Tokyo Train Guide for Tourists: JR vs Metro vs Toei, Fares and How to Ride (2026)
By Atsushi — host at Bon House in Kanamachi, Katsushika ward. I've run it since 2022 and hosted over 300 guest groups.
Learn one number before anything else in this Tokyo train guide: the IC base fare. As of October 2026 it's ¥155 on JR and ¥178 on Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway, and you pay it again every time you switch companies. That's the whole system. The rest is carrying one Suica or PASMO and tapping it at the gate.
Most people freeze the first time they see the map. The subway alone has 13 lines, and JR plus the private railways pile on even more colours. But as a tourist you only deal with four kinds of operator. This is the same rundown I give guests after check-in, written so you can also forward it to friends or family visiting Tokyo for the first time.
Tokyo Trains Explained: JR vs Tokyo Metro vs Toei vs Private Lines
| Operator | IC base fare | Main lines |
|---|---|---|
| JR East | ¥155 | Yamanote, Chuo, Joban |
| Tokyo Metro | ¥178 | Ginza, Hibiya and 7 more (9 lines) |
| Toei Subway | ¥178 | Asakusa, Oedo and 2 more (4 lines) |
| Private railways | Varies by company | Keisei, Tobu, Odakyu and others |
JR East is Tokyo's backbone. The Yamanote Line loops through Tokyo Station, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya and more in about an hour, and it's the line you'll use most for sightseeing.
Tokyo Metro runs 9 subway lines and is strongest where JR would send you the long way round: Ginza, Roppongi, Omotesando. Toei Subway is the 4-line network run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Metro and Toei are separate companies, so switching between them means two fares, though a transfer discount takes ¥70 off the total.
Private railways get you out to the suburbs and day-trip spots. Tobu runs from Asakusa to Nikko, Keisei is the easy way to Narita Airport, and for Kamakura you can combine Odakyu with the Enoden.
How to Ride Trains in Tokyo With an IC Card: 4 Steps
1. Get a Suica or PASMO. Either one works on every train, subway and bus in Tokyo. A standard card from a station ticket machine costs a ¥500 deposit plus whatever you load. Foreign tourists can also buy a deposit-free Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO at the airport. I've covered the card types and where to buy them in Suica card for tourists.
2. Tap the reader on the ticket gate. Hold it there for about a second. If your balance is too low, the gate flaps shut.
3. Follow the signs to transfer. Within the same company, you just walk to another platform without leaving the gates. Where the company changes, you tap again at a transfer gate, often marked in orange.
4. Tap out at your destination. The fare comes off automatically. Unlike with paper tickets, you don't need to look up your destination's fare before you board.
Tokyo Train Fares: Do Day Passes Pay Off?
Fares in Tokyo go by distance, and a single ride costs a few hundred yen. Unlimited day tickets exist, but the way most tourists get around, they usually don't pay for themselves.
| Pass | Adult | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Tokunai Pass | ¥870 | JR within the 23 wards |
| Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket | ¥700 | All Tokyo Metro lines |
| Toei One-Day Pass | ¥700 | Toei Subway and buses |
The Metro 24-hour Ticket only breaks even on your fourth ¥178 ride (¥712). The Tokunai Pass covers JR only, so on any day you take the subway even once, it tends to cost you more. My advice: forget unlimited passes and pay by IC card. Working out the maths wastes more time than the few yen are worth.
Taking the Train From Kanamachi: JR Joban Line and Keisei Line
Kanamachi has two stations about 130m apart. JR Kanamachi is served only by Joban Line locals; the rapid trains from Ueno run straight through. Coming back from central Tokyo, you change to a local at Kita-Senju. Keisei Kanamachi is the end of a short branch line that runs from Keisei Takasago through Shibamata.
On March 25, 2026, 11 rail operators in the Tokyo area started accepting contactless credit card taps, but JR East and Keisei aren't among them. Those are the only two companies serving Kanamachi, so if you stay here, a Suica or PASMO is a must.
Here's how a typical first day of sightseeing goes for two people staying in Kanamachi. Leave around 9:45 and reach Ueno in 27 minutes via Kita-Senju, ¥253 on IC. Walk Ueno Park, take the Ginza Line to Asakusa (¥178), see Senso-ji, then ride the Ginza Line back to Ueno (¥178). Getting home from Ueno to Kanamachi is another ¥253. That's ¥862 per person for the day, almost the same as the ¥870 Tokunai Pass, except the pass wouldn't cover the Ginza Line. Paying by IC card comes out cheaper.
The next day it's 1 stop on Keisei to Shibamata, 2–3 minutes (¥146). Another day, Tokyo Disneyland is about 45 minutes via Shin-Matsudo (¥616). From Narita Airport it's 55–70 minutes with one change at Keisei Takasago. None of those trips needs more than one transfer.
Bon House is a private tatami room for up to 4 guests inside a detached house, with its own bathroom, a washer-dryer, Wi-Fi and self check-in. There's no kitchen; the room has a fridge, a microwave and an electric kettle. If you want a base where Ueno, Shibamata and Disney are all one change away, check open dates and current rates on the Bon House room page.
Common Tokyo Train Mistakes Tourists Make (and How to Fix Them)
You took a rapid train and it skipped your stop. On the same line, locals, rapids and expresses stop at different stations. The Joban rapid doesn't stop at Kanamachi either. Check the train type and destination on the platform display before you board. If you overshoot, get off at the next station and take a local back the other way.
The gate stopped you because your balance ran out. Top up at the fare adjustment machine just before the gates and you can walk straight out.
The station name is the same, but the transfer takes over 10 minutes. At big stations like Shinjuku or Otemachi, changing between lines run by different companies can mean a long walk through underground passages. Transit apps build that walk into their journey times, so trust them. I've written about which apps to use in best Tokyo train apps.
You squeezed onto a packed morning train. Between 7:30 and 9:00, trains heading into central Tokyo are too crowded to board with big luggage. For sightseeing, leave after 9:30.
Tokyo Train Etiquette: What to Know Before You Board
- No phone calls on board. Put your phone on silent and call back once you're off.
- Wear your backpack on your front or put it on the rack. On a crowded train, it'll hit the person behind you.
- Queue beside the doors and let people off first. Standing in the middle blocks everyone getting off.
- Offer your seat if you're near the priority seats. Older passengers, pregnant women and people with small children come first.
- Watch for women-only cars in the morning. Some lines run them during weekday morning rush. Look for the markings on the platform floor or the carriage.
Tokyo Train Guide FAQ
Can I use a contactless credit card on Tokyo trains?
On some lines, yes. Card taps started on 11 Tokyo-area rail operators on March 25, 2026. JR East and Keisei aren't included, though, so for the Yamanote or Joban Line you still need a Suica or PASMO.
How much are train fares for kids?
Primary school kids pay half the adult fare. Children under school age ride free, up to 2 per paying adult. To get child fares on IC, you need a child Suica or PASMO.
What time is the last train in Tokyo?
It depends on the line, but last trains out of central Tokyo usually leave around 23:30 to 0:00. If you're heading to Shinjuku or Shibuya for the evening, check your last train in a transit app before you go.
Can I take a suitcase on Tokyo trains?
There's no luggage size rule on regular trains. Still, avoid the morning and evening rush, and keep your case beside the doors once you're on. For airport transfers, see Narita Airport to Kanamachi and Haneda Airport to Kanamachi.
With one IC card and a transit app, you'll rarely get lost on Tokyo's trains. Once you've made your first transfer on day one, it feels routine by day two. If you're looking for a place where Ueno, Shibamata and Disney are each one change away, check dates on the Bon House room page before you lock in your itinerary.