Short answer: JR Pass if you ride between cities, Subway Pass if you stay in Tokyo, both if your trip does both. The two cover different networks, so the real question is "which or both" rather than "pick one". May 2026 pricing plus Klook/KKday booking guide.
Long-distance trips like Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka = JR Pass / Tokyo-only for 3-5 days = Subway Pass / both shapes = the combo is cheapest
The JR Pass (¥50,000 / 7 days) covers Shinkansen (bullet train) and all JR lines nationwide; it pays off if you visit three or more cities like Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka to Hiroshima (break-even at three Shinkansen legs). The Tokyo Subway Pass (¥800 / 24h, ¥1,500 / 72h) covers only Tokyo Metro and Toei subway, so it pays off with around 3-4 rides per day inside the 23 wards. The JR Yamanote Line is included in JR Pass, but Tokyo Metro and Toei are entirely separate networks and NOT covered — easy to mix up, so be careful.
Zero overlap between the two — you cannot ride Tokyo Metro on a JR Pass
If sightseeing in Tokyo on the Yamanote is enough for you, JR Pass alone may cover it — no subway pass needed
Both resell — check both sites and pick the cheaper one
JR Pass 7 days at ¥50,000 wins clearly. A one-way Shinkansen leg is ¥13,000-15,000, so 3 legs alone hit ~¥45,000 and the pass throws in unlimited Yamanote and local JR. The Tokyo Subway Pass only covers 1-2 days in Tokyo and would not be enough on its own.
One Tokyo Subway 72h pass + 2 days of singles at ¥600/day comes to roughly ¥2,700. Buying a JR Pass (¥50,000 / 7 days) is massive overkill. Tokyo Metro connects Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, so the Subway Pass alone is enough.
**Buy both**. Subway Pass 72h × 2 = ¥3,000 covers Tokyo; one Shinkansen round trip is ¥13,500 × 2 = ¥27,000. Total ¥30,000 — cheaper than a JR Pass 7 days at ¥50,000.
JR Pass 14 days at ¥80,000 covers everything. Hiroshima → Fukuoka brings the Shinkansen total to ¥80,000-100,000 in singles, so the pass clearly pays off. Subway inside Tokyo is separate — adding a 72h pass for ¥1,500 is the cheapest top-up.
One Shinkansen round trip on singles is ¥13,500 × 2 = ¥27,000, plus a 72h Subway Pass ¥1,500 for Tokyo = ¥28,500 total — far cheaper than a JR Pass 7 days at ¥50,000. With 3-4 legs or fewer, singles always win.
JR Pass adult ¥50,000 × 2 + child ¥25,000 × 2 = ¥150,000. A family-of-4 Shinkansen leg is ¥40,000-50,000, so 3+ legs pays off. Add 4 Subway Passes (¥6,000 adult + ¥3,000 child = ¥9,000) and you have 5 days of Tokyo covered.
Subway Pass 72h ¥1,500 covers everything. Top up with a few taxi rides (¥3,000-5,000) if needed; if you mostly ride the subway, ¥1,500 buys a stress-free 3 days.
Subway Pass wins outright. Add a few Yamanote singles at ¥150 each and you are still around ¥4,500 total. Zero reason to buy a JR Pass.
The combo is ¥20,000 cheaper. JR Pass needs 3+ cities to break even; for a single round trip, singles always win.
JR Pass is ¥13,000 cheaper, with free seat reservations and the Yamanote covering moves inside Tokyo. No need for a Subway Pass top-up.
Shin-Aomori → Kagoshima-Chuo round trip is ¥100,000-150,000, and Tokyo → Hakodate-Hokuto at ¥45,000 × 2 is another big chunk. JR Pass wins decisively. Add 2-3 days of Tokyo Subway Pass on top.
For a family of 4, one Shinkansen round trip alone is ¥40,000-50,000, and JR Pass needs 3+ legs to break even. With only one round trip, the combo costs roughly half.
Outside the JR Pass vs Subway Pass binary, regional passes and single tickets can be cheaper: ・**JR East Pass (Tokyo area, 5 days ¥18,000)** — the regional version of JR Pass, Tokyo / Tohoku / Niigata only, about one-third the price ・**JR West Pass (Kansai, 5 days ¥17,000)** — Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe / Hiroshima / Shikoku only ・**JR Kyushu Pass (5 days ¥18,000)** — Fukuoka / Kumamoto / Kagoshima / Oita ・**Hakone Free Pass (¥6,100 / 2 days)** — Hakone sightseeing ・**Welcome Suica (issue fee ¥0 + top-up)** — the default for single-ticket travellers, works on JR + private lines + buses Combo strategies: ・**JR Pass 7 days + Subway Pass 72h** = ¥51,500 for nationwide + full Tokyo coverage ・**JR East Pass + Welcome Suica** = ¥18,000 + ¥3,000 top-up for 5 days around greater Tokyo ・**Shinkansen singles + Suica** = cheapest for trips with 3 legs or fewer
JR Pass: buy via Klook (¥50,000-52,000) or KKday (¥50,000-52,500) before departure, then swap at midori-no-madoguchi after arrival in Japan. Tokyo Subway Pass: buy via KKday (¥1,500-1,650) or at the airport counter on arrival. Booking both in advance is recommended — they can sell out in peak season.
**No.** JR Pass only covers the 6 JR companies (East / Central / West / Kyushu / Shikoku / Hokkaido). Tokyo Metro (9 lines) and Toei (4 lines) are different companies and are NOT included. The Yamanote (JR East) is fine, but Ginza, Marunouchi, Oedo and the other subway lines are not.
**3-4 Shinkansen legs** is enough. Example: Tokyo → Kyoto ¥13,500 + Kyoto → Osaka ¥1,400 + Osaka → Hiroshima ¥10,500 + Hiroshima → Tokyo ¥18,000 = ¥43,400. Add unlimited local JR rides and you basically break even on the ¥50,000 / 7-day pass. **For just Tokyo ↔ Kyoto one round trip = ¥27,000**, about half the pass price, so singles win.
**Not with the standard JR Pass** (only Hikari / Kodama / Sakura / Tsubame). Since 2023 there is a Nozomi / Mizuho option (¥4,800 per leg) you can buy on top, but it rarely pays off — most travellers stick to Hikari / Kodama and add a bit of buffer in their schedule.
**At the first tap-in at a gate.** A 72h pass runs 3 consecutive days even across midnight. Tap in at 09:00 Monday and it stays valid until 09:00 Thursday. Plan backwards: a **first tap at 18:00** on day 1 keeps it valid into the evening of day 3.
Half price for ages 6-11 (7 days ¥25,000 / 14 days ¥40,000); free under 6 (up to 2 children per adult). A family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids) = **¥150,000 / 7 days**. A family-of-4 Shinkansen leg is ¥45,000-55,000, so 2 legs is ¥90,000-110,000 — you need 3+ legs to break even.
**Not directly.** The Tokyo Subway Pass only covers subway lines inside the 23 wards. Airport access works like this: - Haneda → Asakusa Line (transfer at Daimon, Keikyu through-service) covers Toei - Narita → Keisei Main Line / Keisei Skyliner is separate You still need a separate airport ticket (¥260-2,580).
**Ordinary class is fine.** 7 days Ordinary ¥50,000 vs Green ¥70,000 = +¥20,000, about ¥3,000 extra per day. Shinkansen ordinary seats are already comfortable with generous legroom. Green Car requires reservations and sells out in busy seasons. **Family of 4 with lots of luggage**? Then Green might be worth it.
**Receive an Exchange Order, then swap it for the real JR Pass at a midori-no-madoguchi (JR ticket office) after arrival in Japan.** You must show your passport at the swap. Klook / KKday also issue Exchange Orders (instant PDF by email).
**No.** The Subway Pass covers only the 13 subway lines: Tokyo Metro (Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, Fukutoshin) + Toei (Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo). **Toden Arakawa, Yurikamome, Yurigaoka and the monorail are all separate.** Welcome Suica covers a wider network.
**Both are possible but with stock risk.** JR Pass is sold at Narita / Haneda JR counters but sells out and has long lines in peak season. Tokyo Subway Pass is sold at vending machines in subway stations, but 24h is the only version most stations stock — 48h / 72h is only at major stations (Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc.). **Pre-purchase via Klook / KKday with instant QR is the most reliable.**
This page reflects information from JR group companies, Tokyo Metro, and Toei official pages, plus Klook / KKday official prices, as of May 2026. Fares and services change at fiscal year boundaries and during campaigns — always confirm on the official sites before booking.
Last verified: 2026-05-22
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