The metro of Tokyo is one of the busiest in the world. Which only makes sense, as Tokyo itself is one of the most populated areas and biggest cities in the world. So when you go to Tokyo you will quickly realize the city has several city cores that tourists can visit. Each with their own distinctive culture. The good thing is they are all connected by public transport. So as a tourist it’s important to know which subway and railway lines to take in Tokyo. Once you get the hang of that, you will never want to travel any other way. In this Meet The Cities guide I will explain which public transport and metro lines in Tokyo should be taken by tourists who wish to explore all the hotspots of Tokyo during their vacation.
The Yamanote Line is by far the most important railway line in Tokyo. The Yamanote Line does a round trip through the center of Tokyo, allowing you to visit the most important sights with ease. During the day the trains arrive every 2,5 minutes, so you never have to wait for them to arrive.
The most important stops for tourists are Shibuya and Shinjuku, which are both fantastic shopping areas, Akihabara, for the typical Japanese gamer and anime culture, Ueno, if you wish to check out museums, and Tokyo Station, which is the central station near the Imperial Palace. If you have the time you could also check out Yūrakuchō, if you wish to visit the Ginza luxury shopping district, Shinbashi and Hamamatsuchō, which is within a 15 minute walking distance of the landmark Tokyo Tower.
It takes about an hour for the Yamanote Line to do a complete round trip. So even if you go the wrong way, you will always arrive at your destination eventually. If you have no idea where to go in Tokyo, then remember you can always go to a large railway station and find the Yamanote Line and it will bring you to your destination.
On this website you can download a map of the Yamanote Line in Tokyo. The green line represents the Yamanote Line.
Almost all railway stations where the Yamanote Line stops are also connected to the metro and subway lines, allowing you to proceed your journey to less common destinations using the underground lines.
As Tokyo is a huge city it’s easy to underestimate the distance between places. Even when things appear nearby on the map you might have to cover quite a bit of distance to reach it. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself the the extensive metro / subway system of Tokyo. As taking the metro is by far the easiest way to get around in Tokyo.
You might have to get used to how everything works, but once you get the hang of it it’s all quite easy and logically laid out. The metro system of Tokyo is also quite speedy, clean and safe, making it an excellent way to travel for tourists.
There are two major railway operators active in the center of Tokyo. Tokyo Metro is one operator, who operates nine metro lines. And Toei Subways operates four metro lines. There are other operators outside of the city center, but they aren’t really relevant to most tourists. Both Tokyo Metro and Toei Subways have their own metro tickets which you can only use on their lines. Luckily it’s also possible to purchase a one-day combination metro ticket, which works on both lines.
During rush hours it can get quite busy in the subway of Tokyo, which is why there are some carriages that are exclusively for females (and small children). Of course, taking this wagon is optional.
On this website you can download the official pdf map of the subway of Tokyo. Which can be quite useful for planning your journey. Although a more simple map of the subway of Tokyo is also available, which I personally find easier to read.
Tokyo also has buses, but they drive less often than the metro and they usually take more time to reach a destination. So for common tourist destinations you are better off taking the subway. If you go to a more niche location outside of the city center, then the bus becomes a more viable option.