How Tokyo's Train Network Works: JR vs Tokyo Metro vs Toei
Short answer: Tokyo's trains aren't one system. They're run by several different companies. The three you'll use most are JR East (including the Yamanote Line loop), Tokyo Metro (9 subway lines) and Toei Subway (4 subway lines). Each one charges its own fare, so changing between companies usually costs a little more than staying with one. An IC card (Suica or PASMO) works on all of them and works out the fare for you, so in practice you mostly need to know which company's line you're on.
Below is how the pieces fit together, why the same trip can cost different amounts, and how to keep it simple.
Who runs what
| Operator | What it runs | Lines you'll hear about |
|---|---|---|
| JR East | Overground lines across Tokyo and beyond, plus the shinkansen out of Tokyo | Yamanote (the loop around central Tokyo), Chuo, Keihin-Tohoku, Sobu |
| Tokyo Metro | 9 subway lines | Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, Fukutoshin |
| Toei Subway (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) | 4 subway lines | Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo |
| Private railways | Lines from central Tokyo out to the suburbs and nearby areas | Keikyu (to Haneda), Keisei (to Narita), Odakyu (toward Hakone), Tokyu, Keio, Seibu, Tobu |
Signs and maps use a color and a letter for every subway line. The Ginza Line is orange "G", the Marunouchi Line is red "M", and so on. Stations also get a number (for example G09), which makes it easy to follow even if you can't read Japanese.
Why changing companies costs more
Every company sets its own fares, so when your trip uses two of them, you're basically paying for two trips. Riding Tokyo Metro, then JR, then Tokyo Metro again costs more than a route that stays on one company, even if the distance is about the same.
To give you a sense of the numbers, Tokyo Metro's cheapest adult fare (up to 6 km) is ¥180 with a paper ticket or ¥178 with an IC card at the time of writing (October 2026), and it goes up in steps with distance. Children pay about half.
Tokyo Metro and Toei work together a bit more closely than the rest. For a trip from a Tokyo Metro station to a Toei station, Tokyo Metro sells transfer tickets with ¥70 off the normal combined fare.
My advice from working on the railways: don't worry about squeezing out the last ¥100. Route-planning apps (Google Maps, Japan Transit Planner and others) show the fare for each route. If one route is a few minutes faster but slightly more expensive, it's usually worth it.
Transfers: when you go through gates, and when you don't
There are three kinds of transfer, and knowing which one you're doing saves a lot of confusion:
- Same company, same station: you usually just walk to the other platform without passing a gate.
- Same company, but the transfer is outside the gates: at some Tokyo Metro stations you have to step outside to change lines. With a paper ticket, use the orange transfer gates so your ticket keeps working, and don't take too long. Tokyo Metro sets a time limit for these transfers, and if you go over it you need a new ticket.
- Different companies: you exit one company's gates and enter the other's. With an IC card, you just tap out and tap in again. With paper tickets you need a ticket for each company, unless you bought a through ticket covering both.
Some trains also run straight through from one company's tracks onto another's. For example, Toei Asakusa Line trains continue onto Keikyu tracks toward Haneda Airport, and onto Keisei tracks toward Narita. Your train might show a destination you didn't expect, which is normal. Your IC card is charged for each company's section automatically.
The simplest way to pay: an IC card
An IC card (Suica or PASMO, or the same thing on your phone) works on JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei, private railways and most buses. You tap in where you start and tap out where you finish, and the correct fare comes off your card, including when you change between companies. If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: get an IC card first, and the rest gets much easier.
See our IC card guide for the differences between Suica, PASMO and ICOCA, and the Welcome Suica guide if you want a card made for visitors. Some lines also accept a contactless credit card tapped at the gate. See which trains accept contactless cards.
When the Tokyo Subway Ticket is worth it
If you'll be riding the subway a lot, the Tokyo Subway Ticket covers all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for a set number of hours. Official prices at the time of writing (October 2026):
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | ¥1,000 | ¥500 |
| 48 hours | ¥1,500 | ¥750 |
| 72 hours | ¥2,000 | ¥1,000 |
It's for overseas visitors and people who live outside Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures. Check the official Tokyo Metro page for where to buy it and what ID you need.
The catch: it doesn't cover JR, so the Yamanote Line isn't included, and it doesn't cover private railways either. Pay for those with your IC card. If your days are mostly subway hops between places like Asakusa, Ginza, Roppongi and Shibuya, it usually pays for itself quickly. If you're mostly on the Yamanote Line, it doesn't.
Arriving at Haneda? Our Haneda tickets guide covers subway passes that include the trip in from the airport. For longer trips beyond Tokyo, see which rail passes are worth it.
Quick tips from the railway side
- Follow the colors and letters, not the station names. "Take the red M line toward Ikebukuro" is easier than reading every sign.
- Check which exit you want before you leave the platform. Big stations have dozens of exits, and the yellow signs list the landmarks near each one.
- Top up your IC card before it runs low. If your balance doesn't cover the fare, the gate won't open. Use the fare adjustment machine near the exit gates.
- Staff are happy to help. If a gate stops you or you went the wrong way, go to the staffed window next to the gates and show your card or ticket.