Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Around Tokyo

Tokyo’s public transportation system is one of the most efficient in the world, and getting around the city is straightforward once you understand your options.This guide breaks down what you need to know—subways, trains, buses, and taxis. With a little planning, you can navigate the city smoothly.

Thinking about traveling to Tokyo? Check out our 4-Day Tokyo Trip Plan that you can easily use and customize.

While you can get around Tokyo in lots of ways—by train, bus, taxi, or on foot. Navigation apps can make things smoother. These apps help you figure out the best train to catch, when the next bus will arrive, how much a taxi might cost, or the easiest walking route to your destination.

Google Maps

Good old Google Maps works just fine in Japan and is highly recommended for tourists. It’s easy to use, reliable, and gives clear directions in English.

Google Maps provides accurate train and bus routes, including estimated travel times and any transfers you’ll need to make. You can plan your entire journey, seeing exactly when to get on and which platform to use.

Citymapper

Citymapper is a great navigation app, especially if you're staying in a big city like Tokyo or Osaka. It's well known for being easy to use and providing real-time info.

City Focused: Citymapper shines in major urban areas, giving you efficient directions for buses, trains, taxis, and walking.
Real-Time Updates: The app provides live updates on public transport, so you'll know about any delays or changes to train times.
Multi-Mode Transport: Citymapper combines different ways to travel, from trains and buses to bikes and taxis.

Japan Transit Planner

The Japan Transit Planner is a simple and effective app for navigating public transportation in Japan. It’s designed for tourists who are mainly using the train system, but it also includes bus info too.

Easy-to-Use Interface: The app is pretty straightforward, with a clear layout. You can input your starting and ending locations to get the best route options.
Train and Bus Routes: It covers both trains and buses in Japan, showing you the best connections, transfer points, and estimated travel times.
Route Comparison: You can compare different routes to see the fastest, cheapest, or least-transferred options.

NAVITIME

NAVITIME is another popular navigation app in Japan, especially useful for public transportation. It’s well known for its detailed train schedules and multiple options for planning routes across different transport modes.

Comprehensive Route Options: NAVITIME shows various ways for getting to your destination, including trains, buses, walking, and even ferries. You can filter for the quickest, cheapest, or fewest transfers.
Bus and Train Specifics: The app provides detailed information on train lines, including platform numbers and transfer routes. It also gives real-time train departure times.

Subways and Trains

Trains and subways are the fastest way to move around Tokyo. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Step 1: Get a Prepaid Card

Pick up a Suica or PASMO card at any major train station or the airport (Narita, Haneda).
Load it with a few thousand yen to start. You can top up at ticket machines later.
Use it to tap in and out at subway and JR stations.

Step 2: Know Where You’re Going

Use a Navigation App to plan your route.
These apps show which train line to take, which direction you need to go, and where to transfer if needed.
Always check the platform signs for the final destination of the train to confirm you’re going the right way.

Step 3: Know Your Line

Here’s a quick rundown of useful train and subway lines for tourists getting around central Tokyo:

JR Yamanote Line: A loop line that connects major areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Ueno, and Ikebukuro.
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line: Good for getting to Shibuya, Ginza, and Asakusa. It’s Tokyo’s oldest subway line and very tourist-friendly.
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line: Useful for reaching Roppongi, Ueno, and Tsukiji. Also connects to the JR lines at several points.
Toei Oedo Line: Loops through key areas like Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Ueno. It goes deeper underground but is helpful for areas not covered by JR.
JR Chuo Line (Rapid): Runs east-west through the city, great for getting from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station quickly.

Step 4: Navigate the Stations

Follow the color-coded signs for JR (usually green), Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway.
Most stations have English signs, and announcements are bilingual.
Transfers can take time—especially at big stations like Shinjuku or Tokyo—so leave some buffer.

Tips for Riding Subways and Trains

Consider a Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72 hours) if you’re using the subway a lot in one day.
Avoid rush hour (around 8–9am and 5–7pm) if possible; trains get very crowded.
Eating, talking loudly, or taking calls on the train is considered rude—keep things quiet.

Buses

Buses in Tokyo are clean, usually on time, and reach places that trains don’t. They might be less tourist-friendly than subways, but still easy to ride.

Step 1: Find Your Route

Use a Navigation App and enter your destination — it’ll show you bus routes and stops.
Most buses display routes in English on the screen inside, but the signs at the bus stops might only be in Japanese.
Check the bus stop name and direction carefully before boarding.

Step 2: Get On and Pay

In most parts of Tokyo, you’ll enter the bus through the front door.
Tap your Suica or PASMO card on the reader or pay in exact cash (usually around ¥210 for adults).
There’s usually a screen above the driver that shows the next stop, often in English.

Step 3: Ride and Get Off

Press the stop button when your stop is coming up.
Exit from the middle or rear door depending on the bus type (listen for the chime or watch others).
If you used a prepaid card, tap it again as you exit. If you paid with cash, you’re all set.

Tips for Using Buses in Tokyo

Consider using buses when your destination isn’t near a train station.
If you're unsure, watch what locals do and follow along.
Not all drivers speak English, so it helps to screenshot your stop name ahead of time.

Taxis

Taxis in Japan are reliable, clean, and relatively easy to use, though they can be more expensive than public transport. Here’s how you can use taxis:

Step 1: Find a Taxi

Look for taxis in busy areas like train stations, airports, or popular shopping streets.
You can wave down a taxi directly from the street, or find a taxi stand near hotels or malls.
In rural areas, use an app or call a taxi company to book a ride.

Step 2: Get In

Japanese taxis have automatic doors, so just hop in when the car arrives.
The meter typically starts at around ¥410 for the first 1-2 kilometers and then increases based on distance and time.

Step 3: Make the Payment

When you reach where you want to go, the driver will stop, and the total fare will show on the meter.
You can pay using cash or credit card.
If paying with cash, try to have the correct change ready. If using a credit card, hand it to the driver, who will process the payment.

Tips for Using Taxis in Japan

Taxis can be pricey compared to trains and buses, so use them when you’re in a hurry or when other options aren’t convenient.
Drivers may not speak much English, so it can be helpful to have your destination written down in Japanese or use a translation app.
Make sure you know the approximate fare before you get in, so there are no surprises.

Final Thoughts

Getting around Tokyo might feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand the basics, you'll find it's quite manageable. Use this guide as a starting point and adjust based on what fits your travel style. Whether you stick to trains or mix in buses and walking, the key is to plan ahead, stay flexible, and use apps to cut down stress. You don’t need to master every option—just pick the ones that make your trip smoother.

If you want to go to Japan but don’t know where to start, here’s a 4-Day Tokyo Travel Plan for you to use as a starting point.