Tokyo Subway and Taxi Tips: How to Get Around

Getting around Tokyo is easier than it looks on the map. For most trips, the subway is the fastest and cheapest option: tap an IC card or your phone, follow the colour-coded lines, and you are there. Taxis are clean, safe and honest, but expensive, so they are best for late nights, heavy luggage or short hops in a group.

I lived in Tokyo for three years while studying at Waseda, and these are the practical tips that make the system feel simple: how to pay, which passes are worth it, how to survive rush hour, and how to get a taxi without speaking Japanese.

How the Tokyo Subway Works

Tokyo has two subway operators that work together:

• Tokyo Metro: 9 lines, including the Ginza, Marunouchi and Hibiya lines.
• Toei Subway: 4 lines run by the city, including the Oedo and Asakusa lines.

On top of that, JR East runs above-ground lines such as the Yamanote loop and the Chuo line, plus many private railways. People often ask about the difference between the “Tokyo subway” and the “Tokyo Metro”. Tokyo Metro is one company; the subway network as a whole includes both Tokyo Metro and Toei. For you as a visitor, the main difference is that a transfer between the two can cost a little more, and some passes only cover one of them.

Every station has a letter and number, for example G09 on the Ginza line. Even if you cannot read the station name, you can follow the codes on signs and maps.

How to Pay: IC Cards, Phones and Tickets

The easiest way to ride is with an IC card such as Suica or PASMO. You tap in and tap out, and the fare is deducted automatically. The same card works on JR trains, buses, and in convenience stores and vending machines.

• Mobile Suica or PASMO: on many iPhones and some Android phones you can add a card to your wallet and use your phone at the gate. This is the answer to the common question: yes, you can enter the Tokyo subway with your phone.
• Welcome Suica: a physical card for short-term visitors, sold at airports and major stations.
• Paper tickets: still available from machines, but you need to work out the fare yourself.

Short subway trips usually cost about 200 yen. My Suica and IC card guide explains how to get one and top it up.

Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket Worth It?

The Tokyo Subway Ticket gives unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei lines for 24, 48 or 72 hours. It costs about 1,000 yen (24 hours), 1,500 yen (48 hours) and 2,000 yen (72 hours) for adults. The clock starts when you first pass a gate.

It is worth it if you take four or more subway rides a day. It does not cover JR lines like the Yamanote loop, so if your hotel is next to a JR station, do the maths first. The JR Pass is a different product for long-distance travel; see my article on whether the JR Pass is worth it.

Subway Tips Locals Know

• Avoid rush hour: trains are packed on weekday mornings, roughly 7:30 to 9:30, and again in the early evening. Plan sightseeing around it if you can.
• Use the right exit: big stations like Shinjuku and Tokyo have dozens of exits. Check the exit number on Google Maps or the station map before you surface, it can save you ten minutes of walking.
• Stand on the correct side: on escalators in Tokyo people traditionally stand on the left, although stations now ask everyone to stand still on both sides.
• Stay quiet: phone calls on trains are considered rude. Keep your voice low and set your phone to silent.
• Women-only cars: some lines have cars reserved for women during rush hours, marked in pink on the platform. Read why in my article on chikan and safety on Japanese trains.
• Last trains: most lines stop running around midnight. Check the time of your last connection if you go out late.
• Luggage: big suitcases are a pain at rush hour and in stations with many stairs. Consider luggage forwarding or a taxi for airport days.

Taking a Taxi in Tokyo

Tokyo taxis are spotless, the drivers are honest, and you will never be taken on a detour. The catch is the price. The meter starts at about 500 yen for roughly the first kilometre, and the fare then climbs in small steps. A 15 to 20 minute ride across central Tokyo can easily cost a few thousand yen, and a late-night surcharge applies from 10 pm to 5 am.

A few things that surprise visitors:

• Automatic doors: the rear left door opens and closes by itself. Do not slam it, let the driver handle it.
• Red sign means free: a light in the windscreen showing the word for “vacant” (usually in red) means the taxi is available.
• Show the address: many drivers speak little English. Show the destination on your phone, ideally in Japanese, or the phone number of a hotel or restaurant.
• Payment: most taxis accept credit cards and IC cards, but carry some cash just in case.
• No tipping: pay the meter and that is it.

Taxi Apps in Tokyo

Hailing a cab on the street is easy in central areas, but apps help when it is raining, late, or you want a price estimate. The most common options are GO (a Japanese app with an English interface), Uber and DiDi. In Japan these apps book licensed taxis, not private drivers, so the price is similar to a normal taxi plus a small booking fee. You will need mobile data, so check my comparison of eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi in Japan.

Subway or Taxi? A Quick Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you have your IC card sorted, Tokyo opens up. For ideas on where to go, read my things to do in Tokyo guide.