The Tokyo Public Transit system is a genuine marvel of ingenuity, efficiency, and discipline. It’s fast, convenient, and effectively guarantees you’ll get your 10,000 steps in. But there’s no denying it can be quite intimidating to the uninitiated tourist visiting Japan, especially if you live in an area without a lot of public transit. So with Japan once again open for tourism and having just visited the country myself, here’s my personal guide on how to navigate and master Tokyo’s transit system.
IC Cards
IC cards are by far the easiest and quickest form of payment for Tokyo’s public transit, eliminating the need for purchasing tickets. They’re accepted for almost any form of public transportation in Tokyo, with the notable exception of the Shinkansen (bullet train). My preferred IC card is the Suica card. I’ve also seen PASMO accepted at most places that Suica is accepted at. You can prepare ahead of your trip to Japan by getting one on your phone right now.
On your iPhone¹, simply open the built-in Wallet app, tap the + icon in the top right corner, tap “Transit Card”, and scroll down to select Suica (or your preferred IC card). Go through the prompts and load it with money. If you have an Apple Card, there are no foreign transaction fees and you’ll receive cash-back rewards, so feel free to use it. As a tourist, I tend to keep my Suica balance between ¥1,000 and ¥3,500 and top off as needed. I also recommend setting it as an Express Transit card when prompted.
Once you’re at a station, bus, or anywhere that accepts Suica, you can just hold your phone near the reader to pay, no need to unlock your phone or open any app (if set as an Express Transit card).
But what if your phone runs out of battery? If you selected your IC card as your Express Transit card, you’ll be able to use your iPhone as your IC card even when the battery has run out, for up to six hours.²
Maps
The next step is to pull out your preferred maps app. Both Apple Maps and Google Maps work very well in Tokyo in my experience. Simply enter your destination and select the “transit” option. You’ll be routed through the most optimal route using a combination of walking and public transit. You’ll also see the estimated cost that you can expect your IC card to deduct from its balance.
From here, let’s discuss the different forms of public transit Tokyo offers and how to handle each one.
Transit Types
Trains
Trains are typically the most common option. They’re also very reasonably priced, often costing between ¥200 and ¥500 depending on the distance. Navigating can be intimidating at first, but no issue once you get used to it. Apple Maps and Google Maps are your best friends here. Both show helpful icons and guide you through the route in your device’s set language.
There are two main rail types: the JR line (usually above ground) and the subway (below ground). Take a look at the first icon in your route. If it’s a colored circle with a letter, it’s a subway and if it’s a colored square with letters, it’s a rail.
When you enter the station, you will find gates to scan your IC card. Before entering this gate, make sure you see signage indicating whether the entrance is for the JR lines (look for the dark green logo) or the subway lines. If not, you might be at the wrong entrance, so take a look around for another entrance or ask a staff member for assistance.
Typically, at the station, you’ll want to look for the platform number given on your phone. In my experience, this is the easiest way to get on the right train line in the correct direction. There’s no need to worry about local vs. rapid or even which line it is. Do this whenever getting on a train or transferring lines.
Trains depart often and promptly. You’ll rarely need to worry about missing a train because the next one is usually less than five minutes away. There will be markings on the ground to show you waiting areas. Just hop on once the departing passengers get off.
If you choose to take a seat on the train, just be courteous and be aware if the seat is a priority seat. These are reserved for pregnant women and the elderly and are usually a cluster of six seats towards one end of the car. You’ll see a blue and white sign that designates the section as priority seating on the window by the seats.
If you’re transferring, just look for the platform number to transfer to just like before. Usually, you won’t need to scan your IC card for transfers.
Finally, when exiting a station, your phone may give you an exit number to look for. These usually look similar to A2 and are highlighted in yellow in signage. If you can’t find that specific exit, just find any exit and reorientate yourself outside of the station. You will scan your IC card again when leaving the station.
Taxis
Using a taxi is the most expensive, but the most convenient, especially after a long day of walking. Japanese taxis typically aren’t the bright yellow taxis we have in the States. Instead, they’re usually black sedans or SUVs with logos on the side. The two most common taxi brands I noticed were S.Ride and GO taxis.
If you know where to look, it’s not too hard to find a taxi waiting area. They’re common in the Tokyo area, especially around malls, stations, and hotels. You can also hail one from the streets if needed. The general rule of thumb is to look for red kanji letters on the taxi’s dashboard. A red sign indicates that the taxi is vacant. In this case, wave to the driver or walk up to it if it is parked. The doors typically open automatically.
According to one of the taxi drivers I had, very few taxi drivers are certified to speak English, so you may have difficulty communicating where you want to go to your driver. If your destination is fairly well known, like Shibuya Scramble, you might be able you ask them to drive you there in English. Otherwise, I recommend having your destination’s address ready on your phone and showing it to the driver. Most taxi rides will be silent with your drivers if you cannot speak Japanese.
It’s important to note that taxis are susceptible to road traffic, especially during rush hour. That said, drivers are often determined to get you to your destination quickly.
Lots of different factors go into determining your total fare for a taxi ride, but most of my rides have been between 3,000 and 4,000 yen, around $25. Some taxis also have different rates for highways versus regular roads.
If you pay with a credit card, don’t forget to sign the receipt.³ Drivers typically don’t ask for nor accept tips, so don’t worry about that.
Local Buses
Buses are useful for traveling shorter distances than trains but can be a bit more difficult to navigate than trains are. Within Tokyo, local buses often charge a flat rate, instead of charging you based on how far you’re traveling. I’ve found the rates vary, but are usually less than ¥350.
When the bus arrives, make sure to enter through the front doors. The front doors are for entering and the rear doors are for exiting. There should be a small terminal by the driver that you can tap your phone to so you can pay.
Seats towards the front are prioritized for pregnant women, the elderly, and handicapped people, so please be considerate of that. If there are no more seats, there should be plenty of standing room available.
Throughout the bus, you should see buttons like the one below.
If you look towards the front of the bus, you’ll see a monitor displaying the next stop. When your stop is next, you’ll want to hit that orange button. This will ensure that the bus driver pulls over to that stop and will open the rear doors for you to exit from. Also, if someone else already pushed the button, there’s no need to press it. Typically in Tokyo, you won’t need to scan your IC card again when disembarking a bus because of the fixed rate, so you can just walk out the rear doors when they open.
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
Finally, there’s the Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train. These are used for longer-distance travel, usually when you want to travel outside of the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
The Shinkansen generally doesn’t take IC cards as payment, unlike other rails in Tokyo. Instead, you’ll need a ticket or pass.
Tickets can be purchased at self-serve kiosks located in most train stations in Tokyo, even if it’s not the station you plan to depart from. Kiosks have an English option, so you should have no problem navigating the menus. These tickets can be purchased up to a week in advance. There are three main types of tickets: non-reserved, reserved, and green car.
Non-reserved seating is the most affordable and flexible. You’ll have less say in where you sit on the train, but if you miss your departure, you can just hop on board the next arrival.
Reserved seating has advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, you’re guaranteeing you’ll have the seat you want. This means if you want to have a North-facing window seat so you can have a chance to see Mt. Fuji, you won’t have to fight for it. On the other hand, if you miss your train, you’ve forfeited your seat. You can use your reserved seat ticket to board the next train, but you’ll have to sit in the non-reserved section. Keep in mind that reserved tickets carry a small reservation fee.
Green car tickets are effectively business-class tickets. They have two seats per row instead of three, with much more comfortable seats and more legroom.
If you’re entering a Shinkansen gate, you’ll want to insert your Shinkansen ticket (make sure to use the correct one), then tap your IC card (don’t worry, this won’t debit your IC card). Your Shinkansen ticket will spit out the other end of the gate, so make sure to take it. You’ll do the same thing when you exit the Shinkansen gates at your destination station. At this point, the gate should keep your Shinkansen ticket. If it doesn’t, hold onto it and use it at any subsequent gates you encounter.⁴
Quick side tangent: I lost my return trip ticket while in Hiroshima. I assumed that I would have to buy a new ticket to get back to Tokyo. I went back to the station where I thought I lost it and asked a staff member if by chance my ticket had been turned in, not expecting anything to come of it. He pulled out his iPad and tapped it a few times, then showed me a picture of my ticket. I was simultaneously amazed and relieved. He brought me over to a desk where I gave them my information and was reunited with my ticket. Almost all of my friends who have visited Japan had a “lost and found” story, and this ended up being mine. Another reason Japan is so great is that you can hold out hope that a lost item isn’t gone forever.
tl;dr Don’t lose your Shinkansen ticket, but if you do, try asking station staff if someone has turned it in.
Shinkansen typically have a standard Japanese outlet available for use in each row, so plan ahead if you anticipate needing to charge your phone or other electronics on the trip.
When your destination is the next stop, prepare to disembark the Shinkansen shortly before it arrives. By the time the train comes to a stop, you should be out of your seat and at the exit door. Stops are very brief, which is part of the reason Shinkansen are able to stick to their strict schedule.
Also, when you arrive at your destination, keep in mind that public transit practices outside of Tokyo may differ from this guide, so exercise caution. As an example, in Hiroshima, buses often require you to scan your IC card when boarding and disembarking the bus, rather than just upon boarding.
Conclusion
In closing, don’t be intimidated by Tokyo’s public transit. If this guide has taught you nothing else, don’t be afraid to ask a staff member for help if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t know what to do. Observing how others navigate through stations can also be helpful. As I mentioned, this is my guide, based on my own experiences and knowledge, but hopefully, my perspective has been valuable. Once you try it in person, it should be a breeze.
がんばってね！
Notes
¹ Android users can also utilize IC cards via Google Pay for payment, however, I have not used IC cards with Google Pay, so I recommend finding a guide online for how to add/reload one for the best guidance on the matter.
² Apple. (2022, May 13). Express cards with power reserve. Apple Support. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://support.apple.com/guide/security/express-cards-with-power-reserve-sec90cd29d1f/web
³ Side note about signatures in Japan: it is not uncommon for retailers to check that the signature of your receipt matches the signature on the back of your credit card. Signature verification is practically non-existent in America. Because of this, I recommend signing your credit card before leaving for Japan.
⁴ In my experience, using your ticket is the most tricky part of the Shinkansen experience. For this post, I’ve referred to the guidance given by the Central Japan Railway Company, as it’s an official source and has mostly aligned with my experience.
How to use the trains. (n.d.). Central Japan Railway Company. https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/tickets/use/
One reply on “東京の公共交通 – A Guide to Tokyo Public Transit”
I’ll surely be using this guide!