So you want to visit the largest city in the world. Tokyo is a sprawling metropolis with some 38 million people. It also has one of the largest and most complex subways in the world with 285 stations, 13 lines and 8 million daily passengers. And the Tokyo Subway is…. character building.

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Tips to Survive the Tokyo Subway System

Using the Tokyo subway system is a mind-boggling experience. In fact the Tokyo Metro is ranked #6 of the top things to do in Tokyo! As a tourist you should at least come prepared with a few tips and a little bit of research.


I did my fair share of research on Tokyo transportation options before we arrived. 2 things really stood out for me:

  • Avoid Tokyo taxis – they are incredibly expensive.
  • Make good use of the Tokyo subway – it is very efficient and cost-effective.

And now, here are the top 10 tips specific to the Tokyo Subway.

Shinjuku station camera shopping
Shopping at BIC Camera Shinjuku Station

Tip 1: Get a SUICA card

There is plenty of discussion online regarding the best Tokyo subway pass to purchase. I recommend you go straight for the SUICA card – that’s the one provided by the JR East company. Some people question whether SUICA is okay to use on certain parts of the complicated train network due to many different companies operating different train lines. My family did a lot of travel on both Tokyo subway and surface metropolitan trains, and SUICA allowed us to ride on every train without any problems (excluding the Shinkansen bullet trains).

I’m sure situations exist where SUICA don’t work, however we did not experience any problems. If you find it doesn’t work, no big deal just purchase a single ticket from the vending machine. As an added bonus the SUICA card works just as well in Kyoto and Osaka. There’s no need to purchase a different card if that’s where you are headed.

Trivia: SUICA stands for Super Urban Intelligent CArd. A penguin is used as the symbol since they swim so smoothly through water.

tokyo subway system buying suica card
Ticketing area in a busy Tokyo subway station

Tip 2: Don’t forget to take your passport

SUICA cards are very easy to purchase, most Tokyo train stations with ticketing offices will sell you one. However it is a requirement to show your passport (for each person purchasing the card) before they can sell you a SUICA card. Do not forget your passport, or you may need to return to your room to fetch it before being allowed to purchase your SUICA cards.

When you do purchase your SUICA cards they will be pre-loaded with enough funds to get you through the first few days riding the Tokyo subway system. This will give you ample time to figure out how to use the card recharge stations and familiarize yourself with the system.

Tip 3: Do not let your SUICA card run out of funds

SUICA cards are really easy to top up at the vending machines. But be warned, if you let it go below zero you will not allowed to exit the subway platform until you settle your payment with a ticketing officer for your last trip. And it will be a miracle if you get a ticketing officer who can understand English, so you will probably experience a significant delay.

Your SUICA card gets a block placed on it and only certain stations have the ability to unblock and re-activate your card. Chances are this will take an extra couple of hours to sort out, not to mention wasted train fares. SUICA cards are much more convenient than purchasing individual fares – just don’t let it run out of funds!

How do you ensure it does not go below zero? You need to regularly check your remaining balance on the turnstile display. You also need to have a rough idea of the value of your individual fares, shown on the large ticketing display boards.

Tip 4: Beware of heavy suitcases

Apparently Tokyo has the first subway system ever built on our beloved planet. As it turns out, escalators and elevators weren’t so important in the early days of subway design. It is inevitable that you will get caught having to walk up long flights of stairs to exit to the street. And you will occasionally be steered towards long staircases to walk over or under another train line inside the train station to get to your next platform.

Tokyo subway staircases can be very long, comparable to walking up a 4 storey building. Trust me, you do not want to be carrying heavy suitcases! There simply are no elevator or escalators options available at some of these stations, so beware!

Tokyo street subway entrance
Another long staircase from the street down to a Tokyo Subway Station

Tip 5: Learn Google Maps

Forget the printed maps, Google Maps is your saviour on the Tokyo Subway. Sure a printed subway map of Tokyo is useful, but Google Maps wins hands down. This will require you to become somewhat of a Google Maps expert before braving the subway. You may think you know how to use Google Maps but when you start walking around subterranean tunnels it’s a whole different story. You may need some practise first, so spend a couple of hours walking the streets and figure out how to use Google Maps properly and get your settings just right.


Of course this will require you to have a good smart-phone equipped with internet data package. You can purchase SIM cards with pre-loaded internet at Tokyo Airport (Narita) on the way in, this will save you time and time again. There are many apps available that calculate public transport routes, and each train network has it’s own app for these. I always found Google Maps to be the most reliable, mainly because it integrates the various train companies that operate the different train lines. It even calculates your fare costs in Yen!

Tip 6: Take a screenshot of the google maps route with station names

Beware with Google Maps, because it is so Dynamic it may be hard to replicate that optimum route you worked out before you left your hotel earlier that day. Depending on where you are on your journey, Google Maps has a bad habit of calculating completely different routes to your destination. Do your research before you leave and then take some screen shots. This is very handy when the train stops and you have a split second to decide whether this is your station to get off, all you need to do is look at your screen shot.

Tokyo subway system google maps train screen
Google Maps screenshot on my iPhone

Tip 7: Always write down the entrance/exit number

Shinjuku Station has over 200 exits! When you enter a station, ALWAYS write down the entrance/exit number so you can find it again later. If you think it was C3 but it might be C5, it could cost you half hour extra walking at street level to get back to where you originally intended to exit. Alternatively, take a photo of the exit number on your smart phone.

Tip 8: Download a station map (for large stations)


As stated large stations can have 200 or more exits, cleverly hidden a catacomb of shopping malls on various different levels. It is wise to take a screenshot of the station map on your smart phone to help you to find your exit. Have a clear plan in your mind for your exit onto the correct street, for example “TAKE EXIT C3 ON THE ON THE SECOND LEVEL NORTH SIDE”. A screenshot on your smart phone will be a great help to get your bearings when the shopping malls are trying to lead you off in different directions.

Alternatively, there are loads of apps which have very good station maps, or you can download them straight off the internet.

street scene outside Shinjuku subway
Street scene outside the busy Shinjuku Subway Station

Tip 9: Take Google maps time estimate – and double it

Google Maps is such an amazing and accurate tool to have right there in your pocket. There is however one slight problem when it comes to Tokyo subway system – Google Maps is way too optimistic with times. Whatever Google Maps estimates for a transit time from A to B, double it if the Tokyo Subway is involved. The extra time is normally gobbled up by a variety of delays including

    • Looking for your correct exit to the street
    • Swapping platforms for your connecting train
    • Taking a wrong turn
    • Stopping to ask directions
    • Topping up or checking the balance on your SUICA card
  • Getting lost

If you are a daily commute and you get your journey perfect every time, Google Maps may be correct But if you are a tourist you should double it. If you take the wrong exit or get off at the wrong train station, triple it!

Tip 10: Be Patient and Marvel at the Awesomeness of the Tokyo Subway System

Tokyo Subways can be really frustrating. It can be challenging to swap to a different train line which is operated by a different train company. The signage is usually all written in Japanese and it’s difficult to find an English-speaking train company employee. You may have to walk a couple of blocks to get to a different train line in the pouring rain. But the Tokyo Rapid Transit System truly is one of the wonders of the modern age.

During your inevitable challenges, you need to just stop and marvel at what an amazing creation the Tokyo Rapid Transit System is. If you want proof, go and see Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto Shinkansen (bullet train) stations. These are amazingly built right into the suburban train station. It is absolutely incredible to watch how efficient these operate. Enjoy your experience!

Tokyo subway system Shinjuku station
Shinjuku Station Entrance

Bonus Tip: Kyoto Taxis:

I never caught a taxi in Tokyo due to their expensive cost, however I did catch plenty of taxis in Kyoto. I found Kyoto taxis to be quite reasonably priced, especially for 3 or more people sharing the same taxi. Although Kyoto subway and transit system is a very extremely efficient, you should seriously consider taxis if you are pushed for time. Kyoto is jam-packed with tourist attractions and you will get to see many more of them by using taxis, compared to the train system.

Beat the Tokyo Subway

I hope you find these tips on using the Tokyo Subway useful. Although challenging and tiring, it is also a real blast and an experience I will forever treasure. It’s truly worthy of your travel bucket list. So you can one day shout from the rooftops I BEAT THE TOKYO SUBWAY!!!

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