VacationAgents
Getting around

How to get around in Tokyo

Tokyo runs on trains, and once you have a Suica or PASMO IC card in your phone or pocket, the whole city opens up - you just tap in and out. The network looks intimidating but it is clean, punctual to the minute, and signed in English. Carry a little cash, install Google Maps and Japan Transit Planner, and you will move like a local within a day.

CurrencyJPY Emergency110 TimeJST (UTC+9) LanguageJapanese
  1. Add a Suica or PASMO to Apple Wallet, or buy a physical Welcome Suica at airport JR counters with cash.
  2. Tap your card on the gate reader going in and out - the exact fare is deducted automatically.
  3. Use Google Maps or the Japan Transit Planner app to pick the line and platform - it tells you the cheapest, fastest route.
  4. Top up at any green or silver fare-adjustment machine, or via Apple Wallet, using cash or card.
  5. If a gate beeps red, see a staffed window - never force it; staff fix fare issues in seconds.
Typical ride180 - 320 JPY (~$1.20 - $2.10)IC card deposit500 JPY (~$3.30), refundableTokyo Subway 24h pass800 JPY (~$5.30)Must-have appJapan Transit Planner (Jorudan) or Google Maps
  • Tokyo Metro and Toei are separate operators - a few transfers cost a small extra fare, which the IC card handles automatically.
  • Last trains run roughly midnight to 1am; miss them and you are taking a taxi, so check the final departure before a late night.
  1. Confirm your airport - Haneda (HND) is much closer to the center than Narita (NRT).
  2. From Narita: Keisei Skyliner to Ueno (~41 min) or JR Narita Express (N'EX) to Tokyo/Shinjuku/Shibuya.
  3. From Haneda: Keikyu Line to Shinagawa (~15 min) or Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then transfer.
  4. Buy tickets at the clearly marked airport counters, or just tap your IC card for local trains.
  5. For door-to-door with luggage at night, use a taxi or the GO taxi app - pricier but simple.
Narita Skyliner2,580 JPY (~$17), ~41 minNarita N'EX~3,070 JPY (~$20), 55 - 90 minHaneda Keikyu~330 JPY (~$2.20), ~15 - 25 minLast airport trainAround 23:00 - 23:45 - confirm locallyTaxi from Narita20,000 - 25,000 JPY (~$130 - $165)
  • Narita is roughly 60 km out, so budget 60 - 90 minutes to the center and avoid the slowest local routes with heavy bags.
  • If you land late and trains have stopped, the airport limousine bus or a taxi are your only options - check the last departure before customs.
  1. For a hot meal under 1,000 JPY, look for Yoshinoya (beef bowls), Tenya (tempura), or a standing soba counter.
  2. At ramen and gyudon chains, buy a ticket from the vending machine at the door, then hand the stub to staff.
  3. For a fast, safe grab-and-go, hit a konbini - 7-Eleven, FamilyMart or Lawson - for bento, onigiri and hot snacks.
  4. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere; konbini also stock cheap bottled tea and water.
  5. Free pharmacies and a basics aisle live inside konbini and drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi, open late.
Beef bowl / ramen500 - 1,000 JPY (~$3.30 - $6.60)Konbini bento450 - 700 JPY (~$3 - $4.60)Conveyor sushi/platefrom ~120 JPY (~$0.80)Tap waterSafe to drink citywide
  • Many small eateries are cash-only or ticket-machine-only - keep a few coins and 1,000 JPY notes on you.
  • Eating while walking is mildly frowned upon - locals finish food near the shop or at the konbini counter.
  1. Walk and ride the trains freely day or night; lost wallets and phones are routinely handed in.
  2. In Kabukicho (Shinjuku) and Roppongi nightlife, ignore touts who approach you for bars or clubs.
  3. Never follow a stranger to a 'special' bar - that is the one classic overcharging scam to avoid.
  4. Keep your IC card and phone in a front pocket on packed rush-hour trains, just out of habit.
  5. If you feel unsure, step into any konbini or train station - both are staffed and bright around the clock.
Overall riskVery low - petty crime is uncommonPolice box (koban)On most corners - go in for any helpLost propertyAsk station staff or the nearest koban
  • The main thing to dodge is nightlife touts offering to lead you to a bar or club - decline and keep walking.
  • Earthquakes happen - if shaking starts, stay put, move away from glass, and follow staff or station announcements.
  1. Withdraw yen at a 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) or Japan Post Bank ATM - both reliably take foreign cards 24/7.
  2. Load your Suica or PASMO with cash and use it to tap-pay at konbini, vending machines and many shops.
  3. Use a credit card freely in department stores, hotels, and larger restaurants.
  4. Keep 1,000 JPY notes and coins for ticket machines, small diners and temples.
  5. Do not tip - it is simply not the custom and can cause polite confusion.
CurrencyJapanese yen (JPY, ~152 JPY = $1)ATM withdrawal7-Eleven / Japan Post, 24/7Suggested cash buffer10,000 - 20,000 JPY (~$66 - $130)TippingNone expected - never tip
  • Japan still runs heavily on cash - never assume a small restaurant, izakaya or temple takes cards.
  • Some bank ATMs reject foreign cards; 7-Eleven and Japan Post machines are your safest bet.
Excuse me / sorryすみません - sumimasen (soo-mee-mah-sen)Where is...?...はどこですか - ...wa doko desu ka (wah doh-koh dess-kah)Station駅 - eki (eh-kee)Ticket切符 - kippu (kee-poo)How much?いくらですか - ikura desu ka (ee-koo-rah dess-kah)English OK?英語大丈夫ですか - eigo daijoubu desu ka (ay-goh dye-joh-boo dess-kah)Thank youありがとうございます - arigatou gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye-mahss)Help / emergency助けて - tasukete (tah-soo-keh-teh)
  • Pointing at a map or a written station name works wonders - staff are patient and used to helping visitors.
  1. Easiest: set up an eSIM (Airalo, Ubigi or Sakura Mobile) before departure and activate on landing.
  2. Prefer physical? Buy an IIJmio, Mobal or Sakura Mobile tourist SIM at Narita/Haneda arrivals counters.
  3. Top up free Wi-Fi access at konbini, stations, and many cafes - look for the network name on signage.
  4. Pocket Wi-Fi rental is worth it for groups or heavy use - reserve online and collect at the airport.
Tourist eSIM~1,500 - 3,500 JPY (~$10 - $23) for 8 - 16 daysAirport SIM~2,500 - 5,000 JPY (~$16 - $33)Pocket Wi-Fi~700 - 1,000 JPY/day (~$4.60 - $6.60)Free Wi-FiKonbini, stations, cafes - widely available
  • Check your phone is carrier-unlocked and eSIM-capable before buying an eSIM.
  • Public Wi-Fi can be patchy and unsecured - your own data plan is far more reliable for maps and tickets.
  1. For crime or accidents, call 110 (police); for fire or a medical emergency, call 119 (fire and ambulance).
  2. If you cannot describe it in Japanese, say 'English please' - operators can connect interpretation.
  3. For non-urgent illness, ask your hotel or a pharmacy (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia) to point you to a clinic.
  4. Major hospitals like St. Luke's International and JR Tokyo General have English-capable staff.
  5. When in doubt, walk into the nearest koban (police box) - they help with anything, from lost items to directions.
Police110Fire / Ambulance119Japan Visitor Hotline (24h)050-3816-2787Medical guidance (Tokyo)Himawari: 03-5285-8181
  • Ambulances are free, but call 119 only for genuine emergencies; for minor issues, a clinic or pharmacy is faster.
  • If it is serious, call the professionals on 119 first - do not try to drive yourself through Tokyo traffic.

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