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Useful information for sightseeing in Tokyo

Tokyo Transportation Complete Guide｜Trains, Buses, and IC Cards Explained in Depth

2025.12.03

The Complete Tokyo Transportation Guide

A comprehensive guide to trains, buses, and IC cards

For getting around Tokyo smoothly

Tokyo’s transportation network is among the best in the world. Trains, subways, buses, and taxis are all well developed, and you can choose the optimal way to travel depending on your destination. This article is a complete guide to transportation in Tokyo for visitors to Japan.

Important note

The travel times listed in this article are approximate. Actual times may vary depending on time of day, day of the week, weather, delays, and other factors. Please plan with extra time to spare.

Getting from the airports to central Tokyo
Trains and subways in Tokyo
Must-have: Transit IC cards
Sightsee and save: How to use unlimited-ride passes
Convenient options: Taxis & buses
Good to know: Tips for peace of mind
Frequently asked questions

【First steps for getting around】

Getting from the airports to central Tokyo

Tokyo has two main airports: Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND). Haneda is closer to central Tokyo and offers convenient access.

Access from Haneda Airport (HND)

Mode	Features	Time	Fare	Destinations
Keikyu Line	Fastest at about 14 minutes to Shinagawa. Through service onto the Toei Asakusa Line, so no transfer to Asakusa or Oshiage (Skytree). The fastest access to Haneda Airport.	About 14–20 min to Shinagawa Station	327 yen (IC) / 330 yen (cash)	Shinagawa, Yokohama, Asakusa, Higashi-ginza
Tokyo Monorail	Connects at Hamamatsucho Station to the JR Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line. Enjoy the view from the window.	About 18 min to Hamamatsucho Station	520 yen (IC) / 530 yen (cash)	Hamamatsucho, Tokyo
Limousine bus	Direct access to major stations and well-known hotels. Convenient if you have a lot of luggage.	About 80 min or more to Shinjuku	3,600 yen and up	Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Asakusa
Taxi	Go directly to your destination. Can be economical if used by multiple people.	About 30–40 min to Shinjuku	6,000–8,000 yen	All areas

Access from Narita Airport (NRT)

Mode	Features	Time	Fare	Destinations
Keisei Skyliner	Fastest conventional line at 160 km/h. Smooth transfer to the JR Yamanote Line at Nippori Station. Requires a liner ticket. Dedicated for Narita Airport.	About 36 min to Nippori Station	Base fare 1,267 yen (IC) + liner fee 1,300 yen = 2,567 yen	Ueno, Nippori
Keisei Skyliner Value Ticket Premium	Discounted ticket for the Keisei Skyliner. Save 270 yen when purchased in advance from a travel agency. Valid for 6 months from the purchase date.	About 36 min to Nippori Station	2,310 yen (270 yen off the regular price)	Ueno, Nippori
JR Narita Express (N'EX)	All-reserved seating and comfortable. Direct access to major stations with no transfers. Dedicated for Narita Airport.	About 50–60 min to Tokyo Station	3,070 yen	Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama
Limousine bus	Direct access to major stations and well-known hotels. Convenient if you have a lot of luggage.	About 60–90 min to Shinjuku	3,100–3,600 yen	Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Asakusa
Budget highway bus	For those prioritizing cost. Reservation required. Direct access to Tokyo Station and Ginza.	About 60–70 min to Tokyo Station	1,000–1,500 yen	Tokyo Station, Ginza

Tips for travelers

【Haneda Airport】The Keikyu Line is the fastest and cheapest. You can transfer to the Yamanote Line at Shinagawa Station.
【Haneda Airport】The Monorail gives access to Tokyo Station and Shimbashi via Hamamatsucho Station.
【Narita Airport】For Ueno/Asakusa, the Skyliner is the fastest.
【Narita Airport】If you have a JR PASS, N'EX offers good value.
【Narita Airport】The Skyliner Value Ticket Premium is 270 yen off if you purchase in advance at a travel agency.
If you have large luggage or want to go directly to your hotel, the limousine bus is convenient.
If minimizing cost is your priority, choose a budget highway bus.

【Basics of getting around】

Trains and subways in Tokyo

The backbone of getting around Tokyo is JR, Tokyo Metro, the Toei Subway, and the various private railways. Here we explain how to ride and the key lines.

Major lines in Tokyo

Line	Features	Major stations
JR Yamanote Line	A loop line around Tokyo. Concentration of sightseeing spots, commercial districts, and residential areas.	Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Shinagawa
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line	Runs from Akasaka-mitsuke to Asakusa. Many sightseeing spots such as Asakusa, Ginza, and Akasaka.	Asakusa, Ginza, Akasaka-mitsuke
Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line	Runs from Ikebukuro to Ogikubo. Passes through Tokyo Station.	Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Ginza
Toei Asakusa Line	Runs from Oshiage (Skytree) to Shinagawa. Access to Asakusa, Skytree, and Shinagawa.	Asakusa, Oshiage, Shinagawa

How to ride trains

Arrive at the station - Stand in front of the ticket gate.
Tap your IC card - Tap Suica or PASMO, or insert a ticket.
Go to the platform - Follow the signs to the platform.
Board - When the train arrives, get on.
Alight - Get off at your destination station and go through the ticket gate.

【Must-have】

Transit IC cards

IC cards are essential for getting around Tokyo. Options include Suica, PASMO, and Welcome Suica.

Card	Features	Where to buy	Validity	Price
Suica (anonymous)	Issued by JR East. Usable on transportation nationwide. Sales resume from March 1, 2025.	JR East multifunction ticket machines, Midori no Madoguchi	10 years	2,000 yen (1,500 yen can be loaded)
PASMO (anonymous)	Usable on Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and private railways. Sales resume from March 1, 2025.	Ticket vending machines at each station	10 years	2,000 yen (1,500 yen can be loaded)
Welcome Suica (card)	For visitors to Japan. Usable nationwide.	Airports, station counters	28 days	2,000 yen (1,500 yen can be loaded)
Welcome Suica Mobile	Mobile version for visitors to Japan. Can be issued in advance via the app.	Issued in the app	180 days	2,000 yen (1,500 yen can be loaded)
Tokyo Subway Ticket	Unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway. Ideal for sightseeing.	Airports, station counters, ticket vending machines	24/48/72 hours	24 hours: 1,000 yen; 48 hours: 1,400 yen; 72 hours: 1,800 yen

Tips for travelers

For short stays (within 3 days), the Tokyo Subway Ticket offers great value.
For longer stays, Welcome Suica (mobile version) is convenient.
Sales of anonymous Suica and PASMO resume on March 1, 2025.
You can easily top up at station ticket machines.

【Sightsee and save】

How to use unlimited-ride passes

Tokyo offers several special tickets. Choose according to your length of stay and travel patterns.

Pass	Coverage	Validity	Price	Recommended for
Tokyo Subway Ticket	All 9 Tokyo Metro lines and all 4 Toei Subway lines	24/48/72 hours	24 hours: 1,000 yen; 48 hours: 1,400 yen; 72 hours: 1,800 yen	Short-stay visitors (within 3 days)
JR TOKYO Wide PASS	All JR East lines (excluding Shinkansen)	3 consecutive days	10,000 yen	When you have many long-distance trips
One-day passes (various operators)	Lines of each operator	1 day	900–1,000 yen	When focusing on a specific line

Tips for travelers

Coupon tickets have been discontinued. Use IC cards or unlimited-ride passes instead.
Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway are separate companies, but the Tokyo Subway Ticket gives you unlimited rides on both.
If you won’t travel much, topping up an IC card may be cheaper.

【Convenient options】

Taxis & buses

There are also plenty of options besides trains. Use them according to your situation.

How to use taxis

Item	Details
Base fare	500 yen (up to 0.96 km)
Incremental fare	100 yen per 255 m
Late-night surcharge	20% on top of the regular fare (10:00 pm–5:00 am)
Coverage area	Tokyo’s 23 wards, Musashino City, Mitaka City
How to ride	Board from a taxi stand or hail a cruising taxi by raising your hand
Payment methods	Cash, credit cards, transit IC cards

How to use buses

Item	Details
How to board	Within the 23 wards, buses are front-boarding and pay-as-you-board. Board through the front door and pay when boarding.
How to alight	Alight from the rear door. No action is required when alighting.
Fare	Flat fare (210 yen on most routes)
Payment methods	Cash, transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO)
Notes	Some services may have women-only cars. Crowded during rush hours.

Tips for travelers

For short distances, buses are convenient.
At night or when far from a station, taxis are recommended.
Buses are generally front-boarding and pay-as-you-board. Be careful not to board the wrong way.
Taxi drivers may not speak English; having your destination written down can help.

【Good to know】

Things to know

Here’s what you should know to use Tokyo’s transportation comfortably.

About rush hours

It’s especially crowded in the morning (7:00–9:00) and evening (17:00–19:00). It may take longer to board during these times. Avoid these hours if possible.

Women-only cars

Many lines offer women-only cars, often limited to the morning rush hour. Men cannot board women-only cars.

Barrier-free information

Facility	Details
Elevators	Installed at major stations, but not at every station. Check in advance.
Wheelchair access	Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available at major stations.
Tactile paving	Tactile paving for the visually impaired is installed.
Station staff support	If you need help, please consult station staff.

Other useful information

Station signage - Displayed in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Route-finder apps - Google Maps and Yahoo! Transit are convenient.
Ask station staff - If you need help, please consult station staff.
Multilingual support - Major stations have multilingual staff.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Are multiple-ride coupon tickets available?

No. Tokyo Metro ended sales on February 28, 2023, and the Toei Subway ended sales on March 17, 2023. Instead, we recommend using IC cards (Suica or PASMO), the Tokyo Subway Ticket, or a one-day pass.

Q2: Can I buy anonymous Suica or PASMO cards?

Sales of anonymous Suica and PASMO resumed on March 1, 2025. You can purchase them at JR East multifunction ticket machines, Midori no Madoguchi, and ticket machines at each station.

Q3: What is the validity period of Welcome Suica?

The card version is valid for 28 days from the date of purchase, and the mobile version (Welcome Suica Mobile) is valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. The mobile version lasts longer.

Q4: Do I board the bus from the back?

No. Buses within Tokyo’s 23 wards are front-boarding and pay-as-you-board. Board through the front door and pay when boarding. Alight from the rear door.

Q5: Where can I buy the Skyliner Value Ticket Premium?

You can purchase it in advance from travel agencies (such as H.I.S.). It is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase and is 270 yen cheaper than the regular price.