How do you pay for the Metro in Japan?

Tickets are sold at ticket vending machines found at every Tokyo Metro station. Tickets are available in denominations of 180 yen, 210 yen, 260 yen, 300 yen, and 330 yen. Select the fare based on the distance you will travel. *The price shown includes the train station barrier-free fee (10 yen for adults).



In 2026, the most common and convenient way to pay for the Metro in Japan is using a rechargeable IC Card, such as Suica, Pasmo, or Icoca. You can purchase these as physical cards at station kiosks or, more popularly, add them directly to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay. To pay, you simply "tap" your phone or card on the reader at the ticket gate when entering and exiting; the system automatically calculates the fare and deducts it from your balance. For tourists, the Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport are 28-day versions that don't require a deposit. While you can still buy individual paper tickets with cash at vending machines, IC cards are preferred as they can also be used at convenience stores and vending machines. Many cities also offer "Day Passes" (e.g., the Tokyo Subway Ticket), which can be purchased digitally or as a physical card for unlimited rides within a 24, 48, or 72-hour window.

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Tokyo Metro fares range from 180 to 330 yen depending on how far you travel. A one day pass for unlimited use of Tokyo Metro on one calendar day is available for 600 yen. For more information about day passes available in Tokyo, check our Tokyo orientation page.

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What's the best alternative to the JR Pass? The best alternative is most likely a single-journey Shinkansen ticket. One-way or round-trip bullet train tickets are best for trips between popular cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima.

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The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

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Ownership and operation: JR trains are owned and operated by the Japan Railways Group, which is a conglomerate of regional railway companies across the country. Metro trains, on the other hand, are owned and operated by various municipal governments in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

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While the metro lines do no accept the JR Pass, other IC Cards, such as the Pasmo and Suica, may be used. These cards give you access to almost any train or bus in Tokyo, and are a perfect complement to the JR Pass.

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For a limited time only, you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online.

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Japan has a reputation as an expensive place to travel to, but it's an image that doesn't hold up on the ground. With a little strategy, a visit can be very reasonable – budget-friendly, even. Many of the country's major sights, for example, cost nothing, and free festivals take place year-round.

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Good news – both Apple Pay and Google Pay work in Japan, too. They're super convenient as they are most likely already installed on your phone. Keep in mind these are digital wallets, so you will need to add a payment method.

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If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

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The cities of Tokyo and Kyoto are linked to each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line. A one-way trip from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station on a Hikari or Kodama train costs 13,080 yen (unreserved seat) or 13,800 yen (reserved seat), but is completely free with a JR Pass.

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Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway operate the subways in Tokyo. At the entrance to each station, you will see the subway sign and the name of the subway station. Be sure to remember the station name, number and line color (circular colored outline) of the subway line you want to ride.

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Each person needs one. Pasmo/Suica is read when touching the IC card reader upon entering and exiting a gate, and the correct fare is deducted from the card. The same card cannot be read entering twice at the same station.

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