Tokyo Subway Ticket: 24, 48 and 72-Hour Passes Explained

One ticket opens every Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway line for a fixed number of hours, and this guide explains who it suits and how it compares with an IC card.

Published October 19, 2026 at 10:36 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: The Tokyo Subway Ticket is a visitor ticket giving unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The operators' pages list adult prices of 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 yen, with half-price child tickets, and it is meant for overseas visitors and some domestic travelers. It does not cover JR lines, so check the current page.

What the Tokyo Subway Ticket is

The Tokyo Subway Ticket is a time-limited pass created for visitors. It lets the holder ride every line of the two subway systems in the capital: Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway. These two networks together cover most of the central city, including areas around major sightseeing districts, business centers and shopping streets.

It comes in three lengths: 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The Tokyo Metro page describes the validity as running for the chosen number of hours from the travel starting time, so the pass is counted in hours rather than calendar days. Exactly when the clock starts is explained with the ticket, so read those instructions. Operators also offer a version with a QR code for people who prefer a digital ticket on a phone. The ticket is designed for sightseeing, not commuting.

Prices, as listed by the operators

On the official pages of Tokyo Metro and the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, the adult prices are 1,000 yen for 24 hours, 1,500 yen for 48 hours and 2,000 yen for 72 hours. Child tickets are listed at half those amounts: 500, 750 and 1,000 yen.

Prices, ticket versions and sales outlets can change, so read the current page before buying. Also note that tourist tickets sometimes include a small set of partner discounts: the Tokyo Metro page mentions a discount program that offers savings at various tourist spots in Tokyo when the ticket is shown, which can add some value for travelers who visit those places.

Who can buy it

The ticket is aimed at overseas visitors. The Tokyo Metro page also lists domestic visitors who live outside Tokyo and a group of nearby prefectures (Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Yamanashi) as eligible. The Toei page describes it as recommended for visitors from outside Japan and people living outside the Kanto area.

Because eligibility wording can change, bring a passport if you are a visitor from abroad, and confirm the rules on the seller's page. Children's tickets are for the ages defined by the operators, so check the age limits when purchasing for a family. The operators' fare pages explain how ordinary tickets are priced by age.

Where to buy and how to use it

The Tokyo Metro page links to online purchase for the standard and QR versions. The Toei page lists several places: Toei Subway tourist information centers at Shimbashi, Shinjuku-Nishiguchi and Ueno-Okachimachi stations, participating hotels, Haneda and Narita airports, tourist information centers and electronics retailers. Availability varies, so check with each location before you rely on it.

Once you have the ticket, follow the instructions that come with it for the gates of both systems, since the versions (including the QR version) are used differently and the operators explain each method. Keep it with you throughout the validity period, as staff may ask to see it, and note the time of first use so you know when it ends. The ticket does not cover JR lines, private railways or most buses, so planning a trip that mixes systems means paying separately for those legs.

Subway ticket or IC card?

An IC card such as a PASMO card works on most trains and buses in Tokyo, charges fares as you go, and can be topped up when the balance runs low. It suits visitors who ride only a few times, or who want to use JR lines and buses as well. The Tokyo Subway Ticket suits travelers who plan many subway rides in a short window.

A simple test helps. Count the likely subway rides in your first 24, 48 or 72 hours, look up single fares on a route planner, and compare the total with the ticket price. Anyone who rides a lot between sights in a compact period may find the pass cheaper, while a relaxed trip with a few rides may not. Some visitors hold both: the pass for subway days and a card for everything else.

Other Toei and Tokyo Metro tickets worth knowing

The operators also sell one-day tickets. The Toei page lists a Toei 1Day Pass covering the Toei Subway, Toei buses, the Tokyo Sakura Tram and the Nippori-Toneri Liner, and a one-day ticket covering both Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro sold at station vending machines. Prices for these are on the official page.

The same page also lists a Tokyo Combination Ticket that adds JR lines in the 23 wards for a day, and a five-day Greater Tokyo Pass covering railways, trams and Toei buses of many Kanto companies. Each product has its own rules and price, so read the details before choosing. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Tips for getting the most from it

A short plan before the first ride pays off. Because the pass is counted in hours, it helps to plan the start so that the clock covers your busiest sightseeing hours. A ticket that starts in the morning can suit an early-start itinerary, while one that starts in the late afternoon wastes less of the first day if the evening is spent riding. Once you know how your ticket's start time is set, count forward to find the hour it ends. Save the station map on your phone, because the Tokyo Metro and Toei lines have different colors and some transfers involve a short walk between the two systems.

Check the transfer rules at stations where the systems meet. With a Tokyo Subway Ticket, moving between a Metro line and a Toei line is simply part of travel, so no extra fare is charged. Ask staff at a subway station if you are unsure about a gate or platform, as station teams are used to helping visitors. It also helps to keep the ticket somewhere easy to reach, such as a pocket or a phone screen that is already open, so that the gates never slow down a busy transfer. If you hold the QR version, check that the phone has enough battery before each day of riding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Tokyo Subway Ticket include JR trains?

No. It covers Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines only. JR lines, private railways and most buses need separate fares, a different pass, or an IC card. The Toei page lists a combination ticket that adds JR lines in the 23 wards for one day.

When does the 24-hour clock start?

The Tokyo Metro page says the ticket is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours from the travel starting time. It does not define that term in detail, so read the instructions that come with your ticket and the official page for current details.

Where can you buy a Tokyo Subway Ticket?

The operators list several channels, including online purchase, Toei tourist information centers, airports, participating hotels and some electronics retailers. Availability differs by location, so confirm on the official Tokyo Metro or Toei page before traveling.

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