Getting Around Tokyo: Transport Apps & Your First 48 Hours
Tokyo's trains are punctual, spotless and reach everywhere. The catch is that many different companies run them, so a little setup — mainly one IC card — turns a confusing map into a simple tap-and-go.
The short version
- Trains are the best way to get around, and an IC card is the best way to pay. The subway, JR lines and private railways form one of the world's best networks — once you have a single card that works across all of them.
- Best way to pay: a Suica or PASMO IC card (or Mobile Suica on an iPhone). One tap works on every operator.
- The Yamanote line loop connects most major districts (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ueno) and is the backbone for visitors.
- Trains stop around midnight — there's no all-night service, so watch the last train.
Do you need a Suica?
For Tokyo, yes — an IC card is the single most useful thing you can set up. Suica and PASMO are different brands but work identically, accepted across every train, subway, bus and many shops. You only need one:
- iPhone users: add Mobile Suica to Apple Wallet — you can do it before you even land, top up from your phone, and never lose it. This is the easiest option.
- Foreign Android users: most non-Japanese phones lack the chip Mobile Suica needs, so get a physical card instead.
- Physical cards: regular Suica/PASMO (small refundable deposit) are sold at station machines, and tourist versions — Welcome Suica and PASMO PASSPORT — are sold at Narita and Haneda.
Since 2026 you can also tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard on the gates of several non-JR operators (Tokyo Metro, Keio, Odakyu and others) — but it doesn't yet cover JR lines, so an IC card is still the one tool that works everywhere.
Getting around: the basics
Tokyo's rail network is run by several companies: JR East (including the all-important Yamanote loop), Tokyo Metro and Toei (the two subway operators), and private railways like Keio, Odakyu, Tobu and Tokyu. They're separate, with separate fares — which is exactly why an IC card matters: it calculates and deducts the right fare automatically as you move between them.
- Fares are by distance, not flat. With an IC card you just tap in and out and never think about it.
- The Yamanote line is your friend — a loop hitting most major hubs.
- The Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72 hours) gives unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro and Toei subways — great value on heavy subway days, but it doesn't cover JR, so it complements an IC card rather than replacing it.
Watch the last train
Tokyo's trains stop running around midnight to 1am and don't restart until about 5am — there's no 24-hour service. Check the last train (終電, shūden) in Google Maps before a night out, or you're looking at a pricey late-night taxi or waiting until dawn.
Train etiquette in 60 seconds
Tokyo's trains are calm and orderly, and a few norms keep them that way: set your phone to silent ("manner mode") and don't take calls; queue on the platform markings and let people off first; don't eat on commuter trains and give up priority seats. Women-only cars (marked in pink) run on some lines at rush hour. Stand on the left of escalators. Rush hour (roughly 7:30–9:30am) gets genuinely packed, so avoid it with luggage if you can.
The cheapest reliable option
An IC card with pay-as-you-go is the simplest cheap option — you pay only the distance-based fare, with no thinking required. On days you'll ride the subway a lot, the Tokyo Subway Ticket can beat single fares. Beyond that, walk — Tokyo's neighbourhoods reward it — and consider bike-share (Docomo Bike Share, HELLO CYCLING) or the LUUP e-bike and e-scooter app for short hops.
The apps worth installing
Here's the Tokyo surprise: the app you'll lean on most is just a good map. For tickets, your IC card does the work.
| App | What it does |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | Superb in Tokyo — platforms, fares, transfers and last-train times |
| Japan Travel by NAVITIME | Tourist-focused transit planner with passes and IC info |
| GO | The main taxi-hailing app in Japan |
| Uber | Works in Tokyo, but dispatches licensed taxis (no cheap private rides) |
For getting around, Google Maps plus an IC card genuinely covers most people. Add GO (or Uber) for taxis. Car-sharing (Times Car) exists but is rarely worth it — Tokyo's trains beat driving and parking every time.
Arrived launches soon. Get the right transport setup the moment you land.
Join the waitlistFrom the airport
Tokyo has two airports, and they're very different. Haneda is close and cheap; Narita is far and needs a fast train or bus.
| From | Fast option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haneda (HND) | Keikyu line to Shinagawa | ~13–20 min | Closest airport; also the Tokyo Monorail; both cheap and IC-card friendly |
| Narita (NRT) | Keisei Skyliner / Narita Express | ~36–55 min | Skyliner to Ueno/Nippori; N'EX direct to Tokyo/Shinjuku/Shibuya |
Haneda is the easy one: the Keikyu line or Tokyo Monorail get you into central Tokyo quickly and cheaply, and your IC card works on both. Narita sits 60+ km out, so take a fast train — the Keisei Skyliner (quickest to Ueno) or the Narita Express (direct to west-Tokyo hubs, and free with a JR Pass). On a budget, the Keisei Limited Express and the airport limousine buses are slower but much cheaper, and buses are easiest with heavy luggage. The Skyliner needs its own reserved-seat fare on top of an IC card.
Taxis and ride apps
Clean, safe and reliable — but expensive, especially late at night. Book through GO, Japan's main taxi app, or Uber, which in Tokyo dispatches licensed taxis rather than private drivers (so don't expect a cheap rideshare fare). Taxis make the most sense after the last train, with luggage, or in a group splitting the cost.
What to skip in your first 48 hours
- Missing the last train — check the time before a night out, or budget for a taxi.
- Assuming one paper ticket covers the whole trip — different operators charge separately, which is why an IC card is so much simpler.
- Taking phone calls or playing audio out loud on the train — keep it quiet.
- Getting off at "Narita" Station by mistake — stay on to the airport terminal stations.
- Expecting the Tokyo Subway Ticket to work on JR — it doesn't; keep your IC card for Yamanote trips.
- Downloading five apps — a map and one taxi app is plenty.
Best option by travel style
| You are… | Default option | App | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget traveller | Trains on an IC card; Tokyo Subway Ticket on heavy days | Google Maps | Distance fares are cheap, and the pass caps heavy subway days |
| First-time visitor | The Yamanote loop plus the subway | Google Maps | One loop links the major hubs; the IC card hides the operators |
| Traveller with luggage | Limousine bus or a fast train from the airport | Japan Travel | Buses skip the stairs; Haneda is easiest of all |
| Late-night arrival | A train if before the last departure, otherwise a taxi | GO | After midnight the trains stop, so plan for a cab |
| Mobile-first | Mobile Suica on your phone, plan in a map app | Google Maps | Tap in with your phone; top up without a machine |
| Wants the easiest option | Taxis door to door | GO / Uber | No transfers to learn — but it's the priciest way |
| Wants few apps | IC card plus one map | Google Maps only | No ticket app needed; the card does the paying |
Fares, routes and card availability change — confirm current details on the official JR East, Tokyo Metro and airport websites before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a Suica in Tokyo?
- Effectively yes — an IC card (Suica or PASMO, or Mobile Suica on an iPhone) is the simplest way to ride, because it works across every operator with one tap. Foreign Android users should get a physical card.
- Is Suica or PASMO better for tourists?
- They're interchangeable, with the same trains, shops and coverage. Get whichever you can pick up easily, or add Mobile Suica to an iPhone before you arrive.
- Does Uber work in Tokyo?
- Yes, but it dispatches licensed taxis rather than private drivers, so it's not a budget option. GO is the main local taxi app, and taxis are clean and reliable but pricey.
- How do I get from Narita or Haneda to central Tokyo?
- From Haneda, the Keikyu line or Tokyo Monorail are quick and cheap. From Narita, take the Keisei Skyliner or the Narita Express; budget travellers can use the slower Keisei Limited Express or an airport bus.
- What happens if I miss the last train in Tokyo?
- Tokyo's trains stop around midnight to 1am with no overnight service. Your options are a taxi with a late-night surcharge, or waiting until about 5am in a café, bar or capsule hotel.
- Do I need cash to get around Tokyo?
- For transport, no — an IC card covers trains, subways and buses, and many shops. Japan still uses cash more than some countries, so carry a little for small establishments.