How To Travel Around Tokyo
Tokyo is a pioneer in mass transit. The Tokyo subway is among the most efficient in the world, and is consistently safe and clean. However, it is so large and serves so many different parts of the city that navigating it can be difficult.
The JR East Network
The JR East Network is a rail line and includes the defining Yamanote Line. This rail line runs in a loop around downtown Tokyo and its stops are the origin for virtually every other line, subway or rail, in the city. If you can find a Yamanote Line stop near you, or determine an easy way to reach one, then you will be able to navigate Tokyo with ease. The JR East network also has the Chuo, Sobu, Saikyo, and Keihin-Tohoku lines, which all connect to the central Yamanote Line.
The Tokyo Subway
Within the Yamanote Line loop, subway systems are the best way to travel around. There are nine different lines operated by the Tokyo Metro, providing great ability to reach anywhere within downtown. In addition, Toei has four lines that it operates. There is also the Rinkai Line, which is privately owned.
Calculating Fares And Buying Farecards
When using Tokyo mass transit, your best option by far is to buy either the Suica and/or the PASMO prepaid fare cards. Unlike buying airfare to Japan, it can be very difficult to calculate exact fare for a subway trip in advance. Many of the signs that provide you with information about fares will be Japanese-only, which may take time to decipher and slow down your trip.
The Suica and PASMO both allow you to recharge them as needed, and using them is as simple as touching the card on a reader at the turnstile when entering the transit network. The Suica is the card used by the JR East network, and the PASMO works for most everything else. If you ride both the JR East Network and the various subways during your trip, you will need to buy both a Suica card and a PASMO. If you use only one, then simply choose the appropriate card for the transit system you use.
Getting There In Tokyo
Riding the system is as simple as determining the closest station to your current location and the closest station to your destination. There are many good railway maps, and most will show station names in English. Simply determine where you need to go, look for transfers between different subway lines or JR East lines, and then follow the route you have planned. Trains and subway cars will announce stops in English as well as Japanese, and the Tokyo Transfer Guide is an invaluable resource for planning where you will transfer and determining how long your trip will take.
