Tokyo subway metro pass – Your ticket to navigating Tokyo on the cheap
- japansophy
- Aug 14, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 6
With 5+ different operators, the Tokyo transportation system can seem overwhelming at first glance. To navigate the city effectively in 2026, you need to understand the distinction between the JR Lines (overground) and the Tokyo Subway (underground).
While many travel guides endless plug the iconic green Yamanote Loop, it is rarely the most efficient way to see the city. The subway network - comprised of Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway - is denser, faster for cross-town trips, and reaches major sights like Asakusa and Roppongi that the JR lines bypass. Here's our breakdown of the various one- or multi-day passes for the Tokyo subway: which pass covers what lines, where to buy them and why they will save you money as well as stress at the ticket counter.
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Tokyo subway metro pass vs Suica vs Japan Rail Pass
You might be wondering why we would recommend a Tokyo metro pass if you've already got a Suica/Pasmo or a Japan Rail Pass. Let's compare all three:
Metro pass | Suica | JR Pass | |
Cover | Tokyo only. All Metro and Toei subway lines | All transport in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan | All JR lines in Japan (in Tokyo, the Yamanote) |
Cost per day | From less than 700 yen per day, depending on the pass | The cost of the journeys you make; no discount | 6,600-10,000 yen depending on the duration |
Best for | Intensive sightseeing in Tokyo | Easy payment for transport and more throughout Japan | 1-3 weeks of long-distance travelling throughout Japan |
Format | QR code or paper ticket | Physical card or online app | Paper ticket |
Save your JR Pass for travel outside Tokyo
Technically, your JR Rail Pass is valid for the Yamanote but at 70,000 yen (April 2026) for a seven-day pass, you’d have to make something like 40+ trips on the Yamanote in one day to get your money’s worth.
Suica card or Tokyo subway pass?
If we’re talking convenience, there is really no difference: both options allow you to jump on and off trains without having to buy a new ticket every time. The difference is the price. Suica (or Pasmo) is a pre-paid card or phone app that you top up with cash and the price of your subway ticket is debited from these funds. There is a teeny-tiny discount on the price of your ticket if you use Suica rather than buy a ticket at a machine (a few yen) but you will basically pay for each journey you make. With the Tokyo metro pass tickets, on the other hand, you’ll pay once and can make as many trips as you want within the one day/24 hours.
Example:
Hotel in Shibuya to Tokyo Tower (290 yen) to Tsukiji fish market (180 yen) to Sensoji temple (210 yen) to Akihabara (210 yen) to Tokyo Metropolitan Building (220 yen) to Harujuku (180 yen) to Shibuya (150 yen): Tokyo Subway 24-hour Ticket = 1000 yen, Suica = approx.1440 yen.
And it's even cheaper per day if you buy the 48 or 72-hour ticket. But there's no reason to not get yourself a Suica card too if you're buying a Tokyo subway pass. You can use the Suica for any trips you want to make on JR lines, the Yurikamome line to Odaiba, in convenience stores, etc.
What Tokyo subway passes are available?
The various passes available cover different lines and come at different prices. The subway system in Tokyo is run by two different companies, Tokyo Metro and Toei, and the tickets aren’t interchangeable. Then we throw JR and a handful of other private railways into the mix. Let’s take a look at (some of) the different day passes available and compare the costs in 2026:
Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket
Price*: 700 yen
Covers: Only Tokyo Metro lines
The ticket is valid for 24 hours from first use, but first use must be on the day of purchase, otherwise they become void.
Toei One-Day Pass
Price*: 700 yen
Covers: Toei Subway lines, Toei buses, Toden trams
This ticket is valid for the day of purchase.
Common One-Day Ticket for Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway
Price*: 1100 yen
Covers: All Tokyo Metro lines and all Toei Subway lines
The ticket is valid for the day of purchase only. It is possible to buy them in advance but not from regular ticket machines: you’ll have to go to the station ticket office. A tourist version is also available.
Tokyo Subway 24-hour/48-hour/72-hour Ticket
Price*: 1000/1500/2000 yen
Covers: All Tokyo Metro lines and all Toei Subway lines
This is the cheapo version of the Common One-Day Ticket and is available only to domestic and overseas tourists. You can buy it in advance online: you get a QR code that you can then scan at a ticket machine (at most but not every station) within six months. But be aware that, unlike the other tickets here, this one can’t be refunded if you don’t use it. These tickets are also available as discounted packages in combination with airport transport (from Hanada or Narita) or with sightseeing tickets such as Sky Tree or Team Labs.
Klook often offers discounts on these tickets. Check prices by clicking on the button below:
Tokyo Combination Ticket
Price*: 1720 yen
Covers: All Tokyo Metro lines, all Toei Subway lines, all JR lines within the wards of Tokyo (so, Yamanote, for example), plus Toei buses and Toden trams.
The ticket is valid for one day, but you can specify the date when you buy it.
* Prices above as in April 2026 for adult tickets. Child tickets are discounted by 50% and are for kids aged 11 or under.
Before you buy any of these passes, it's best to check your itinerary for the day and see if they will save you money. Remember private lines, like the Yurikamome to Odaiba, are not covered by any of these passes. So if, for example, you’re off to spend the day in Odaiba and won't be using the subway much, your best bet is probably buying a Yurikamome day pass instead.
Tokyo subway metro pass FAQs:
Where can I buy the Tokyo Metro Pass?
The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket, the Toei One-Day pass and the Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway are all "same-day" tickets and can be purchased from the ticket machines in the respective stations. The other tickets listed above can be bought in advance online from Klook, for example, or from certain major stations (including Ueno, Shinjuku, Ginza and Ikebukuro) and in the arrivals lobbies of both Haneda and Narita airports.
How much does the Tokyo Metro Pass cost?
The price of a day-pass for the Tokyo underground transport systems starts at 700 yen. Tickets for a longer period or which cover more lines are more expensive. See the prices listed above for the different types of tickets (prices as of April 2026; subject to change).
Can I use the Tokyo Metro pass on JR lines?
The various day-passes available cover different lines. Only the combination ticket described above covers the JR lines in Tokyo, though.
Can I use the Tokyo Subway pass to Narita Airport?
The Tokyo Metro/Subway passes do not cover your route to/from Narita or Haneda airports. Discounted packages are available, however, that cover transport to/from the airports by limousine bus or express train. Read our posts on the cheapest and fastest ways to get to Tokyo from Haneda and Narita.
What is the best Tokyo subway pass for tourists?
The best Tokyo subway pass for tourists is probably the Tokyo Subway 24/48/72-hour ticket. It gives you unlimited rides on all subway lines in the city without having to buy individual tickets. Just tap your pass at the ticket gate. It doesn't include JR but we didn't use the Yamanote one single time on our last two trips to Tokyo, so we don't think the extra 700 yen is justified.
Is the Tokyo Metro pass worth it?
The 24-hour pass starts saving you money from around your 4th subway ride in the city, so if you're planning to sightsee in different areas of the city, the Metro Pass is probably worth it. If you are spending your day in one area or will have to use other lines like the Yurikamome, a Tokyo Metro Pass may not save you money and you might be better off with a different pass or buying individual tickets.
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