Tokyo Transit and IC Card Guide

How Tokyo’s Rail System Works

Tokyo’s train network looks intimidating on a map, but you only need to understand three things: tap in, ride, tap out. Your IC card calculates the fare automatically.

There are three main operators in central Tokyo:

1. JR East — The former national railway. Runs the Yamanote Line (green loop), Chuo Line (orange), and many commuter lines. Stations marked with the JR logo.
2. Tokyo Metro — 9 subway lines (Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, etc.). Most useful for getting around central Tokyo.
3. Toei Subway — 4 subway lines run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo).

Additionally, private railways (Keio, Odakyu, Tokyu, Seibu, Tobu, Keikyu, Keisei) connect central Tokyo to suburbs and airports. Your IC card works on all of them.

Related guides:

• Suica & PASMO 2026 Guide — How to buy, charge, and use IC cards
• Yamanote Line Guide — Tokyo’s essential loop line
• Tokyo Metro Guide — Subway lines and tips

IC Cards: Suica and PASMO

An IC card is your key to Tokyo transit. Tap on a reader at the entrance gate, ride, then tap at the exit gate. The correct fare is deducted automatically.

Which Card to Get

Card	Who it’s for	Where to get it
Mobile Suica	Anyone with iPhone or Android	Apple Wallet or Google Pay (2 min setup)
Welcome Suica	Short-term tourists	JR EAST Travel Service Centers at Narita, Haneda, Tokyo Station
PASMO Passport	Short-term tourists	Airport kiosks at Narita/Haneda
Regular PASMO	Residents	PASMO vending machines at metro/private railway stations

Physical Suica cards are not currently sold at ticket machines (IC chip shortage since 2023). Mobile Suica is the most convenient option for most visitors.

Welcome Suica and PASMO Passport are valid for 28 days, have no deposit, and no balance refund. Best for short trips.

For a detailed step-by-step guide, see Suica & PASMO 2026 Guide.

Charging Your IC Card

• Ticket machines — Insert your card, select amount (¥1,000-¥10,000), pay with cash. Available at every station.
• Mobile Suica app — Charge from a linked credit card instantly.
• Convenience stores — Ask the cashier to charge your card (konbini de charge / コンビニでチャージ).

Maximum balance: ¥20,000.

Key Lines to Know

JR Yamanote Line (Mountain Hand Line / 山手線)

The most important line for visitors. A green loop connecting major stations: Tokyo, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa, and more. Full loop takes about 60 minutes. Trains run every 2-4 minutes during daytime.

See Yamanote Line Guide for details.

Tokyo Metro

Nine color-coded subway lines covering central Tokyo. The most useful for tourists:

• Ginza Line (Orange) — Shibuya to Asakusa via Omotesando, Ginza, Ueno
• Marunouchi Line (Red) — Shinjuku to Tokyo to Ikebukuro
• Hibiya Line (Gray) — Roppongi, Ginza, Akihabara, Ueno
• Chiyoda Line (Green) — Meiji-Jingu-Mae (Harajuku), Omotesando

See Tokyo Metro Guide for details.

Toei Subway

Four lines operated by the city government:

• Toei Asakusa Line — Asakusa to Shinagawa, connects to Keikyu for Haneda Airport
• Toei Oedo Line — A large loop covering Roppongi, Shinjuku, Tsukiji

Private Railways

Connect central Tokyo to popular destinations:

• Odakyu — Shinjuku to Hakone
• Keio — Shinjuku to Mt. Takao
• Tokyu — Shibuya to Yokohama
• Tobu — Asakusa to Nikko

Fares and Transfers

Fares are distance-based. A typical short ride within central Tokyo costs ¥170-250. Cross-operator transfers (e.g., JR to Metro) are charged as separate trips, but transferring within the same operator is seamless.

If your balance is too low to exit, use the fare adjustment machine (精算機 / seisanki) near the ticket gates. Insert your IC card, pay the difference, and exit normally.

Rush Hour Survival

Morning rush (7:30-9:30 AM) on major lines is extremely crowded — 180-200% capacity on the worst lines. Tips:

• Travel before 7:00 AM or after 10:00 AM if possible.
• Avoid the Chuo Line, Tozai Line, and Yamanote Line at peak times.
• Women-only cars (女性専用車両 / josei senyou sharyou) are available on most lines during morning rush, usually the first or last car.
• Keep your backpack in front of you or on the rack above.

Useful Apps

• Google Maps — Real-time transit directions, accurate for Tokyo.
• NAVITIME — Japanese transit app with English support. Shows platform numbers.
• Yahoo! Transit (Yahoo!乗換案内) — Best Japanese transit app. Very accurate.

Troubleshooting

IC card does not work at the gate? Visit the station office (改札窓口 / kaisatsu madoguchi). They can check your card and fix entry/exit errors.

Accidentally tapped in at the wrong station? Tell the station staff at the gate. They will cancel the entry without charge.

Lost something on a train? Report to the station office immediately. Lost items in Tokyo are often returned. See Tokyo Trouble Guide for details.

Cannot figure out which exit to use? Large stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo) have dozens of exits. Use Google Maps — it shows the exit number for your destination.

Train stopped running (last train passed)? Last trains are generally around midnight. If you miss the last train, options include taxis, karaoke boxes (open all night), manga cafes (internet cafes with reclining chairs), or capsule hotels.