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Tokyo’s rail network is huge, fast and famously punctual, and it can look overwhelming on a map. In practice, first-time visitors need only a few things: a way to pay for rides, an idea of whether an unlimited pass would save money, and a sense of when the Japan Rail Pass is worth it. Here’s how to sort all three.
Step 1: Get an IC card or a phone wallet
An IC card is a rechargeable smart card you tap at the ticket gate. The two you’ll hear about in Tokyo are Suica and PASMO. They work the same way for visitors: tap in, tap out, and the fare is deducted automatically. They also work on buses, on most trains across the country’s big cities, and at many convenience stores, vending machines and lockers.
After a chip shortage made them hard to buy in 2023 and 2024, regular Suica and PASMO cards are back on sale at station ticket machines. There are also versions made for visitors:
- Welcome Suica, a visitor card valid for 28 days, sold at JR East Travel Service Centers, including at Narita and Haneda airports and major Tokyo stations.
- Welcome Suica Mobile, an app version for iPhone.
- If your phone supports it, you can also add a Suica or PASMO card to your phone’s wallet and top it up there.
Top up with cash at station machines, or in the app if you use your phone. Keep an eye on your balance: if it’s too low when you tap out, the gate will stop you and you’ll need to use a fare-adjustment machine, which is simple but slows you down.
Official information: JR East.
Step 2: Decide whether an unlimited subway pass is worth it
Tokyo has two subway operators, Tokyo Metro and Toei, and between them they reach most of the central sights. The Tokyo Subway Ticket gives unlimited rides on both for 24, 48 or 72 hours. At the time of writing it costs ¥1,000, ¥1,500 and ¥2,000 respectively for adults, and it’s sold to visitors. The clock starts when you first use it and runs for the full period, not until midnight.
Whether it pays off depends on how much you’ll ride. If you plan several subway trips a day across different neighborhoods, it usually does. If you’ll mostly walk around one area, a pay-as-you-go IC card may be cheaper. Two things to know:
- It covers the subway only. It doesn’t cover JR lines, including the JR Yamanote loop line, which you’ll probably use too. Those need your IC card.
- Add up the fares for your planned trips with a route-planning app, then compare. That’s the only way to know for your itinerary.
Check Tokyo Subway Ticket prices
Official information: Tokyo Metro.
Step 3: Work out whether the Japan Rail Pass pays off
The nationwide Japan Rail Pass gives unlimited travel on most JR trains, including most shinkansen (bullet trains), for 7, 14 or 21 days. At the time of writing, the 7-day standard pass costs ¥50,000 for adults, following a large price increase in October 2023, and prices can change again. Check the current price on the official site before you decide.
For a trip that stays in Tokyo, the pass almost never makes sense: local rides are cheap and the pass is expensive. It can pay off if you’ll take several long-distance trips within its validity, for example Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka and back, with other journeys on top. The honest test:
- List every long-distance train journey you plan within the pass period.
- Look up the regular fare for each with a route planner.
- Add them up and compare with the pass price.
If the total is well below the pass price, buy individual tickets. Japan also has regional rail passes that cover smaller areas for less, which can be a better fit.
Official information: Japan Rail Pass.
Getting in from the airport
Tokyo has two main airports. Haneda is closer to the center, with train and monorail links that take you into the city relatively quickly. Narita is farther out, with express trains and airport buses that take longer. Both work with IC cards on the regular trains. Check the last train times if you land late at night.
Tips that make the first day easier
- Use a route-planning app. It tells you which line, which platform, and often which carriage is closest to your exit.
- Follow the exit numbers. Big stations have dozens of exits. Check which one you need before you leave the platform.
- Avoid rush hour with luggage. Weekday mornings and early evenings are very crowded. Travel with big bags outside those times if you can.
- Mind the last trains. Most lines stop running around midnight. Taxis are available but expensive over long distances.
- Keep quiet on board. Phone calls on trains are frowned on, and people generally keep their voices low.
The short version
Get an IC card or add one to your phone. Buy a Tokyo Subway Ticket only if you’ll ride the subway a lot. And do the arithmetic before buying a Japan Rail Pass; for many trips, individual tickets are cheaper.
