| Rail > Metro / Subway tips and advice posted by real travelers and Tokyo locals. • 55 Photos
• 63 Reviews
See all Tokyo Transportation |
 | Tokyo Rail > Metro / Subway Reviews | 1 - 10 of 63 |  |
Subway/metro is another commonly used transportation in Tokyo other than JR. There are quite a lot of subways in Tokyo: the Tokyo Metro, the Kotsu Metro, the Tokyu Line, the Keio Line, just to name a few. With so many different subway lines and JR lines, its very important for you to have a copy of the complete train line map on hand. So that you'll know where to get transitted.
Those subways' online resources are quite useful too: checking of fares, how and how long to get from locations to locations, etc.
Tokyo Metro: http://www.tokyometro.jp/
Kotsu Metro: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp
Tokyu Lines: http://www.tokyu.co.jp/index_flash.html
Keio Lines: http://www.keio.co.jp
Tickets: Advise to purchase the Passnet card, for the the value of 1,000 , 3,000 or 5,000. You can take most of the subways / trains other than the JR with the Passnet Card. (If you see the passnet logo on the ticket machines, it means you can use the passnet card for that train line) It saved me time as I dont have to queue up every time I take the trains. Value can be added after used up, and you can keep the card after the trip~ Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
|
 | |  |
Visiting Tokyo?
Read reviews about Tokyo Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
The Tokyo Subway system is the best way of getting around Tokyo, and the cheapest. It can be tricky though, as there are many different subway lines, and the writing is not always in English.
The first thing to know about the subway system is how to get on and off it. The subway opens around 5am and stays open until midnight. Starting around 6 am and going until 9 am, and also 4 pm to about 7 pm are the busiest times. Things are easier if you just avoid Shibuya and Shinjuku stations at those times. You will have to wait in line for a trian, they do fill up, and you will get pushed into a car. Once the school and business rush is over though, it is really convenient. The hardest thing is figuring out where you are going.
That is easy if you have a copy of the map with you. Most all of the cars on the lines have english signs and announcements for the stations. All you have to do is know which one you are looking for. Switching stations is easy, you just need to know which train to get on. Trains go in the direction of their farthest point, look at you map. If you are on the Ginza line wanting to go to Roppongi, but the train says Ueno, you are looking at the wrong direction, turn around and take the other train.
Getting on the train is easy too. Have some money ready and buy one of those cute little plastic paper cards. Slide them into the gate, walk through and pick up your card on the other side (You will need it to switch lines and get out of the station.) If you get stuck, there are information booths at most all of the stations. Just be sure to have taxi money handy though if you plan to be out later than midnight, or be prepared to sleep wherever you are. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Tokyo has a perfect system of subway and local trains - and it's easy to use, even for foreigners.
During rushhours it's a bit crowded at the major stations.
Just imagine, at Shinjuku station about 12 Mio. passengers are changing/entering daily.
Don't even think about using a rental car, you won't find your way, and there are no parking lots. Leave a Comment
|
The coverage of the subway in Tokyo is mainly at the Central Metropolitan Area. This Subway service is equally convenience with JR. Make sure your direction is clear then decide using JR or the subway.
I use the subway almost everyday. Leave a Comment
|
Here is the link to the latest map
http://www.tokyometro.jp/network/pdf/rosen_eng.pdf
A good tip from a local is : if you have limited time, just take the Ginza line, and make stops along the way. You should be able to see some popular spots - e.g. Ginza itself, Shibuya (G1), Omote Sando (G2), Asakusa (G19). The Marunouchi Line has some nice spots too like Shinjuku/ Harajuku (M8), Tokyo (M17), & Ginza too (M16). Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Tokyo?
Read reviews about Tokyo Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
The Subway in Tokyo is operated by two Separate companies.
Tokyo Metro, who operate the Ginza, Marunouchi, Tozai, Yurakucho, Hibiya, Chiyoda, Nanboku, Hanzomon and New Line, and Toei Metro who operate the Oedo, Asakusa, Mita and Shinjuku lines.
Tokyo Metro's day pass is 710 yen, and Toei Metro's day pass is 500 yen. Alternatively you can buy a 1000 yen pass which covers both systems. Leave a Comment
|
For the most part, the crowds were not bad but during the busy times of the day - there were a lot of people!
The underground subway stations are clean and had kiosks selling candy, ties, and magazines.
Every station have helpful information desks where you could go to ask questions about getting to your destination. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
|
It's fairly straightforward, not too much to worry about:
The crowds aren't always bad. Mostly during peak hours.
If you want to navigate easily, you'll probably want to switch metros a few times. Two pieces of advice for this.
1. At the stations, there don't seem to be metro-maps in english that you can take with you, so you might want to print one out before you go. There's one at www.tokyometro.jp/rosen/rosenzu/pdf/rosen_eng.pdf
2. Sometimes it appears like two lines are crossing at one station, but you might find out that the other line's station is actually 500 metres away. There are generally easy-access tunnels conencting the various cities. Leave a Comment
|
Tokyo has such a great subway service that any other form of transportation is mute. Cabs are way too expensive to consider and traffic will make them a very slow way of getting around anyway. However, you need to be careful because the Tokyo Metro System is run by private companies and the ticket you buy for one line may not be good for another. Leave a Comment
|
The subway system is great. All trains run on time and can take you all over the city. But it can sometimes get complicated as there are many different lines. Most japanese have little maps with them. You can pick up such maps at the stations.
Or just look online first.
Map of the Tokyo subway at :
http://www.japan.co.jp/~pbw/tokyosub.htm Leave a Comment Theme: Subway/Metro
|
|
More Tokyo Car Rental Deals Osaka Travel
Book With the Travel Company Rated #1 in Customer Service by Consumers Great Tours of China
Custom itineraries & private guides at great prices, from Top Outfitter Tokyo Apartment
Over 1700 furnished Tokyo apartment No guarantor, key money, agent fee Tokyo hotels for 69$
Free breakfast, free Internet line 2 station to shinjuku central Tokyo Sponsored Links
- THE MANSIONS at Roppongi (3-5-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku.)
3-8-5 Roppongi, Tokyo - RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo (1-104-19 Totsukamachi.)
1-104-19 Totsuka-machi, Tokyo - Shinjuku Washington Hotel
3-2-9 Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo - Ryogoku Pearl Hotel
1-2-24 Yokoami, Tokyo - Takanawa Tobu
4-7-6 Takanawa, Tokyo - Akasaka Prince Hotel (1 2 Kioi Cho Chiyoda Ku.)
1 - 2 Kioi-cho, Tokyo - Cerulean Tower Tokyu
26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Tokyo - Ikebukuro Theatre
1-21-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Tokyo - Takanawa Prince Hotel (3-13-1 Takanawa Minato-Ku.)
3-13-1 Takanawa, Tokyo - Mets Musashisakai Hotel
203 Lund Farm Way, Tokyo - Omori Tokyu Inn
1-6-16 Omorikita, Tokyo - Monterey La Soeur Ginza
1-10-18 Ginza, Tokyo - Akasaka Prince Hotel
1 - 2 Kioi-cho, Tokyo - Strings Hotel Tokyo
2-16-1 Konan, Tokyo - Ana
1-12-33, Akasaka, Tokyo
|
on July 9, 2004
on May 23, 2004
on January 7, 2005
on August 18, 2004
on December 7, 2004
on October 8, 2007
on September 8, 2002
on July 22, 2008
on January 11, 2009
on August 13, 2003
