Tokyo Subway and Railway Basics
Tokyo is a huge metropolis with a world class public transportation system. Trains in Tokyo transport millions of people each day, safely and securely. Using the vast train transportation network in Tokyo can be daunting.
The first thing to understand about Tokyo is that there is not just one agency or company providing public transportation, but transportation in Tokyo is managed by multiple public and private railway companies.
The Tokyo Subway Network consists of 13 subway lines operated by 2 different railway companies.
In addition, commuter railway lines (separate from the subway network) move people across the metropolis. Deciding which railway you need to use all depends on your location in Tokyo and where you want to travel to. The are a great number of train companies that operate inside, into and out of Tokyo, with each railway having it's own stations, trains and tickets. However, the three basic, but important railway companies in Tokyo you need to know as a tourist are:
JAPAN RAILWAYS
Known as "JR", provides vital surface commuter railway service inside Tokyo separate from the subway network. 
Many people like to plan their trips around the JR Yamanote Line since it is a very convenient rail line, however it is very much possible to travel around Tokyo without using it. It all depends on your personal travel itinerary on whether to use JR, Tokyo Metro or any other railway company's trains. There are many JR lines in Tokyo, however there only three you should pay attention to as a tourist. The three most important lines you need to know about JR for Central Tokyo, are the:
- YAMANOTE LINE
- CHUO LINE (RAPID)
- CHUO SOBU LINE (LOCAL)
If you have the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), then you can use any JR line in Tokyo. Subways are not part of JR so you cannot use JR tickets or passes on subway trains. The only exception is using prepaid Suica cards sold by JR.
(The link below opens in a new window/tab) Click here for a PDF RAILWAY MAP of all JR lines in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
1. THE YAMANOTE LINE The Yamanote Line is a loop line favored by many tourists because it is easy to use and hard to get lost on (all it does is loop in a circle).
The 29 stations of the Yamanote line connects many of Central Tokyo's major sightseeing places. The Yamanote Line is usually colored lime green on JR railmaps and signs.
2. THE CHUO LINE (RAPID) The Chuo Line essentially cuts across the middle of Tokyo (and the Yamanote Line) providing commuter access from East to West. Chuo Line trains are categorized as "RAPID" trains because they skip some stations (see below). From Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station, the trip is about 15 minutes.
The Chuo Line is usually colored orange on JR railmaps and signs.
The Chuo Line is usually colored orange on JR railmaps and signs.
3. THE CHUO-SOBU LINE (LOCAL) The Chuo-Sobu Line parallels the Chuo Line between Mitaka in Western Tokyo, and Ochanomizu in Central Tokyo.
The Chuo-Sobu Line runs as a "LOCAL" service train, meaning it stops at all stations, while the Chuo Line"RAPID" train skips some stations between Ochanomizu and Nakano.
At Ochanomizu, the two lines divert, with the Chuo Line going to Kanda and Tokyo Stations, and the Chuo-Sobu Line continuing onto Akihabara and Chiba prefecutre.
From Akihabara Station to Shinjuku Station, the trip is about 17 minutes.
The Chuo-Sobu Line is usually colored yellow on JR railmaps and signs.
The Chuo-Sobu Line runs as a "LOCAL" service train, meaning it stops at all stations, while the Chuo Line"RAPID" train skips some stations between Ochanomizu and Nakano.
At Ochanomizu, the two lines divert, with the Chuo Line going to Kanda and Tokyo Stations, and the Chuo-Sobu Line continuing onto Akihabara and Chiba prefecutre.
From Akihabara Station to Shinjuku Station, the trip is about 17 minutes.
The Chuo-Sobu Line is usually colored yellow on JR railmaps and signs.
SUBWAYS
There are 13 subway lines that make up the Tokyo Subway Network. Subways in Tokyo provide dense and comprehensive travel throughout Central Tokyo. Subways are not part of the JR Network. There are two subway companies (Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway) that operate the 13 subway lines. Each company has its own ticketing, stations, and trains.
TOKYO METRO Tokyo has 2 subway networks consisting of 13 subway lines. Tokyo Metro operates 9 out of 13 subway lines.
The 9 lines operated by Tokyo Metro are the:
Click here for a PDF copy of the Tokyo Subway map. (opens a new window)
TOEI SUBWAY The Toei Subway network operates 4 subway lines out of 13 subway lines that make up the Tokyo Subway Network.
The 4 subway lines operated by Toei Subway are the:
Asakusa (A) Mita (I) Shinjuku (S) Oedo (E)
The 4 subway lines operated by Toei Subway are the:
Asakusa (A) Mita (I) Shinjuku (S) Oedo (E)
Useful Travel Tip: Subway Stations on both the Tokyo Metro network and the Toei Subway network are labeled by station name, but to help travelers, they are also labeled with a LETTER and NUMBER system. The letter corresponds to which line the station is on, and the number corresponds to an individual station on that line. This helps a lot, when you can't remember a station name, but you can easily communicate and look on a map the letter and number of a station you want to go to.
