Metro System in Tokyo

Today I am going to talk about one of the best Metro System in the world... the Tokyo Subway!

With a total length of 395.10km and 373 Main Stations, this system can get you within 5-15 mins of walking to any given destination.

The system is perfect, normal rapid trains which stop at every station with a train every 2-5 mins. and an experss metro which stops only at major stations.... A Japanese cannot ask for anything better...

Of course, with a system as comprehensive such as this, it is a bit complicated..! I had the hardest time going around in my first week.. I carried this map with me everywhere I go...

One thing is certain, there is more than one way to reach a given destination. The trick is to figure out the shortest and least expensive route.

An average trip with course you between 200Yens and 400 Yens, within Tokyo. That's around 2 to 4 dollars, one way.

Not bad!

You can get one of those full-day tickets for Tokyo's downtown for 1,500 Yen (Around 17$)

When I reach Tokyo, I had a 1 month ticket purchased for a given everyday route for 11,400 Yens (around 140$) for unlimited number of journays per day. I started using this ticket as a free ride whenever I am trying to reach a destination, I am making my route though this now-free route.

Purchasing your tickets is very easy, you just lookup the price to the station you want to reach before boarding the metro, and use automated vending machines to purchase the ticket, and Yes, they will give you back the change.





If you are not 100% sure of how much you have to pay, fear not, you can buy a lower price ticket to get you though the automated first gate (which will punch your ticket and allow you get on-board)

After you reach the destination, you have to go though a similar gate, which will not allow you though if your ticket was purchased with a lesser amount necessery... you simply go to a nearby "fare adjustment" machine, which will tell you how much you have to "top-up" the ticket in order to get through.. You pay the difference, the machines issues you a new ticket and volia!

I LOVE this system!

Checkout various photos about Tokyo Metro below

Tokyo Metro Photos