Prices & comparisons
Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48 and 72 hours) | Prices, where to buy it and how to use Tokyo's unlimited subway pass
The Tokyo Subway Ticket is a pass for visitors to Japan that gives unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for 24, 48 or 72 hours, counted from the time you first insert it into an automatic ticket gate. Based on official information, this guide explains adult and child prices, where to buy it and what you need, points to note when using it, and how it differs from one-day tickets that anyone can buy, such as the Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket.
Overview
Tokyo's subway is run by two operators: Tokyo Metro (9 lines) and Toei Subway (4 lines). The Tokyo Subway Ticket, sold to visitors to Japan, is a pass that lets you ride all subway lines of both operators (about 280 stations, mainly in Tokyo's 23 wards) as many times as you like. It comes in three types: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour tickets.
- The validity is counted in hours, not by calendar day. The ticket can be used for 24, 48 or 72 hours from the time you first insert it into an automatic ticket gate.
- Only travelers who enter Japan with the "Temporary Visitor" status of residence can buy it. When buying in Japan, you need to show your original passport as proof that you entered Japan.
- It is not valid on JR lines or on private railways such as the Keisei Line and the Keikyu Line. Because it cannot be used for travel between the airports and central Tokyo, combine it with the options described in From Narita Airport to Central Tokyo | Skyliner, Narita Express or Airport Bus? and From Haneda Airport to Central Tokyo | How to Choose Between the Keikyu Line, Tokyo Monorail, and Airport Limousine.
Comparison
Prices and how it differs from other one-day tickets
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Validity | Lines covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 24-hour ticket | ¥1,000 | ¥500 | 24 hours from first insertion into a ticket gate | All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 48-hour ticket | ¥1,500 | ¥750 | 48 hours from first insertion into a ticket gate | All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 72-hour ticket | ¥2,000 | ¥1,000 | 72 hours from first insertion into a ticket gate | All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines |
| Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket | ¥700 | ¥350 | 24 hours from first insertion into a ticket gate | Tokyo Metro lines only |
| Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway | ¥1,100 | ¥550 | From the first to the last train on the day of use (1 day) | All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines |
- According to the official Tokyo Metro website, the Tokyo Subway Ticket works out cheaper than paying each fare separately if you ride at least 6 times within 24 hours with the 24-hour ticket, at least 5 times per 24 hours with the 48-hour ticket, or at least 4 times per 24 hours with the 72-hour ticket.
- The Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket and the Common One-day Ticket can be bought by anyone, with no passport needed. Both are sold at station ticket machines. A Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket bought from a ticket machine must be first used on the day you buy it.
- IC cards such as Suica and PASMO do not give any fare discount. On days when you take the subway many times, an unlimited-ride ticket is cheaper; on days when you also use trains and buses other than the subway, an IC card is more convenient. How to buy an IC card is covered in Welcome Suica: How to Buy and Use It | A 28-Day IC Card for Visitors to Japan.
- On days when you also want to ride JR lines within Tokyo's 23 wards, there is the Tokyo Combination Ticket (adult ¥1,720, child ¥860), which gives one day of unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, Toei buses, the Toden streetcar and other services, plus JR lines within Tokyo's 23 wards.
Where to buy
Where to buy it and what you need
The Tokyo Subway Ticket is not sold at station ticket machines. When buying in Japan, you need to show your original passport showing that you entered Japan with the "Temporary Visitor" status of residence at the counter. A copy of your passport is not accepted. Floors in the table are counted the Japanese way, the same as on airport signs (the 1st floor, 1F, is the ground floor).
| Place | Counter |
|---|---|
| Haneda Airport | Tourist information center in the arrival lobby on the 2nd floor of Terminal 3 (international flights) |
| Narita Airport | Arrival lobby on the 1st floor of Terminal 1, and arrival lobby on the 1st floor of Terminal 2 |
| Tokyo Metro stations | Tourist information centers at stations such as Ueno, Ginza, Shinjuku and Tokyo, and commuter pass offices (at some stations) |
| Toei Subway stations | Tourist information centers at stations such as Shimbashi |
| Other | Tourist information centers in Tokyo, electronics retailers (some BicCamera and Sofmap stores) and some hotels |
- Before departure, you can also buy it online from travel agencies outside Japan (KKday, Klook, Trip.com and H.I.S. in some countries and regions) or from the official Tokyo Metro website. Check each seller's information for how to collect the ticket and which types are available.
- The types of ticket on sale differ from one tourist information center or store to another. Check the list of sales locations on the official Tokyo Metro website before you go.
- Where a hotel sells the ticket, it may sell it only to its guests or only as part of an accommodation package. Check with the hotel in advance whether you can buy it there.
Step by step
How to use it
- Show your passport at the counter and buy a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour ticket.
- When boarding the subway, insert the ticket into the slot of the automatic ticket gate. Do not tap it like an IC card. The validity period starts from the time you first insert it.
- Take the ticket as it comes out of the gate. The expiry time is printed on the back of the ticket. When exiting, insert the ticket into the gate in the same way, and do not forget to take it when it comes out.
- During the validity period, you can get on and off as many times as you like on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.
Good to know
Other points to note
- The validity is counted in hours, not days. For example, a 24-hour ticket first used at 3 p.m. on the first day can be used until 3 p.m. the next day.
- Tokyo Metro also sells package deals that combine the Tokyo Subway Ticket with the Skyliner or Airport Limousine buses. If you want to buy your airport transfers at the same time, check the official website.
- There is also a Tokyo Subway Ticket (QR) that you use by showing a QR code on your smartphone. Check the official website for how to use it.
- Prices and conditions may change. This article is based on the official information available when it was retrieved, so check the latest conditions on the official Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway websites before you leave.