Akasaka, C-07. Kokkai-Gijidomae, C-08. Kasumigaseki, C-09. Hibiya, C-10. Nijubashimae, C-11. Otemachi, C-12. Shin-Ochanomizu, C-13. Yushima, C-14. Nezu, C-15. Sendagi, C-16. Nishi-Nippori, C-17. Machiya, C-18. Kita-senju, C-19. Ayase, C-20. Kita-Ayase
• Yurakucho Line or Line 8: this line is identified with the letter Y and yellow color. The Yurakucho line route links Wakoshi stations to Shin-Kiba. In this route it pass through 24 stations: Y-01. Wakoshi, Y-02. Chikatetsu-Narimasu, Y-03. Chikatetsu-Akatsuka, Y-04. Heiwadai, Y-05. Hikawadai, Y-06. Kotake-Mukaihara, Y-07. Senkawa, Y-08. Kanamecho, Y-09. Ikebukuro, Y-10. Higashi-Ikebukuro, Y-11. Gokokuji, Y-12. Edogawabashi, Y-13. Idabashi, Y-14. Ichigaya, Y-15. Kojimachi, Y-16. Nagatacho, Y-17. Sakuradamon, Y-18. Yurakucho, Y-19. Ginza-Itchome, Y-20. Shintomicho, Y-21. Tsukishima, Y-22. Toyosu, Y-23. Tatsumi, Y-24. Shin-Kiba
• Hanzomon line or line 11: It is identified with the letter Z and violet color. It serves the route between Shibuya and Oshiage stopping on their way in 14 stations. Stations: Z-01. Shibuya, Z-02. Omotesando, Z-03. Aoyama-Itchome, Z-04. Nagatacho, Z-05. Hanzomon, Z-06. Kudanshita, Z-07. Jimbocho, Z-08. Otemachi, Z-09. Mitsukoshimae, Z-10. Suitengumae, Z-11. Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Z-12. Sumiyoshi, Z-13. Kinshicho, Z-14. Oshiage
• Namboku line or line 7: Identified with the letter N and the green color. It serves the route between Meguro and Akabane-Iwabuchi where it stops at 19 stations: N-01. Meguro, N-02. Shirokanedai, N-03. Shirokane-Takanawa, N-04. Azabu-Juban, N-05. Roppongi-Itchome, N-06. Tammeike-Sanno, N-07. Nagatacho, N-08. Yotsuya, N-09. Ichigaya, N-10. Idibashi, N-11. Korakuen, N-12. Todaimae, N-13. Hon-Komagome, N-14. Komagome, N-15. Nishigahara, N-16. Oji, N-17. Oji-Kamiya, N-18. Shimo, N-19. Akabane-Iwabuchi
• Fukutoshin lin or line 13: the line is identified with letter F and brown color. The metro runs from the station Wakoshi to Shibuya making stops in the following 16 stations: F-01. Wakoshi, F-02. Chikatetsu-Narimasu, F-03. Chikatetsu-Akatsuka, F-04. Heiwadai, F-05. Hikawadai, F-06. Kotake-Mukaihara, F-07. Senkawa, F-08. Kanamecho, F-09. Ikebukuro, F-10. Zoshigaya, F-11. Nishi-Waseda, F-12. Higashi-Shinjuku, F-13. Shinjuku-Sanchome, F-14. Kita-sando, F-15. Meiji-Jingumae, F-16. Shibuya

Lines operated by Toei Subway

Tokyo metro hours

It works every day from five in the morning until 12:30 after midnight. The Tokyo subway has a fairly high frequency: in rush hour 3 minutes and 10 minutes in regular hours.

Tokyo Metro fares and tickets

To calculate the appropriate fee you can consult the rates chart near to every ticket machine. Besides the Tokyo metro provides an app for your smartphone and a search system.

Download de app for android and Ios:

The tickets in vending machines can only be paid with coins and bills. Passes can be purchased using a credit card.

Using Tokyo metro

It's as easy as passing your ticket over the green arrow in the entry barriers at platforms. Do not forget to pick it up again. If instead of a regular ticket you are using a card, you pass it over the card reader with a blue light.

Regular tickets

Regular tickets are available at automatic ticket machines in the stations. Prices are calculated based on the distance traveled. There are several sections with different prices and also different prices for adults or children.

• 1-6 kms. Adults: 170 yens. Children: 90 yens.
• 7-11 kms. Adults: 200 yens. Children: 100 yens.
• 12-19 kms. Adults: 240 yens. Children: 120 yens.
• 20-27 kms. Adults: 280 yens. Children: 140 yens.
• 28-40 kms. Adults: 310 yens. Children 160 yens.

Coupon tickets

The Normal Coupon Tickets are sold in lots of 11 trips and can be used at any time of day (whether it's peak or peak off time). The price is the same as if you bought 10 normal tickets. You get a small discount on the price.

There are also Coupon Tickets for non peak hours. They are sold in lots of 12. Can be used from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, on weekends and holidays, on 30 and 31 December and on 2 and 3 January. There also exist Discount Coupon Tickets for weekends and holidays (Weekend / Holiday Discount Coupon Tickets) that are sold in packs of 14 and can be used only on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and on 30 and 31 December and 2 and 3 from January.

The coupon tickets are valid for three months from the time of purchase.

1 day open ticket

Valid for unlimited travel for one day on all lines of Tokyo Metro. Adult: 600 yen, Children: 300 yen

1 day Ticket for Tokyo y Toei lines

Unlimited travels. Adults: 1000 yen, children: 500 yen

1 day student pass

Only valid for Tokyo metro lines. Price: 300 yen.

Combined ticket

Valid for a whole day in all metro lines (Tokyo and Toei), Toei Streetcar (Toden), Toei Bus,... Adult: 1590 yen, children: 800 yen

Student-Commuter Railway Pass

There are also tickets for frequent travelers. There is a Student / Commuter Railway Pass that allows unlimited trips on a specific route. This pass is not transferable. There is also the Tokyo Metro All Line Pass for unlimited travel on all Tokyo subway routes. There are 1, 3 or 6 months periods, with prices of 17,300 yen 49.310 yen 93.420 yen respectively.

Pasmo Card

The PASMO Card is a prepaid smart card that can be used in many public transport systems in Tokyo incluiding trains and buses. It is valid for 10 years.

Suica card

It is another prepaid card that can be used in transport systems and also to pay. It can be used on JR trains, subways and buses. To get one you have to leave a deposit of 500 yen.

Line transfers

There are special tickets that allow you to transfer to the Toei Subway lines and other rail services with a discount rate

Age discounts

• Adults: Are people over 12 years
• Children from 6 to 11 years or 12 years still in elementary school. The fare is half the adult fare
• Toddler: Children of 1 to 6 years. These children travel free when accompanied by an adult or a child.
• Infant: children under 1 year old. Always travel for free.

Parking in Tokyo Metro

There is parking close to each subway station. In some you will pay the appropriate fee.

Curious facts

In the Tokyo subway are cars Women Only at rush hour, from the start of service until about 9.30am. It is a security measure. Besides women, elementary school children, and disabled children can travel on them.

Smoking is forbidden in stations.

There is free wifi in 143 subway stations in Tokyo. Search by network name "Metro_Free_Wi-Fi" or "Toei_Subway_Free_Wi-Fi

If you haven't bought the right ticket for your trip, you can enter the ticket at a vending machines for this purpose and will calculate the difference to pay.

Phones must be set on silent mode and if you are near courtesy seats, turned off. Courtesy seats at the end of each car, identified by a sticker and they are so called because you have to give them to someone who needs them more than you. Pregnant women have their special seats reserved.

Tokyo metro make available to its users Information Desks from 10:00 to 18:00 to assist users providing them with information and support in English. They are found in Shinjuku, Ginza, Shibuya and Omote-sando stations. There also is the figure of Service Manager, from 10:00 to 17:00. It's staff to assist the user in buying tickets and providing information on routes, destinations, etc. They speak English, Chinese and Korean. They are in the following stations: Shinjuku, Ginza, Omote-sando, Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro Kudanshita, Iidabashi, Oshiage, Otemachi, Shimbashi, Yurakucho, and Hibiya Nihonbashi stations.

Airport service

From Narita Airport: you can come by bus. In the Keisei line by transfer to the G16 or H17 station. In the JR line by transfer to the station M17.

From Haneda Airport: you can come to Tokyo in the Keykiu line. It takes about 30 minutes to do the trip. Transfer at G8 station.

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