Tokyo Metro vs. Toei Subway: Which Day Pass Should You Buy?:
Tokyo’s subway system is split between two separate operators, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, and the day pass you should buy depends entirely on which lines your planned stops actually sit on. Buying the wrong one is a common, easily avoidable mistake. This guide breaks down the options.
Why There Are Two Separate Systems in the First Place
Tokyo Metro operates 9 subway lines, while Toei Subway (run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) operates 4 separate lines, plus city buses, a streetcar line, and the Nippori-Toneri Liner. Both networks overlap and interconnect throughout the city, but they’re run by different companies with separate fare systems, which is exactly why a pass covering only one of them can leave you stranded if your route crosses into the other network.
The Main Pass Options
| Pass | Covers | Adult Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro 24-Hour Ticket | Tokyo Metro’s 9 lines only | ¥700 |
| Toei “Marugoto Kippu” | Toei Subway, Toei bus, streetcar, and Nippori-Toneri Liner | ¥700 |
| Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway Common One-Day Ticket | Both Metro’s 9 lines and Toei’s 4 subway lines | ¥1,100 |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72-hour) | Both Metro and Toei subway lines, sold specifically to overseas visitors | ¥1,000 / ¥1,500 / ¥2,000 |
| Tokyo Furii Kippu (Tokyo Free Ticket) | Metro, Toei subway, streetcar, Nippori-Toneri Liner, and JR lines within the 23 wards | ¥1,720 |
Note: pricing is current as of the most recent fare revision and may be adjusted again in the future, so it’s worth confirming current rates before your trip.
How to Decide Which One You Need
- Check which lines your planned stops are actually on first. Major tourist destinations split fairly evenly between the two systems: Shibuya, Ginza, Ueno, and Asakusa are reachable via Tokyo Metro lines, while Toei’s lines cover areas like Oshiage (near Tokyo Skytree), parts of Shinjuku, and Roppongi via the Oedo Line specifically.
- If your entire day’s itinerary sits on Tokyo Metro lines only, the standalone ¥700 Metro 24-Hour Ticket is the cheaper choice, and you’d be overpaying for the combined pass.
- If your itinerary is entirely on Toei lines, buses, or the streetcar, the ¥700 Marugoto Kippu covers you more cheaply than the combined option.
- If your day mixes both networks, which is common once your itinerary covers more than two or three neighborhoods, the ¥1,100 Common One-Day Ticket covering both systems’ subway lines is the safer, more flexible choice.
- If you’re specifically an overseas visitor, the Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72-hour) offers the same combined Metro and Toei coverage as the Common One-Day Ticket, with the added benefit of multi-day options if you’re staying in Tokyo for more than a single day of heavy sightseeing.
- If your itinerary also includes JR lines within the 23 wards (the Yamanote Line, for example), the Tokyo Furii Kippu at ¥1,720 is the only option on this list that covers JR as well, worth it specifically if your day genuinely needs JR access alongside the subways.
A Practical Way to Decide Quickly
Map out your planned stops for the day and check which system each one sits on using a transit app like Google Maps, which shows the specific line and operator for each station. If everything falls on one network, buy that network’s standalone pass. If your stops split across both, or you’re unsure, the combined Common One-Day Ticket or Tokyo Subway Ticket removes the guesswork entirely.
Where to Buy
- Tokyo Metro and Toei standalone passes: ticket machines at any Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway station, respectively.
- The Common One-Day Ticket and Tokyo Subway Ticket: available at ticket machines, station windows, and increasingly through QR code-based digital purchase directly on your smartphone, letting you buy and use the pass without a physical ticket.
- The Tokyo Furii Kippu: available at Tokyo Metro, Toei, and JR East ticket windows and machines within the coverage area.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll need to pay the fare difference at a fare adjustment machine when exiting, since the pass doesn’t cover that network. It’s a minor inconvenience rather than a major problem, but it does mean you didn’t get full value from the pass for that particular trip.
Functionally very similar in terms of line coverage, both cover Metro and Toei subway lines, but the Tokyo Subway Ticket is specifically sold to overseas visitors and non-Kanto residents and offers multi-day (48 and 72-hour) options that the standard Common One-Day Ticket doesn’t.
No, none of these passes cover JR’s Narita Express, the Keisei Skyliner, the Tokyo Monorail, or the Keikyu Line used for airport access, those require separate tickets.
Not always, since standard single-ride fares are relatively low for short distances. Add up your planned individual fares first and compare against the pass price, a day pass generally pays off once you’re taking four or more rides in a day.
Next Steps
Check your planned stops against a transit app before choosing, and default to the combined Common One-Day Ticket or Tokyo Subway Ticket if your day spans more than a couple of neighborhoods, since the modest price difference is usually worth the flexibility of not worrying about which network each station belongs to.
This post is part of an ongoing series on Japan travel planning. Check back for more guides on getting around and Tokyo sightseeing.
PR
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