Navigating Tokyo’s Subway System: Tips from a recent trip

The Tokyo Subway system is an amazing feat of engineering that snakes multiple railways throughout the city. It also takes some brain power to navigate. Here are some helpful tips to help you navigate the system from the perspective of someone who just road them for a week straight while on vacation.

Pasmo or Suica are a must – If you want to make it around Tokyo and Japan in general, then you are going to need an IC card (Pasmo or Suica in Tokyo, ICOCA in Kyoto). These IC cards can be used for every Japanese subway, do away with having to by individual tickets for each train ride, and can even be used to buy drinks, use the buses, and other items that accept the IC card in Japan.

Know the peak times – There are peak times when the subways are the busiest in Tokyo. Between 7 and 9 AM is the business rush, from 5 to 7 PM (or just a little bit later) is the commute home rush, and around midnight is when the last trains run (so expect the late night crowd on these trains). Knowing when the trains are the busiest can help you figure how to avoid the biggest crowds in the stations and the trains.

Google maps is a life saver – Google maps is one of the best tools you can use to help you get around Tokyo. While other apps and subway maps can be helpful, Google maps will help you find your way without too many issues. Google maps shows the stations you will need to pass through, the times (how busy the trains are) and even which exit you should take when leaving the train. These are all life savers when you are on the go.

Know your station – There is a big difference between Aoyama-itchōme Station and Shibuya Station and you need to keep that in mind when you are preparing to use the subway system. Some stations are easy to navigate and get out of pretty quickly. There are other stations like Shibuya or even worse, Shinjuku, that are massive and have multiple exits. Knowing where you are heading can help you navigate and prepare for.

Follow the crowd (and keep moving) – If you get off the train and aren’t really sure which way to go, follow the crowd. The locals will usually be heading in the way you need to go, so follow them and make sure to keep pace with them. You don’t want to be a road block for anyone so keep pace, stay to the left on the escalators (pass on the right), and you will be at your destination in no time.