Transportation in Tokyo

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Personal Driver and Guide

We are happy to prepare a personal driver and guide/translator for the entirety of your stay. If you have a particular form of transportation you prefer, we are more than happy to prepare your vehicle of choice. For more information and booking, please contact us.

Taxi

Rates start at ¥410 for the first km and ¥80 for about 300m thereafter or 2 minutes in traffic (though this differs slightly between taxi companies). Prices go up about 30% after dark. Rear taxi doors open and close automatically using hydraulic actuators, so your driver may say something to discourage you from reaching for the door handle. All taxi companies take credit cards and digital payments, and most now have a touchpad on the back of the passenger seat where you can choose your language and complete your payment. This allows for minimum contact between the driver and the passenger.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

For those looking to explore Tokyo from a local’s perspective, the trains and bus lines offer a true adventure. Public transport in Tokyo is impeccably clean, safe, and well maintained, and every major train station offers cafes, restaurants, and underground walkways to department stores and shopping centers.

Trains

Train in Tokyo @ M.S. Meeuwesen, Unsplash

The train system in Tokyo is very efficient, and often taking a train is the best and cheapest option to quickly get around the city. In addition to the trains running like clockwork, they are very safe and clean. There are multiple competing lines operating in Tokyo, which enables the system to be unbelievably thorough. Due to a large number of different lines, it can be quite confusing to get around, at least at first. Below you can find two of the most popular and convenient routes for visiting the neighborhoods of Tokyo!

Yamanote Line: The most important train line of the city, which connects the big city centers of Tokyo. The full trip around this circular line takes about one hour. By traveling on Yamanote Line, you can visit some of the most popular neighborhoods of Tokyo, such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ebisu, Shinagawa, Shimbashi, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, Ueno, and Ikebukuro. The Yamanote Line starts and ends at Shinjuku Station.

Chūō line: This is the only JR Line that crosses the circular Yamanote Line. Chūō Line operates two different types of trains - rapid trains and local trains. The rapid trains stop only at the stations of Shinjuku, Yotsuya, Ochanomizu, Kanda, and Tokyo Station. The local trains stop at every station between Shinjuku and Ochanomizu, after which they continue operating on the Sobu Line heading to Chiba. By taking the local train, you can visit for example Nakano, Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, and Ryogoku.

While traveling in Japan, you can find various types of train lines. Some of them are faster as they skip certain stations along the route, while some stop at every station on the way. The different types in order from fastest to slowest:

特急 (tokkyu) = Limited Express
準特急 (jyun-tokkyu) = Semi Special Express
急行 (kyuukou) = Express
区間急行 (kukan-kyuukou) = Semi Express (trains that run express during some stretches of the route, and normal at other stretches)
快速 (kaisoku), occasionally 通勤快速 (tsuukin-kaisoku) = Rapid Service/Commuter Rapid Service
普通 (futsu), alternatively 各駅停車 (kakueki-teisha) = Local (stops at every station)

Subway

Bus in Tokyo @ Keisuke Kuribara, Unsplash

There are two main subway services, the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. There is no big difference between the two, and most locals simply ride the one that is the most convenient for their destination. There are day passes as well that cover both subway systems, which go for 900 yen. Prices for individual tickets vary depending on how far you plan to travel. Also, depending on where you want to go it may make more sense to walk to a different subway station even though you’re right in front of one, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Once you’re on the subway platform look for yellow signs indicating which exits are more suitable for which destinations. They can save you quite the hassle or confusion!

Bus

The bus system is slower than the trains and road traffic gets especially congested during rush hour. However, this is the most convenient and direct route to travel between places like Roppongi and Shibuya and is also a fun way to sightsee and discover the city.

Travel Cards & Tickets

We highly recommend purchasing a SUICA or PASMO card if you are doing a longer stay in Tokyo. These cards are rechargeable contactless smart cards used for train fares. Without this card, you will have to purchase a train ticket each time you board. This can be time-consuming and also very confusing. These cards will automatically take care of your transfer fee if you transfer from one train system to another. There is no difference between the Suica or Pasmo card, as they are just owned by different companies. You can purchase or recharge these cards at the traditional ticket booth where you would normally buy a subway ticket. Just be warned that there are some areas outside of Tokyo where these cards are not usable.

Ticket booths have an English guidance option, so purchasing the cards should not be a problem. If and when you buy them, you can choose to have your name printed on them (Personal PASMO) so that you and only you can use it, and you can have it reissued if you lose the card. Most visitors will do fine with the General (non-personalized) card.

Both cards require a ¥500 deposit, which will be refunded when you return the card. These cards are also accepted on the bus as well as conbinis (convenience stores), vending machines, and some stores. The minimum recharge amount is ¥1000, and can also be connected to your Apple Wallet for automatic refill.

Another pass useful for Tokyo is the Tokyo Free Kippu, a 1-day ticket covering most trains, subways and buses running in the city (but NOT the trains getting to the airports). The pass can be purchased in advance at a Midori-no-madoguchi (Green Box Office) found in major stations. JR East also offers its own pass, valid only for its network, covering Tokyo and the northern half of Honshu.

Transportation Tips

The subways and trains in Japan stop running between midnight and 5AM, so be sure to plan accordingly. This is called 終電 (shyuu-den) or last train.

Avoid the trains during work rush hours (7-9 am and 5-7pm) unless you truly want to experience life through the lens of a typical Tokyo worker. There have been incidents of windows cracking and riders fainting from the sheer overload of people.

Download a Japanese train application, such as Japan Travel by NAVITIME, or use Google Maps to figure out your ideal train route.

Purchase a SUICA or PASMO smart card if you plan on trying out public transport. It takes the hassle out of purchasing individual tickets and figuring out train line prices.

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