How to get around Tokyo, Japan, how to navigate the city subway, how to reach the center of Tokyo from Narita Airport, how to take taxis, subways and buses.
Getting around Tokyo for those who set foot there for the first time might seem difficult. In fact, once you get used to it, it's easier than it looks. Here are some tips for orient yourself and move around the Japanese metropolis.
How to get from the airport to central Tokyo
The cheapest way to get to central Tokyo fromNarita airport is to use the train Narita Express.
The ticket costs about 3000 yen, 1500 if you do it immediately Suica Card, at the JR ticket office on the underground floor of the airport. In about an hour you will reach the center of Tokyo. From there you can start to move easily by subway. You can also reach the center of Tokyo with the taxi or private transfers. In this case, however, the cost will be much higher.
Tokyo subway lines
In Tokyo there is more than one company that manages the metro, so first of all you have to pay attention to the logo in order not to make mistakes with the tickets and have to pay extra costs. Tokyo Metro Line, which operates nine of the subway lines, is marked with the white letter M, making it very easy to recognize.
To avoid getting confused, you should only use this company, which still connects almost the whole city in an excellent way.
You can buy the tickets at vending machines of metro stations. The cost will depend on the mileage, so the further you go, the more you will pay.
Passes to save on transport
If you are going to use the subway frequently in Tokyo, you should equip yourself with a rechargeable card. You can try the Suica Card, to be purchased directly at the airport in order to also include the cost of the route to the center of Tokyo.
You can charge it and use it every time that you will take the metro. For recharging, you can go directly to the automatic machines located in the stations.
Getting around by taxi in Tokyo
If your goal is to travel low cost, taxis are certainly not the first choice. In general, the advice is to reduce its use as much as possible. Use it maybe if you miss the last metro ride or if you are late. To stop it, just do as we do in Italy, or a gesture of the hand.
Getting around Tokyo by bus
As an alternative to the subway, to move around Tokyo you can also use the city buses. The advantage is that they also cover the sections not affected by the metro and in fact they are mainly used to reach those areas of the city.
At the stops you will see people perfectly lined up waiting their turn to get on. The rate is fixed and you pay the ticket at the start of the journey or sometimes at the exit, at the automatic machine located at the entrance to the bus. If you have a Suica card, you can use that too by inserting it directly into the device.
