The Tokyo Metro is a very efficient and cheap way of getting around in the city. Try to avoid rush hours though!
The network can be confusing because it is operated by several different companies; in some places there are special ways of transferring from the line of one company to another's, and maps made available by a particular company may not show all the others.
But a particularly good feature of the system if you can't read Japanese is that every line on the network not only has a colour - as you would expect - but also has a letter (A for Asakusa Line, M for Marunouchi Line, etc.) and every station on each line has a number. For example, Toranomon station on the Ginza line is G07.
So after referring to a map of the whole Metro Network in English, you would be able to use a map of the Metro in Japanese too, by referring to the letters and numbers for each station.
1 - 6 km |
¥ 160 |
7 - 11 km |
¥ 190 |
12 - 19 km |
¥ 230 |
20 - 27 km |
¥ 270 |
28 - 40 km |
¥ 300 |
Fares: ticket prices depend on distance to be travelled
(see table). Children travel half price.
In case of emergency or difficulty, you can buy a minimum-price ticket before starting your journey, and pay the difference at a "fare adjustment" window or machine at your destination.
Buying a metro ticket:
It can be bought at ticket vending machines at Tokyo Metro stations for use on that day, or bought in advance from ticket counters at major Metro stations.
English Information desks: Information facilities where English is spoken are located at the following major stations of the Tokyo Metro: Ginza, Nihonbashi, Shinjuku and Otemachi.
Pre-paid cards: SUICA and PASMO
Tokyo's transport system has cards which are now valid throughout the Metro network. These cards are the rechargeable prepaid IC type which are just touched to a card reader on the ticket gates, like London's "Oyster" card. So save time, and worries about whether you have the right Yen change for the ticket machine, by getting Suica or PASMO. The fares aren't any cheaper, but it offers great convenience, especially if you don't want the hassle of working out how to get the right ticket out of the ticket machine every time.
Suica can be bought at vending machines and ticket counters in railway stations of Japan Railways, and PASMO at the stations of other railway companies in the Greater Tokyo region. You pay an initial refundable deposit of ¥500, and an initial amount to be charged onto the card: ¥1500 in the case of Suica, and ¥500 - 9500 for PASMO. The PASMO can be used throughout the Tokyo Metropolitan area, but the Suica can be used nationwide, and on the Narita Express as well.
Suica and PASMO cards can be recharged at vending machines in railway stations of Japan Railways and other railway companies in the Greater Tokyo region. The maximum amount to be charged onto a card is ¥20,000.
The current credit balance remaining on the card is displayed when you pass through a ticket gate. It can also be checked at the vending/top-up machines.
When you have finished using the card you can get back your deposit by taking the card to the ticket counter of a JR (Suica) or non-JR (PASMO) station. You can also get back any unused credit remaining on the card, less an admin fee of ¥210.
You can use Suica/PASMO as an "electronic money card" in certain shops too. 
Suica card reader on a shop counter
At more than 10,000 shops - particularly around railway stations - such as convenience stores, kiosks and restaurants, you can put your Suica/PASMO card to the card reader to pay, instead of having to use cash.
