Tokyo Metro vs Toei Subway 2026: navigation, pass strategy, 24h/72h combo passes

⚡ 30-Second Answer: Tokyo Metro (9 lines) + Toei Subway (4 lines) = 13 lines total, Suica/PASMO covers all. Fares ¥170-330/segment. 1-day passes: Metro ¥600 / Toei ¥700 / both ¥900, for 3+ days of intensive tourism the Tokyo Subway Ticket (tourist-only) at 72hr ¥1,500 is unbeatable. Separate from JR Yamanote — not covered by JR Pass.

Quick Reference	Value
Per segment	¥170-330
Metro 1-day	¥600
Toei 1-day	¥700
Both 1-day	¥900
Tourist 72hr pass	¥1,500 (best value!)
Last verified	June 2026

Tokyo's subway is operated by two companies — Tokyo Metro (9 lines, semi-private with Japanese government partial ownership) and Toei Subway (4 lines, run by Tokyo Metropolitan Government). Combined: 13 lines, 300+ stations, ~6.8 million passengers daily. For tourists, the two systems are basically the same: IC card (Suica/Pasmo) works on both, same color-coded line letters, same gates, same stations occasionally connect via underground passages. The killer pass: the Tokyo Subway Ticket at ¥800 (24h) / ¥1,200 (48h) / ¥1,500 (72h) gives unlimited rides on both networks — pays for itself in 4 subway rides per day, which is typical for sightseeing. Doesn't cover JR — so plan transport around either subway only OR JR Yamanote loop, not both.

TL;DR

• 2 operators: Tokyo Metro (9 lines) + Toei Subway (4 lines) = 13 total lines
• Combo pass: Tokyo Subway Ticket ¥800/24h, ¥1,200/48h, ¥1,500/72h — pays for itself in 4 rides
• Doesn't cover: JR (Yamanote), private rail (Tobu, Odakyu, etc.), buses
• IC card works: Suica/Pasmo/ICOCA tap-and-go on both networks
• Get the pass: at Narita / Haneda airports (special pre-purchase price) or at Tokyo Metro / Toei stations
• Smartphone: Google Maps + Citymapper work; the official Tokyo Metro app is OK too
• Major lines for tourists: Ginza, Hibiya, Marunouchi, Chiyoda (Metro); Asakusa, Oedo (Toei)

The two operators

Tokyo Metro (東京メトロ)

• 9 lines: Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, Fukutoshin
• Started: 1927 (Ginza Line is Asia's first subway line)
• Ownership: Joint venture, with Japanese government and TMG partial ownership
• Line numbering: Each line has a single letter (G for Ginza, M for Marunouchi, H for Hibiya, etc.)
• Color-coded with consistent colors across all maps

Toei Subway (都営地下鉄)

• 4 lines: Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo
• Started: 1960 (Asakusa Line)
• Ownership: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Line numbering: Single letter (A for Asakusa, I for Mita, S for Shinjuku, E for Oedo)
• Color-coded separately from Metro

Why two operators?

Historical accident — Tokyo Metro grew out of pre-war private subway lines that were nationalized into "Eidan" then partially re-privatized. Toei was created in 1960 specifically as a Tokyo government project. They've remained separate operators ever since, with their own line networks but compatible payment systems.

Tourist-relevant lines

Tokyo Metro lines for tourists

Toei lines for tourists

Lines NOT for tourists

Some lines serve primarily commuter neighborhoods with limited tourist destinations — Toei Mita and Tokyo Metro Namboku are typical. You'll rarely need them.

The combo pass: Tokyo Subway Ticket

This is the killer pass. Covers both Metro and Toei subway lines for the duration:

Math: when it pays off

• Per-ride subway fare: ¥170-¥320 (varies by distance)
• Typical tourist day: 4-7 subway rides
• Break-even at ~4 rides

For a typical tourist day with subway sightseeing, the 24-hour pass pays for itself by the 4th ride. The 48-hour and 72-hour passes are increasingly economical.

Where to buy

• Narita Airport / Haneda Airport: discount of ¥100-¥200 at international arrivals counters (¥600-¥1,400)
• Tokyo Metro / Toei subway stations: any major station ticket counter
• Convenience stores: some 7-Elevens sell them

Buy at the airport for the discount when you arrive.

Activation

Insert the pass at any Tokyo Metro / Toei subway gate. The 24/48/72 hour clock starts the moment you first use it. You can use any gate the rest of the period.

What the pass does NOT cover

Important: the Tokyo Subway Ticket only covers Metro + Toei subway:

• Does NOT cover JR Yamanote Line (or any JR line)
• Does NOT cover private rail (Tobu, Odakyu, Keisei, etc.)
• Does NOT cover buses

So if your itinerary includes a JR Yamanote ride to Shinjuku + subway sightseeing + JR back, the JR ride needs a separate IC card payment.

Navigation: Google Maps + station signage

Google Maps (recommended)

Set destination in Google Maps. It shows:

• Which subway line(s) to take
• Connection stations (color-coded line letters)
• Walking time at transfer stations
• Estimated total travel time

Works flawlessly in Tokyo for both Metro and Toei.

Citymapper

Sometimes better than Google for transit-specific routing, with more transfer detail.

Official Tokyo Metro app

Has line maps but the interface is less polished than Google Maps. Useful for in-station orientation.

Station signage

All major stations have:

• Color-coded line markers with letter (e.g., big orange "G" for Ginza line)
• English signage with romanized station names
• Numbered exits so you can match Google Maps' "Exit 5" to the right physical exit

The transfer-station gotcha

Some Tokyo subway stations connect Metro lines to Toei lines via underground passageways (not the same as a free transfer):

• Tokyo Station / Otemachi area: 5+ lines connect via tunnels
• Shinjuku / Shinjuku-sanchome: multiple connections
• Shibuya: multiple
• Ginza: multiple

When transferring between Metro and Toei, sometimes you stay inside the gates (free transfer), sometimes you exit and re-enter (pay again). The pass and IC card systems automatically handle this — you don't have to think about it.

Cost analysis: combo pass vs IC card

Example: 2-day Tokyo sightseeing with 6 subway rides per day:

With Tokyo Subway 48-Hour Pass

• Pass: ¥1,200
• Total subway: covered
• Total: ¥1,200

Without pass (IC card pay-per-ride)

• 12 rides × ~¥200 avg = ¥2,400
• Total: ¥2,400

Saving with pass: ¥1,200.

Specific tourist transit examples

Shibuya → Asakusa

Best route: Ginza Line (G, orange) directly, ~25 min, ¥210 Don't: take JR Yamanote then transfer — slower

Shinjuku → Ginza

Best route: Marunouchi Line (M, red) → Ginza Line (G) at Akasaka-mitsuke, ~30 min, ¥240 Or: Shinjuku Line (Toei) to Bakuro-yokoyama, ~25 min, ¥240

Roppongi → Tokyo Station

Best route: Hibiya Line (H, gray) → Marunouchi Line (M) at Hibiya, ~20 min, ¥210

Shinjuku → Tokyo Bay (Odaiba)

Best route: Shinjuku Line (Toei) → Yurakucho Line (Y) at Iidabashi → walk to Yurikamome (~50 min, ¥350 + ¥320 = ~¥670 total)

Or via JR for direct routes — sometimes faster despite transfers.

What about JR for Tokyo travel?

JR has the Yamanote Line (the loop around central Tokyo) which is genuinely useful:

• Shibuya → Shinjuku (Yamanote): 7 min, ¥160
• Shinjuku → Ueno (Yamanote): 25 min, ¥200
• Shibuya → Tokyo Station (Yamanote): 20 min, ¥200

Yamanote covers most major tourist hubs (Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo Station). If you only do these, JR + IC card may be cheaper than the subway combo pass.

Decision rule: use the combo pass if you'll do significant non-Yamanote movement (Asakusa, Roppongi, etc.). Use JR + IC if you'll only loop around the Yamanote stations.

Practical playbook

1. Buy the 72-hour pass at the airport for ¥1,500 (or 48-hour for ¥1,200 if shorter trip)
2. Activate on first use by inserting at any subway gate
3. For JR portions: tap with IC card separately
4. Plan itinerary to use subway extensively during pass days
5. Day after pass expires: switch back to pay-per-ride with IC card

Common mistakes

① "Subway pass covers JR"

No. JR is separate. Tokyo Subway Pass covers Metro + Toei subway only.

② "I'll use IC card the whole trip"

Possible but more expensive than the combo pass if you ride 4+ times per day.

③ "Tokyo Metro and Toei are the same"

Different operators with different colors. Combo pass covers both — that's the key.

④ "Combo pass works on private rail"

No. Doesn't cover Tobu (Nikko), Odakyu (Hakone), Keio, Tokyu, Seibu. Each needs separate ticket or pass.

⑤ "I'll use the official Tokyo Metro app"

It's OK, but Google Maps is more polished. The Metro app is useful for in-station orientation.

Related

• #73 Suica vs Pasmo vs ICOCA
• #119 Japan private rail networks
• #112 JR Pass strategy 2026
• #76 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATM complete guide

Last verified 2026-05-19. Tokyo Metro / Toei subway fares revise periodically; line numbers and colors are stable.