Tokyo’s public transport system is efficient, clean and safe, with trains and subways the best way of getting around; a lack of signs in English makes the bus system a lot more challenging. For short, cross-town journeys, taxis are handy and, if shared by a group of people, not all that expensive. Sightseeing tours are also worth considering if you are pushed for time or would like a guided commentary. Here is all you need to know about getting around Tokyo.

How to get around Tokyo at a glance

• Tokyo's public transport, featuring an efficient subway and train network, is ideal for city exploration. It's tourist-friendly with color-coded maps, English signage, and station codes. Trains extend the reach within and beyond Tokyo.
• The Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, the two main systems, are interconnected but require a special ticket for seamless transfers. Vending machines at stations make ticket purchases easy.
• For unique views of Tokyo Bay, consider water buses, or opt for taxis or Uber for flexible travel, though these are pricier options.
• For convenience, a Pasmo or JR Suica card is recommended, allowing easy travel despite not offering direct savings.

Getting around in Tokyo by subway

Its colourful map may look daunting, but Tokyo’s subway is relatively easy to negotiate. The simple colour-coding on trains and maps, as well as clear signposts (many also in English), directional arrows and alpha-numeric station codes, make this by far the most gaijin-friendly form of transport. It's te easiest way to getting around Tokyo. You’ll have a much less crowded journey if you avoid travelling at rush hour (7.30–9am & 5–7.30pm).

There are two systems: 

1. The nine-line Tokyo Metro 
2. The four-line Toei 

The systems share some stations, but unless you buy a special ticket from the vending machines that specifies your route from one system to the other, or you have a pas), you cannot switch mid-journey between the two sets of lines without paying extra at the ticket barrier. Subways also connect to overland train lines, such as the Yamanote. 

How to book tickets

Tickets are bought at the vending machines beside the electronic ticket gates (ticket sales windows are only found at major stations). Ticket machines generally have multi-language functions, but if you’re fazed by the wide range of price buttons, either get a travel pass, or buy the cheapest ticket and sort out the difference with the gatekeeper at the other end.

Trains run daily from around 5am to just after midnight, and during peak daytime hours as frequently as every five minutes (and at least every fifteen minutes at other times). Maps close to the ticket barriers, and often on the platforms themselves, indicate where the exits emerge.

Getting around Tokyo by train

Although trains are more suitable for travelling throughout Japan, it's also a great way for getting around Tokyo. Japan Railways East, part of the national rail network, runs the main overland services in and around Tokyo, and there are also several private railways, including lines run by Odakyū, Tōbu, Seibu and Tōkyū. They all have their own colour coding on maps, with the various JR lines coming in many different shades – take care not to confuse these with those of the subway network. The famous JR Yamanote train line (shown in green on network maps, and indicated by green flashes on the trains) loops around the city centre.

Another useful JR route is the orange Chūōline, which starts at Tokyo station and runs west to Shinjuku and the suburbs beyond; rapid services (look for the red kanji characters on the side of the train, or on the platform displays) miss out some stations. JR’s yellow Sōbu line goes from Chiba in the east to Mitaka in the west, and runs parallel to the Chūō line in the centre of Tokyo. The blue JR Keihin Tōhoku line runs from Ōmiya in the north through Tokyo station, and on to Yokohama and beyond. It’s fine to transfer between JR lines on the same ticket.

Ticket machines are easy to operate if buying single tickets, if you can find your destination.

If you’re planning a lot of train travel around Japan in a short period of time, the Japan Rail Pass can be a great deal, though you have to buy this outside Japan before you travel; prepare for giant queues if picking it up at the airport, though note that you can also pick it up from any major JR station. JR East offers its own versions of the pass, covering its network in the Tokyo region and northern Japan; these can be purchased in Japan from JR ticket offices.

Useful transport passes and travel cards

A useful alternative to buying individual tickets is to get one of the many types of pass available, or to use a prepaid travel card.

Passes

Both Tokyo Metro and Toei have 24-hour tickets for use on their respective subway systems, with the Toei pass also covering the city’s buses; depending upon your precise plans, it may work out better to get a one-day economy pass covering both systems.

JR has its own one-day Tokunai Pass, which gives unlimited travel on JR trains within the Tokyo Metropolitan District Area.

For day-use of the city’s subways, JR trains and buses there’s the Tokyo Free Ticket, but since it’s double the price of the other passes, you’d really have to be tearing all over town to get your money’s worth.

Prepaid Cards

Although they don’t save you any money, the most convenient way to travel is to use a Pasmo or JR Suica stored-value card. Both can be used on all subways, many buses and both JR and private trains in the wider Tokyo area. The card can be recharged at ticket machines and ticket offices. Cards are available from ticket machines in metro and JR stations, for a minimum pre-loaded fee plus a deposit, which will both be returned to you when you cash in the card before leaving Tokyo – note that this can be done at Haneda airport, but not Narita.

Getting around Tokyo by ferry

The Tokyo Cruise Ship Company runs several ferry services, known as suijō basu (water buses), in and around Tokyo Bay. The popular Sumida- gawa service (every 30–50min, 10am–6.30pm; 40min) plies the route between Hinode Pier on Tokyo Bay and Asakusa to the northeast of the city centre. Some boats call at the Hama Rikyū Teien, entry to which is often included with the ticket price; you can also head to Hinode from Odaiba (20min). 

The ferries’ large picture windows give a completely different view of the city from the one you’ll get on the streets – reason enough for hopping aboard.
For a little more you can travel on the Emeraldas, Himiko or Hotaluna services, near-identical space-age ferries that run from Asakusa to Odaiba (6 daily), sometimes via Hinode.

Hinode Pier (close by Hinode station on the Yurika- mome monorail or a 10min walk from Hamamatsuchō station on the Yamanote line) is also the jumping-off point for several good daily cruises around Tokyo Bay, and for ferries to various points around the island of Odaiba, or across to Kasai Rinkai-kōen on the east side of the bay.

Getting around Tokyo by taxi and Uber

With the rise of Uber, a taxi is a great way for getting around Tokyo. After the basic starting rate for the first 1km, the meter racks up, including a time charge when the taxi is moving at less than 10km per hour. Between 11pm and 5am, rates are 25 percent higher.

Most taxis have a limit of four passengers. There’s never any need to open or close the passenger doors, which are operated by the taxi driver – trying to do it manually can damage the mechanism, and will get your driver seething.