Unlimited Passes for Tokyo Public Transportation
If you are planning a trip to Tokyo and anticipate moving around the city frequently, a daily pass for public transportation might help you save money. These passes allow unlimited travel on Tokyo’s public transport systems, including subways, trains, and buses, for one or more days depending on the pass. However, Tokyo has several public transportation companies, and generally, passes do not cover the entire network but only the lines of each company, so they are not always a good idea. There are passes that cover the lines of multiple companies, but they are more expensive. This page provides all the useful information to choose the most suitable daily pass for your needs (prices, coverage, purchasing methods, usage rules) and to consider whether buying one is a good idea.
Recommended Passes
Browsing the websites of
Tokyo Metro,
Toei Metro, and
JR, you will find an endless list of daily pass types. Most are not very appealing to the average tourist who has never been to Tokyo or has only been a couple of times.
Below is a selection of the best passes for tourists. These passes also offer a range of discounts at museums, restaurants, and other attractions (more details on the
Chikatoku website).
However, it is not always truly cost-effective to buy these passes; we recommend first considering the itineraries you plan to take while in Tokyo and the location of your hotel.
Tokyo Metro Pass for 24, 48, or 72 Hours: The Most Popular Pass Among Tourists
- Price: 24 hours adults 800¥, children 400¥ / 48 hours 1200¥, 600¥ / 72 hours 1500¥, 750¥.
- Where to Buy: This pass can be purchased at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, at ticket offices in some Tokyo Metro stations, various tourist information centers, and hotels (a complete list of places selling the pass is available here). To purchase this pass, you need to have a foreign passport. The pass can also be easily purchased online through Rakuten Travel. Once purchased, you will receive a QR code to obtain the paper pass by scanning the QR code at automatic machines in any metro station.
- Validity: For the following 24, 48, or 72 hours from the time of first use.
- Where Valid: At all Tokyo Metro stations, including both Tokyo Metro and Toei Metro.
When the Tokyo Metro Pass is Worth It
Depending on the itineraries you have in mind, this pass can be convenient. Keep in mind that a single ride on Tokyo Metro costs between 170¥ (minimum fare) and 320¥ (maximum fare). Assuming an average of 200¥ per ride, the 24-hour pass pays off after four rides in the metro within the 24 hours, the 48-hour pass pays off after three rides per day for two days, and the 72-hour pass after three rides per day for the first two days and two rides on the last day. The Toei Metro costs slightly more than Tokyo Metro, so if you use those lines, the pass pays off even sooner. Together, Toei and Tokyo Metro can completely replace JR lines, although the latter may sometimes be more convenient and faster. No matter where you are in central Tokyo, there will always be at least one metro station within a 10-minute walk. This pass is highly recommended in the 48 and 72-hour versions.
Buy Tokyo Metro 24-48-72 Hour Passes Online
Tokyo Metro 24-Hour Pass: The Most Affordable Pass for One Day
- Price: adults 600¥, children 300¥.
- Where to Buy: Automatic ticket machines at any Tokyo Metro station.
- Validity: For the following 24 hours from the time of first use, which must be on the day of purchase (the ticket will not be valid if not used by midnight of the purchase day). To purchase this ticket in advance and use it on subsequent days, visit a dedicated ticket office.
- Where Valid: All Tokyo Metro lines, but not those of Toei Metro.
When the 24-Hour Tokyo Metro Pass is Worth It
If your hotel is located near a Tokyo Metro station and depending on the itineraries you have in mind, this pass could be useful on several occasions. Assuming an average of 200¥ per ride, this ticket pays off easily after three rides in the metro within the 24-hour validity period. It is the cheapest daily pass.
Tokunai Pass: The JR Pass
- Price: adults 760¥, children 380¥.
- Where to Buy: Automatic ticket machines at most JR stations within the covered area.
- Validity: For one calendar day, until midnight of the chosen activation day.
- Where Valid: On JR urban railway lines (stations included for JR lines are listed here).
When the Tokunai Pass is Worth It
If your hotel is located near a JR station and depending on the itineraries you have in mind, this pass could be useful on several occasions. Assuming an average of 200¥ per ride, this ticket easily pays off after four rides in the metro within the 24-hour validity period.
Tokyo Free Kippu: The Most Extensive Tokyo Public Transport Pass
- Price: adults 1600¥, children 800¥.
- Where to Buy: Automatic ticket machines for reserved seats at major JR stations, automatic ticket machines at most Tokyo Metro and Toei Metro stations.
- Validity: For one calendar day, until midnight of the chosen activation day.
- Where Valid: On all Tokyo Metro lines, both Tokyo Metro and Toei Metro, on JR urban railway lines (stations included for JR lines are listed here), Toei buses, the Nippori-Toneri Liner, and the Tokyo Sakura Tram.
When the Tokyo Free Kippu is Worth It
Unfortunately, in our opinion, this pass is not worth the price asked and is unlikely to be cost-effective. We have included it in this list only because it is the only one offering such extensive coverage. It may only be useful in very specific cases. For most tourists, one of the other passes listed below, or none at all, is usually more cost-effective.
What About the Japan Rail Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass is one of the most cost-effective and popular passes among foreign tourists.
However, it does not make sense to purchase the Japan Rail Pass just for Tokyo and its surroundings. The Japan Rail Pass is very cost-effective and highly recommended if you plan to visit various regions of Japan (such as Kyoto, Osaka, or Hiroshima) using the high-speed shinkansen trains. It may happen that your Japan Rail Pass, valid for 7, 14, or 21 days depending on what you purchased, is still active during your days in Tokyo. In this case,
you can use it in the city for unlimited travel, but only on JR lines. JR urban railway lines are quite comprehensive within Tokyo and allow access to many tourist areas, as well as Narita Airport via the Narita Express.
However, the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Tokyo Metro nor on various private railway lines. The only exception is the Tokyo Monorail, which connects central Tokyo with Haneda Airport. Although it is a private line, it is included in the Japan Rail Pass.
Guided tours, activities and other things to do
If you are planning a trip to Japan and you want to do something more than just visiting famous places and monuments, we suggest you to use
Rakuten Travel Experiences.
How to use Rakuten Travel Experiences
Rakuten Travel is a very useful website to
enrich your travel experience, especially if you are going solo or it's your first time in Japan.
Because of the language barrier (and more), in Japan it is very difficult to interact with the locals and to get off the tourist track.
Thanks to Rakuten Travel you can find a lot of interesting and sometimes unique
guided tours and activities all over Japan (and not only in Japan), that you would otherwise never be able to enjoy.
But there's more: on Rakuten Travel you can also
buy tickets for several famous attractions, events, transportation and other useful services for tourists. Last but not least, you can
reserve a table in hundreds of restaurants.
Some examples
Take a look at Rakuten Travel Experiences
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