For travelers who prefer to plan their own itineraries, the legendary Tokyo Metro, known for its incredible complexity, can be an interesting tourist attraction in itself. You are sure to find a station near every hotel or popular tourist attraction in Tokyo.
A distinctive feature of the Tokyo Metro is that it consists of two interconnected transport systems: private and public. The private Tokyo Metro system operates nine lines, while the Tokyo government (Toei Subway) owns four lines. Each line of the Tokyo Metro has its own color, number, and series. The Tokyo Metro system includes the Chiyoda, Ginza, Fukutoshin, Hanzomon, Hibiya, Marunouchi, Nanboku, Tozai, and Yurakucho lines. The public Toei Subway includes the Asakusa, Mita, Oedo, and Shinjuku lines.
Having two different networks in one metropolis may seem strange, and of course, the two systems are not fully integrated—transferring between them requires passing through a turnstile. The process is made easier by using prepaid cards (Pasmo or Suica), which are compatible with both systems.
Tokyo subway ticket prices start at 170 yen for a paper ticket, but if you plan to spend some time in Tokyo, it makes much more sense to invest in a rechargeable IC Pasmo or Suica card to facilitate connections between the two transport systems and save time and money: the difference in fares can be as much as 5 yen per trip. The Suica card requires a 500 yen deposit, which is paid when the card is issued. This deposit is refunded when you return the card at the end of your trip. The Suica card can be used on JR East lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area, on all Tokyo subway lines, and on buses and monorails that run between Haneda Airport and Tokyo. Outside of Tokyo, the Suica card can be used on some transportation networks in Hokkaido, Sendai, Niigata, Tokai, Western Japan, and Kyushu. The Suica card can also be used to purchase goods at many station kiosks and regular stores.
The good news is that the metro maps are very easy to understand: all information is duplicated in English. Transport maps can be easily found at the airport, requested at information centers, or obtained at hotels. Metro dispatchers are happy to answer any questions related to transport logistics. And in extreme cases, the polite and responsible residents of the capital are always ready to help a confused person with a map. Colorful maps, signs, and indicators can be found near the ticket offices of metro stations and directly on the platforms. Each metro line has its own color and number.
To enter the metro, you need to buy a ticket. Ticket machines have a simple, easy-to-understand menu in English. Ticket prices vary depending on the distance between stations. For convenience, a list of all stations with the fare from the current point is displayed separately at the ticket offices. The machine allows you to purchase a ticket for one or more adults, a child, or a senior citizen. Both coins and bills are accepted for payment.
After passing through the turnstile, you must keep your ticket until the end of your journey, because you will need it again when changing trains or exiting the metro. Otherwise, you will have to buy another ticket. The ticket displays information about the cost of the trip, transfers, subway lines, etc. If you paid for a trip to a certain station but traveled further, you will not be able to exit through the turnstiles. You can pay the difference in cost to the station attendant.
The Tokyo subway opens between 5:00 and 5:20 a.m. and closes between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. (depending on the station). Rush hour is approximately 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. There are virtually no night buses in Tokyo, so taxis are the only option for getting home after the subway closes. Sometimes on weekends and holidays, the subway extends its hours of operation.
All cars are very clean and equipped with seats for pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities, which are best left unoccupied, as this may cause disapproval from other passengers. In general, the Tokyo subway has its own special unspoken etiquette. It is forbidden to eat and drink, place luggage on the seat next to you, use a cell phone, or talk to people around you.
In the carriages, above each door, you can track the route of the journey on a special electronic monitor. They also display information about travel time, transfer options to other lines, the availability of elevators, exits, and escalators in Japanese and English. The information is also repeated by an announcer.
The first subway line in Tokyo was opened in 1927 between Asakusa and Ueno stations. Then, in 1934, the route from Ginza to Shimbashi was opened. After World War II, construction of the Tokyo subway proceeded at a rapid pace, and in 1954, the section from Ikebukuro to Ochanomizu opened on the Marunouchi Line. Five years later, construction of the section from Kasumigaseki to Shinjuku on the Marunouchi Line was completed.
During Japan’s rapid development in the 1960s and 1970s, large sections of the Hibiya, Tozai, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, and Chiyoda lines were built. In the 1980s and 1990s, sections of the Yurakucho and Namboku lines were completed.
The darkest page in the history of the Tokyo Metro is March 20, 1995, when the non-religious aggressive cult Aum Shinrikyo carried out a sarin attack in the Tokyo subway at the Kasumigaseki and Nagatacho stations, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
The Fukutoshin Line was opened in 2008. Over time, innovations such as wireless local area networks at all stations and doors with monitors at many stations were introduced. Women began to be hired as conductors and train drivers.
The Tokyo Metro has its own museum, where you can learn about the main milestones in its history.