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Logically, the query of how you can use Tokyo subway can’t be too difficult to reply. Practically 9 million individuals journey via the Tokyo underground system every single day, lots of whom are literal schoolchildren.
However, even when bodily taking a practice from one location to a different is comparatively simple, some ambiguities exist inside the margins. These embrace confusion concerning the numerous traces (and the 2 completely different firms that handle them), in addition to whether or not a Tokyo subway cross exists and if it’s a very good worth.
I invite you to proceed studying to be taught every part you ever needed to know concerning the Tokyo underground, together with how you can examine the Toei Subway vs Tokyo Metro. You’ll get the dangle of it very quickly—I promise!
Tokyo Metro vs. Toei Subway
An important piece of knowledge to know when studying how you can use Tokyo subway is that there are literally two subway techniques: Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Every operated by a separate company of the identical title, the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway have 9 (9) and 4 (4) traces, respectively. If you buy tickets in money, you will be unable to make use of tickets from one system to board the opposite, although this isn’t the case if you happen to use a PASMO or SUICA card—extra on these in a second.
That is necessary to notice as a result of many Tokyo practice stations see traces of each techniques cross via them. In style Tokyo Metro Strains embrace the Marunouchi Line (crimson), the Chiyoda Line (inexperienced) and the Ginza Line (orange), whereas the the magenta Oedo Line and darkish crimson Asakusa Line are two of probably the most recognizable routes that function below the purview of the Toei Subway company.
Learn how to Use Tokyo Subway, in 5 Steps
Discover the closest station
Whether or not you may have a bodily Tokyo subway map or just kind “metro station” into Google Maps, it’s comparatively simple to situated the closest underground station to the place you’re. Moreover, I’d suggest familiarizing your self with each the Tokyo Metro emblem and the Toei Subway emblem, since seeing these on indicators at road stage is a surefire strategy to know you’ve reached a station. Inside central Tokyo, you’re not often greater than 10 minutes by foot from one.
Buy a ticket
Because it the case in most main cities, the Tokyo subway ticket worth varies relying on the space you journey, though you possibly can typically anticipate it to be someplace round ¥200 one-way. Assuming you don’t buy an infinite use cross such because the “1-Day Open Ticket” about, you will have to buy a ticket to trip on the Tokyo Underground, which is notably not coated by the Japan Rail Go.
…or a PASMO/SUICA card
Learn how to use Tokyo subway can appear difficult the primary few occasions, particularly if you need to have a look at the serpentine map above the ticket machine to see how a lot it’s worthwhile to pay. One strategy to take away this stressor is to buy a reloadable card (name PASMO or SUICA) from a ticket machine in your first journey. Though this received’t prevent cash, it’s going to permit you to cross via the ticket gates (and permit you to switch seamlessly between Tokyo’s two subway techniques, plus different rail traces) with a easy faucet.
Wait on the (appropriate) platform
As I discussed above, many Tokyo underground stations see a number of completely different subway traces (and even some JR or non-public practice traces) cross via them, so it’s important to search out the proper platform (i.e. the proper line, touring in the best course) as quickly as you enter the paid space. That is particularly necessary late at night time, because the Tokyo subway hours are finite. For those who miss the final practice, you’ll must take a dear taxi or a protracted stroll, or keep in a capsule resort below lower than splendid circumstances!
Hearken to directions and observe guidelines
Maybe surprisingly, given Japan’s status for strictness, Tokyo Metro guidelines are fairly lax, particularly in the case of consuming and ingesting. Etiquette, however, is of the utmost significance: You shouldn’t discuss in your cellphone; it is best to surrender your seat to elders. You must also take note of directions and bulletins, both over the practice’s PA or from attendants inside the station, akin to those that could very nicely push you onto the practice at rush hour (sure, this actually occurs!).
Can You Enter the Tokyo Underground Utilizing Your Cellphone?
In idea, the Tokyo Metro app is a simple strategy to trip Tokyo’s underground rails, and never fully completely different from technological advances which have made utilizing subway techniques all over the world simple. Nonetheless, that is Japan, so tedium and complication are options, not bugs. If you wish to use ApplePay itself to entry the Tokyo Metro, you will have to set the “area” of your cellphone to “Japanese” in order for you to have the ability to faucet into the Metro utilizing NFC expertise and your app.
Nonetheless, there’s a method round this. Particularly, after you buy a PASMO card, you possibly can set up it into ApplePay (or, if you happen to use an Android system, into Google Pay). One other good thing about doing this? You should utilize your PASMO card like money virtually anyplace in Japan, principally notably at comfort shops the place you’d in any other case must pay with payments and cash. PASMO may combine with Shinkansen ticket purchases, if you happen to don’t plan to make use of a JR Go.
Getting Round Tokyo with a Japan Rail Go
In the case of utilizing Toei Subway to Tokyo Metro, JR Go is nugatory. Japan Railways has nothing to do with both of those techniques, so your cross doesn’t allow you entry to both. However, it’s attainable to journey many locations inside Tokyo utilizing JR Strains, whether or not you trip the round JR Yamanote Line, east-west companies just like the JR Chuo Line or north-south routes such because the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and the JR Yokokusa Line, the latter of which really goes all the way in which to Kamakura.
Though they’re operated by completely different firms, and the previous runs (principally) underground whereas the latter is (principally) above floor, there are literally some notable similarities in the case of Tokyo Metro vs JR Strains. Specifically that each are utilitarian native trains that cease at most each station, and are primarily commuter companies utilized by Tokyo’s lots, versus something glamorous. The expertise of using most any practice in Tokyo (save, maybe, for the Shinkansen) is remarkably normal!
Different FAQ About Utilizing the Tokyo Underground
What’s the Tokyo Metro known as?
The Tokyo Metro is named Tokyo Metro, generally known as 東京メトロ (Tōkyō Metoro) in Japanese. Be aware that the Tokyo Metro is one in every of two subway techniques in Tokyo. The opposite is Toei Subway, recognized in Japanese as 都営地下鉄(Toei chikatestu).
Why is Tokyo Metro so good?
Tokyo Metro is sweet for a lot of causes, together with how typically companies run, how clear subway vehicles and stations are and the way inexpensive tickets are typically relative to the price of dwelling in Tokyo. Many vacationers additionally just like the comfort of utilizing pre-loaded journey playing cards like PASMO and Suica.
What’s the distinction between Tokyo subway and metro?
The principle distinction between Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway is that they’re operated by completely different firms. For those who purchase a single-ride ticket, you received’t be capable to use it to switch between Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway traces, akin to transferring between the Marunouchi and Shinjuku traces at Shinjuku Station. To do that, you’ll must be utilizing a reloadable journey card like PASMO or Suica, or a Tokyo transport cross.
The Backside Line
For those who arrived on this web page curious concerning the distinction between Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro, I’ve a sense you’re an knowledgeable by now. From differentiating between the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, to deciding whether or not to purchase particular person tickets or buy a reloadable PASMO or SUICA card, to determining how you can navigate Tokyo (nicely, as finest as attainable) utilizing solely JR trains, I’ve addressed all of the burning questions you may have concerning the Tokyo underground—after which some. Nonetheless have confusion concerning the logistics and mechanics of your upcoming journey to Japan? Fee a customized Japan itinerary, and let me sweat the main points!
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