Tokyo
Getting around Tokyo: public transport, passes and taxis
Use a tap-and-go IC card (Suica, PASMO or ICOCA) on trains, metro and buses; a single ride runs ¥180–350, so a day pass only pays off on 4+ rides. Take taxis after the last train (~00:30), not for cross-town trips. Add a rail pass only if you leave the city.Use a tap-and-go IC card (Suica, PASMO or ICOCA) on trains, metro and buses; a single ride runs ¥180–350, so a day pass only pays off on 4+ rides. Take taxis after the last train (~12:30 AM), not for cross-town trips. Add a rail pass only if you leave the city.
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GuideTokyo
Key facts
- Default payment
- IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) — tap in and out on trains, metro and city buses
- Single ride
- ¥180–350 depending on distance
- Day pass pays offcheck
- From about 4 rides in a day; check the current metro pass price
- Trains run
- ~05:00 to ~00:30; the last train decides your night
- Taxi
- Metered, no tip; useful after the last train and for short late-night hops
- Ride-hailing
- Apps work but mostly dispatch licensed taxis at taxi prices
- Peak crush
- 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00 on the busiest lines; travel with bags outside these windows
Options at a glance
Tokyo's network is dense enough that the choice is rarely which line but which ticket. Match the option to how many rides you will actually take today.
| Option | Cost (2026 estimate) | Time / best for | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) | ¥180–350 a ride | Everyday default; tap all trains, metro and city buses | Some rural buses and lines still want cash |
| Metro day pass | check current price | 4+ metro rides in one day | Covers the metro, not JR lines |
| JR day pass (Tokyo area) | check current price | Several JR hops in a day | Does not cover the metro or private lines |
| Taxi | metered; short hop from a few hundred yen | After the last train, luggage, late nights | Traffic; no tip |
| Ride-hailing app | taxi-level fares | Booking a licensed taxi from indoors | Not a cheaper option |
| Rental car | ¥8,000–12,000 per day plus parking | Not for Tokyo | Parking is scarce and costly |
IC cards and tickets
An IC card is the whole system in one piece of plastic. Tap in, tap out, and the fare is calculated for you across metro, JR and most private lines and city buses. Physical cards are sold at station machines and offices; the mobile version works on iPhone and some Android phones, which saves queueing at a machine.
Top up at machines with coins or notes, or from your phone. Fares sit in the ¥180–350 band for a normal city trip, so a day of five or six rides lands around ¥1,000–2,000. Buy a paper ticket only if you are making one journey and have no card.
Do you need a pass?
A metro day pass is worth it from about four metro rides in a day; below that, an IC card is cheaper and simpler. JR area passes cover JR lines only, so they do not help on the metro or private railways — check the current price and coverage before buying, because the maths changes with each fare revision.
The nationwide JR Pass is a separate decision and often loses money on a Tokyo-only trip. If you are also going to Kyoto or Osaka, compare it against point-to-point Shinkansen tickets before committing.
- Count your rides first: 3 or fewer, use the IC card
- Metro day pass: only if all your stops are on the metro
- JR area pass: only if your day is mostly JR lines
- Nationwide JR Pass: compare against single Shinkansen tickets
Taxi and ride-hailing
Taxis are metered, clean and honest, and there is no tipping — staff will chase you to return money left on the seat. They are the right answer after the last train, with heavy bags, or for a short hop when you are tired. For a cross-town trip in daytime traffic, the train is almost always faster and far cheaper.
Ride-hailing apps operate in Tokyo but mostly dispatch licensed taxis at taxi prices, so treat them as a booking convenience rather than a budget option. Have your destination written or shown on a screen; drivers rarely speak English, and the meter starts from the flag-fall.
What a day of moving costs
These are 2026 estimates for one person moving around the city, not including airport transfers.
- Airport transfer is a separate cost — see the airport page
- Children's fares are lower; check the current age bands
- Keep ¥1,000+ on the card so you are never stuck at a gate
| Day shape | Typical spend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Two or three rides | ¥400–1,000 | IC card, no pass |
| Five or six rides | ¥1,000–2,000 | IC card; a day pass may beat this if all rides are metro |
| Heavy sightseeing day | ¥1,500–2,500 | Mix of metro and JR; check pass maths |
| One late-night taxi | metered, from a few hundred yen for a short hop | After ~00:30 there is no train |
| Rental car | ¥8,000–12,000 per day plus parking | Not recommended inside Tokyo |
Practical tips
The last train decides your night. Services run roughly 05:00 to 00:30, and the final departure differs by line, so check it before the second drink rather than after. Miss it and you are in a taxi queue or a karaoke room until morning.
Avoid 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00 on the busiest lines if you are carrying luggage or travelling with children. Station layouts are large and multi-level; allow extra minutes for transfers, and follow the numbered exit signs rather than the street name. IC cards also work on many buses and convenience-store counters, which makes them useful beyond the trains.
- Check the last train before your last drink
- Travel with bags outside 07:30–09:00 and 17:30–19:00
- Note your station exit number before you leave the platform
- Top up before the gate, not at it
Questions people ask
What is the best way to get around Tokyo?
Trains, metro and buses with a tap-and-go IC card. Fares run ¥180–350 a ride, so it is cheap and fast for almost every trip. Use taxis only after the last train (~00:30), with heavy bags, or for short late-night hops.
Is there a transit pass for Tokyo?
Yes: metro day passes and JR area passes exist, but each covers only its own network. A metro day pass pays off from about four metro rides; below that an IC card is cheaper. Check the current price before buying.
Are taxis or ride-hailing better in Tokyo?
Taxis are metered, honest and tip-free, and are the right choice after the last train. Ride-hailing apps mostly dispatch licensed taxis at taxi prices, so they are a booking convenience rather than a cheaper option.
Can I use one card on all Tokyo trains and buses?
An IC card such as Suica, PASMO or ICOCA covers metro, JR and most private lines and city buses. Some rural buses and a few lines still want cash, so carry a little.
When do Tokyo trains stop running?
Roughly 05:00 to 00:30, with the last departure varying by line. Check your line's final train before a late night out; after that, taxis are the only option.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialJapan National Tourism Organization
- officialJR East
- officialTokyo Metro
- officialToei Transportation
- secondaryWikivoyage – Tokyo