Timed subway ticket, IC card, Separate fare: choose by your route, party and the exact product conditions.
Photo: Ajay Suresh / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Resized; listing thumbnail cropped.
Compare at a glance
| Option | Best fit | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Timed subway ticket | Repeated eligible journeys | Covered operators and duration |
| IC card | Pay-as-you-go travel | Balance and supported services |
| Separate fare | A route outside the pass | Actual operator and ticket |
Choose the option that fits your journey
Map the operators used in your planned journeys before buying a timed subway pass. A Tokyo rail trip can use services outside that product’s scope. Compare the covered journeys during its actual validity period rather than counting every train in the city as included.
Read the detail that changes the booking
An IC card is a payment method requiring sufficient balance, not a guarantee that every attraction or airport service is covered by one pass. Read purchase, activation and ticket-use instructions and keep a method for routes outside the selected product.
Keep the final confirmation available
Use the linked operator or seller information for your travel date. Save the selected product, address or meeting point and the terms that apply to your party. Source review dates are separate from publication dates: an English edition is not a claim that a price or service remains unchanged. Leave a practical margin before any fixed onward departure.
Before you book
- Timed subway ticket: Covered operators and duration
- IC card: Balance and supported services
- Separate fare: Actual operator and ticket
- Travel date, participant or guest eligibility and final conditions
Common questions
Does this page show live availability?
No. It is a sourced planning comparison. The linked operator and the selected booking product provide the current availability and terms.
Is this a firsthand review?
No. It explains published information and editorial planning choices; it does not claim firsthand use or guarantee the outcome of a booking.
Sources and booking conditions
- www.tokyometro.jp — operator, destination or property information
- www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp — operator, destination or property information
English edition published 2026-10-03. Source review date inherited from the original guide: 2026-10-03. Editorial recommendations are not firsthand reviews or live quotes. Check current prices, availability and conditions before purchase.