Getting Around Tokyo: Transport Guide for Digital Nomads (2026)
The easiest way to get around Tokyo is by train and subway. You pay with a Suica or Pasmo IC card and let a transit app tell you where to go. Trains reach almost everywhere, come often, run on time, and cost far less than taxis.
Buses cover the gaps, and late at night you’ll want a taxi or a ride app. Get an IC card and a navigation app sorted and the city is easy to move around, even if you don’t speak Japanese.
What is the best way to get around Tokyo?
Trains and subways, hands down. Lines crisscross the whole city, trains are punctual, and almost every neighborhood has a station, so during the day most nomads barely use anything else.
There are two main subway operators (Tokyo Metro and Toei), plus JR and several private railways. One IC card works on all of them, so you never have to think about which company runs which line.
Do you need a Suica or Pasmo card?
Yes. If you get one thing for Tokyo transport, make it an IC card. Suica and Pasmo are rechargeable contactless cards (you can also put Mobile Suica or Pasmo on your phone) that you tap at the gate.
They work on almost every train, subway and bus, and you can pay with them at convenience stores and vending machines too.
If you have an iPhone, put Suica on the phone. You can top up and check your balance on the screen without hunting for a machine. Any iPhone 8 or later can add Suica to Apple Wallet, and JR East’s Welcome Suica Mobile app for visitors is also iPhone only. Android is different: Mobile Suica needs an Osaifu-Keitai phone, a Japanese-market feature, so if your Android phone was bought abroad, plan on using a physical card. See our mobile setup guide for getting your phone ready.
Physical cards are easy to get again, too. Sales of standard unregistered Suica and Pasmo cards were suspended for a while over stock shortages and resumed on 1 March 2025, so older posts saying you can’t buy one are out of date. Welcome Suica is a separate card for short-term visitors, valid for 28 days from purchase. On an iPhone, the Welcome Suica Mobile app issues one valid for 180 days.
Arrival day: getting a card at the airport
If your phone can’t hold Suica, get a card at the airport before you take the train into the city.
- Staying up to four weeks: get a visitor card. Welcome Suica and TOURIST PASMO both need no deposit and last 28 days from purchase. The catch: money left on a TOURIST PASMO isn’t refunded, so don’t load more than you’ll spend.
- At Haneda: TOURIST PASMO is sold from traveler ticket machines at the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 station gates, and at the Keikyu Tourist Information Center next to the gates in the Terminal 3 arrival lobby. PASMO says these accept credit cards.
- At Narita: TOURIST PASMO is sold at the Skyliner & Keisei Information Center in the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stations, as a ¥2,000 card only.
- Staying longer: a standard Suica or PASMO, or Welcome Suica Mobile (180 days) on an iPhone. A standard Suica includes a ¥500 deposit in its price. When you leave, return it at a JR East station: you get the deposit back plus the balance minus a ¥220 fee.
Three things catch people out on day one:
- Top-ups at station machines are cash only for a physical Suica, in steps from ¥500 to ¥10,000, and the card holds at most ¥20,000. Keep a few yen notes on you.
- An IC card covers the basic fare only. Limited expresses, express trains and Green Cars need a separate ticket, bought before you board.
- IC cards work within a region, not across regions. You can’t tap in in Tokyo and tap out in Sendai, for example. For a trip between regions, buy a ticket.
Which transport options should you use?
| Mode | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subway / JR trains | Everyday travel | Fast, frequent, cheapest; tap an IC card |
| Buses | Areas trains miss | Same IC card; slower |
| Taxi apps (GO, Uber) | Late night, luggage | Priciest; useful after trains stop |
| Bike share (LUUP, Docomo) | Short hops | Cheap; many docking points |
Trains stop around midnight. On a late night, either watch for the last train or set aside money for a taxi.
Which apps make Tokyo transport easy?
You’ll need a transit navigation app. Google Maps works, and Japan-specific apps like Japan Travel by NAVITIME go further: real-time delays, platform numbers, the cheapest or fastest route, and clear transfer directions in English.
Type in where you’re going and the app tells you the line, platform and exit. Even Tokyo’s giant stations stop being a guessing game.
Tips for navigating Tokyo like a local
- Know your exit. Big stations like Shinjuku have dozens of exits. Follow the exit number in the app and you’ll save a lot of walking.
- Avoid rush hour (roughly 7:30–9:00 and 17:30–19:00) if you can. Trains get packed.
- Stand still and hold the handrail on escalators. Let people off the train before you get on.
- Keep your IC card topped up so the gate doesn’t stop you.
- Trains are quiet. Save calls and loud conversations for later.
FAQ
Do I need a JR Pass to get around Tokyo? No. A JR Pass is for long-distance travel between cities. For getting around Tokyo, an IC card like Suica or Pasmo is all you need.
Can I use Suica on all trains and buses in Tokyo? Yes. A single IC card works across Tokyo Metro, Toei, JR, private railways, and most buses, so you rarely need paper tickets.
How late do Tokyo trains run? Most lines run until around midnight and start again around 5:00. After the last train, taxis or ride apps are the main option.