Tokyo Subway Ticket vs Suica: Break-Even Rides per Day
Fares checked September 19, 2026 against the official pages. Every figure links to its source.
Published: September 19, 2026
Fares checked on September 19, 2026.
Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro all sit on the Tokyo Metro and Toei subway network. The Tokyo Subway Ticket site describes it as around 280 stations, mainly in the 23 wards of Tokyo. The Japan Tourism Agency counted 20.892 million visits to Tokyo Prefecture in 2025, with an average stay of 5.4 nights (all trip purposes). That is not a ride count, but a stay that long means many trips underground. So what should you pay with? On a subway-only day, the Tokyo Subway Ticket (1,000 yen for 24 hours) beats an IC card (Suica or PASMO) from 6 rides. The 700 yen Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket does it from 4 rides.
Source for the statistics: Japan Tourism Agency, Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan, 2025 calendar year (final), reference table 2 (visitors, spending per person, total spending and average nights by prefecture). Public Data License 1.0 (processed by Japan Trip Math). Not every Tokyo train is included. JR lines such as the Yamanote Line are not, so read the JR notes below before you buy. For the JR side of Tokyo, see our JR Tokyo Wide Pass article.
The short answer
- Subway-only day, few rides: an IC card is enough. The lowest Tokyo Metro IC fare is 178 yen. Six rides at that fare cost 1,068 yen, just over the 1,000 yen Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours). Five rides cost 890 yen.
- Subway-only day, many rides: the 700 yen Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket pays off from 4 rides (4 x 178 = 712 yen). It covers Tokyo Metro lines only, not Toei lines.
- Three days, many rides: the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket (2,000 yen) is 100 yen less than three Tokyo Metro 24-hour tickets (2,100 yen). It also covers Toei lines.
- JR lines are not covered by the Tokyo Subway Ticket. On days you ride the Yamanote Line or the Chuo Line, you need an IC card as well.
Adult, ordinary fares, as of September 19, 2026. 178 yen is the lowest Tokyo Metro IC fare (1 to 6 km). The numbers below are our arithmetic from official fares. They are not a promise of savings.
The numbers
Adult prices in yen, as of September 19, 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
The March 2026 price increase
On March 14, 2026, the Tokyo Subway Ticket went from 800 / 1,200 / 1,500 yen to 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 yen (24 / 48 / 72 hours). The Tokyo Metro and Toei one-day ticket went from 900 to 1,100 yen. Pages dated before March 14, 2026 may still show the old prices.
| Ticket | Before March 14, 2026 | After |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Subway Ticket, 24 / 48 / 72 hours | 800 / 1,200 / 1,500 | 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 |
| Tokyo Metro and Toei one-day ticket | 900 | 1,100 |
| Tokyo Combination Ticket (Tokyo Free Kippu, includes JR lines inside the 23 wards) | 1,600 | 1,720 |
| Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket (adult range) | 2,900 to 5,600 | 3,100 to 6,100 |
Children pay half (500 / 750 / 1,000 yen for the Tokyo Subway Ticket). The calculator below is for one adult. Tokyo Metro's English page and the January 30, 2026 Tokyo Metro and Toei release agree on the new prices. The Tokyo Subway Ticket site says the ticket pays for itself at 6 rides in 24 hours, 5 rides per day over 48 hours and 4 rides per day over 72 hours. That wording did not change with the new prices, so we show it as the site's rule of thumb and compare it with our own arithmetic below.
What each ticket covers
| Way to pay | Adult price | Where it works | When the clock starts | Who can buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Subway Ticket, 24 / 48 / 72 hours | 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 | All Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines (around 280 stations). Not all Tokyo train operators: JR lines are not included | Paper and QR tickets: first time you pass a gate. PASMO version: time of purchase | See "Who can buy" below |
| Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket | 700 | Tokyo Metro lines only (not Toei) | Paper: 24 hours from first use. IC version: 24 hours from purchase | No restriction is stated on the official page |
| Tokyo Metro and Toei one-day ticket | 1,100 | Tokyo Metro and Toei subway | Start to end of service on that day | No restriction found |
| Suica or PASMO (IC card) | Fare per ride, in 1 yen steps | Rail and buses that accept IC cards, including JR | ― | Anyone. A new card includes a 500 yen deposit; top-ups by cash only for Suica |
| Contactless card tap | Same as the paper fare (10 yen steps) | Tokyo Metro, Toei and other Kanto operators. Not JR East | ― | Adult fares only |
The Tokyo Subway Ticket FAQ says: "Suica and PASMO are prepaid IC cards that do not offer discounted fares. If you plan to get on and off many times per day, the Tokyo Subway Ticket offers better value." How many times is "many"? That is what the tables below answer.
The Tokyo Combination Ticket (Tokyo Free Kippu, 1,720 yen) is a different kind of ticket. Its official page lists Tokyo Metro, Toei, Toden (Tokyo's streetcar), Toei buses, the Nippori-Toneri Liner and all JR lines inside the 23 wards. On a day you ride JR inside the 23 wards, it may be an option. We did not calculate its break-even, and it is not in the calculator. If you are choosing between JR passes, see our JR Pass article.
Welcome Suica, an IC card for visitors, is valid for 28 days with no deposit (JR East). We did not check whether it is in stock.
Tokyo Metro and JR fares by ride
These are the sections used in the calculator. Ticket fare and IC fare, in yen, include the 10 yen accessibility surcharge.
| Section | Ticket / IC | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro: Asakusa to Ueno (Ginza Line) | 180 / 178 | Tokyo Metro PDF, as of April 1, 2026 |
| Tokyo Metro: Ueno to Ginza (Ginza Line) | 180 / 178 | same |
| Tokyo Metro: Shibuya to Shinjuku-sanchome (Fukutoshin Line) | 180 / 178 | same |
| Tokyo Metro: Asakusa to Ginza (Ginza Line) | 210 / 209 | same |
| Tokyo Metro: Tokyo to Shinjuku (Marunouchi Line) | 210 / 209 | same |
| Tokyo Metro: Shibuya to Ikebukuro (Fukutoshin Line) | 210 / 209 | same |
| Tokyo Metro: Asakusa to Shibuya (Ginza Line) | 260 / 252 | same |
| JR: Shinjuku to Shibuya (Yamanote Line) | 200 / 199 | JR East fare search, fares after the March 2026 revision |
| JR: Harajuku to Shibuya (Yamanote Line) | 160 / 155 | same |
| JR: Tokyo to Shinjuku (Chuo Line Rapid) | 260 / 253 | same |
| JR: Tokyo to Shinagawa (Yamanote Line) | 210 / 209 | same |
Shibuya and Shinjuku-sanchome are linked to Shinjuku Station by an underground passage on foot (Tokyo Metro PDF note). From Tokyo to Shinjuku, the Marunouchi Line is 209 yen (IC) and the JR Chuo Line is 253 yen (IC). The JR route is 44 yen higher and is not covered by the Tokyo Subway Ticket. We did not check other sections, so they are not listed.
Ordinary fares by distance band, for other rides you may take:
| Tokyo Metro (km) | Ticket / IC | Toei subway (km) | Ticket / IC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | 180 / 178 | 1 to 4 | 180 / 178 |
| 7 to 11 | 210 / 209 | 5 to 9 | 220 / 220 |
| 12 to 19 | 260 / 252 | 10 to 15 | 280 / 272 |
| 20 to 27 | 300 / 293 | 16 to 21 | 330 / 325 |
| 28 to 40 | 330 / 324 | 22 to 27 | 380 / 377 |
| 28 to 46 | 430 / 430 |
For rides between Tokyo Metro and Toei lines, Toei's page says the total fare is reduced by 70 yen. Tokyo Metro's pages state it for paper tickets and for contactless card payment. We did not find it stated for IC cards, so the calculator does not use it. We also did not price individual Toei rides, because we could not read Toei's own station-to-station fare search. Use the bands above.
Break-even rides: the arithmetic
The rule is: rides needed = ticket price / fare per ride, rounded up. In brackets is the IC total at that number of rides. It covers subway-only rides.
| Ticket | At 178 yen per ride | At 209 yen | At 252 yen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket, 700 | 4 rides (712) | 4 rides (836) | 3 rides (756) |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 24 hours, 1,000 | 6 rides (1,068) | 5 rides (1,045) | 4 rides (1,008) |
| One-day ticket, 1,100 | 7 rides (1,246) | 6 rides (1,254) | 5 rides (1,260) |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 48 hours, 1,500 | 9 rides (1,602) | 8 rides (1,672) | 6 rides (1,512) |
| Tokyo Subway Ticket 72 hours, 2,000 | 12 rides (2,136) | 10 rides (2,090) | 8 rides (2,016) |
One ride fewer costs less than the ticket. For example, 178 x 5 = 890 yen, below 1,000 yen. Our count for the 24-hour ticket at 178 yen, 6 rides, matches the site's rule of thumb. For 48 and 72 hours, our counts are 9 and 12 rides in total at 178 yen. That is 4.5 and 4 rides per day, close to the site's 5 and 4.
Tokyo Metro's own page says that, riding only within the 180 yen zone (1 to 6 km), you will "have already saved money after just four train changes" with the 700 yen ticket. That matches our 4 rides.
Two days and three days work like this. Two Tokyo Metro 24-hour tickets cost 1,400 yen, and the 48-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket costs 1,500 yen. Three 24-hour tickets cost 2,100 yen, and the 72-hour ticket costs 2,000 yen. This assumes you buy a 24-hour ticket every day, ride only Tokyo Metro lines and no Toei lines.
What is not in these numbers
- Toei lines. The Tokyo Subway Ticket and the one-day ticket cover them. The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket, IC cards and card taps pay extra.
- The 70 yen Tokyo Metro to Toei transfer discount (not found for IC cards).
- JR lines. No ticket in the table covers them. Pay by IC card.
- Chikatoku: the Tokyo Subway Ticket site says you can show the ticket to get discounts, gifts and other benefits at around 400 spots. This is an extra for ticket holders only, and we did not price it.
- Children, and sections not in the table above.
- IC card costs. A new card includes a 500 yen deposit, which comes back. Returning a card costs 220 yen (JR East).
- Convenience, such as not counting coins at each gate.
Calculator: your rides per day
Pick the number of days (the same day repeated). Then pick how many times per day you ride each section. Count one ride as one trip along a section listed. The Tokyo Metro sections are priced five ways. JR sections appear in the bottom row and are added to whichever row you choose. If you ride Toei lines, look up the bands above and add them yourself. For how we handle the site's numbers, see About Japan Trip Math.
What is not in the calculator: Toei lines; the 70 yen Tokyo Metro to Toei transfer discount; JR lines (add the bottom row); Chikatoku discounts; sections outside the table; children; and IC card purchase and refund costs. The results depend on the fares and sections above. They are our arithmetic, not a guarantee.
Scenarios: four common days
Adult, ordinary fares, total for one person, as of September 19, 2026. Tokyo Metro rides only (JR shown separately). Toei lines are not included. IC fares use the lowest Tokyo Metro fare in each band.
| Scenario | IC | Tap | Tokyo Subway Ticket | Tokyo Metro 24-hour | One-day | JR by IC (add separately) | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day, 4 rides (3 x 178 + 1 x 209) | 743 | 750 | 1,000 | 700 | 1,100 | none | Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket, 43 yen below IC |
| 3 days, 6 rides a day (4 x 178 + 209 + 252) | 3,519 | 3,570 | 2,000 | 2,100 | 3,300 | none | Tokyo Subway Ticket 72 hours, 1,519 yen below IC |
| 2 days, 3 Metro rides + 2 JR rides a day | 1,192 | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1,400 | 2,200 | 708 | IC, 308 yen below the Tokyo Subway Ticket |
A short day: four rides
The 24-hour tickets have similar names, so watch the prices. The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket is 700 yen. The Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours) is 1,000 yen. Take one day with three 178 yen rides and one 209 yen ride. IC costs 743 yen, the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket 700 yen and the Tokyo Subway Ticket 1,000 yen. Tokyo Metro says four rides pay for the 700 yen ticket in the 180 yen zone. If your plan is like this, the 700 yen ticket comes out lowest, by 43 yen over IC. Its official page states no eligibility restriction. Check the page before you buy (see "How to buy").
Six rides in a day, staying 3 days
Take four 178 yen rides, one 209 yen ride and one 252 yen ride every day for three days. IC costs 3,519 yen. Three Tokyo Metro 24-hour tickets cost 2,100 yen and the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket costs 2,000 yen. The 72-hour ticket is 100 yen lower than the 24-hour tickets because 2,000 is less than 2,100. If some of those rides are on Toei lines, the Tokyo Subway Ticket also covers them and the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket does not.
A day with JR lines mixed in
Take two days. Each day has three Tokyo Metro rides (178 + 209 + 209 = 596 yen) and two JR rides (Shinjuku to Shibuya 199 yen and Harajuku to Shibuya 155 yen, 354 yen in all). IC costs 596 x 2 = 1,192 yen for the Metro rides plus 354 x 2 = 708 yen for JR, so 1,900 yen. With the 48-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket, you pay 1,500 yen plus the same 708 yen for JR, so 2,208 yen. The more JR rides in your day, the more of your trip is outside the ticket. For a pass that does include JR lines in the Tokyo area, see our JR Tokyo Wide Pass article.
Adding Toei lines
Toei lines are not in the calculator. On days you ride them, use the Toei bands in the table above (1 to 4 km is 178 yen by IC, 5 to 9 km is 220 yen) and add them to the IC or card-tap totals. The Tokyo Subway Ticket and the one-day ticket cover Toei lines. The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket does not.
Tap to ride, QR ticket and PASMO
Paying with a contactless card
On March 25, 2026, contactless card payment ("Tap to Ride") started on Tokyo Metro, and Toei also offers it. Tokyo Metro's page gives these conditions:
- The fare is the same as the paper ticket fare, in 10 yen steps. That is 1 to 8 yen more per ride than IC in the table above.
- Adult fares only. No other fare discounts. The 70 yen Tokyo Metro to Toei transfer discount is stated for card payment.
- You cannot ride through to JR East. You cannot start a trip at Nakano Station. One card cannot pay for several people.
- The same card works across 11 Kanto operators, though some of them only at certain stations.
The card-tap route needs no Suica purchase, but it costs a little more per ride, so it is never the lowest row in the calculator.
QR ticket, PASMO version and when the clock starts
The Tokyo Subway Ticket exists as a paper ticket, a QR ticket (from March 25, 2026) and, in Toei's version, a PASMO card. Paper and QR tickets start counting 24, 48 or 72 hours from the first time you pass a gate. A QR ticket can be started on any day within 90 days of purchase: press the start button, then enter a gate. The PASMO version counts from purchase. A few gates cannot read QR tickets, and staff can help there.
For the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket, the paper version starts at first use. If you buy it on the day, you must start using it that same day, or it is no longer valid. The IC version starts at purchase and is PASMO only (not Suica). It cannot be put on a PASMO with a commuter pass or on a credit-card-type PASMO. A QR version also exists.
How to buy
Who can buy the Tokyo Subway Ticket
The official sources do not read the same way. The FAQ on the Tokyo Subway Ticket site says it cannot be bought with a copy of your passport. You must show the actual passport that proves you entered Japan on a short-term stay. That wording reads as if only overseas visitors can buy it.
Tokyo Metro's English ticket page, though, also mentions domestic visitors who live outside Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Yamanashi. Toei's Japanese page says the same: people coming from overseas, or from outside those eight prefectures, can buy it, and Japanese people living abroad cannot. For overseas visitors the rule is clear: show the actual passport. We did not confirm the rule for visitors from within Japan, so check the official page before you buy.
Where to buy
The official places come first. Toei sells the ticket for visitors at Tourist Information Centers at Shimbashi Station (Asakusa Line), Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station (Oedo Line) and Ueno-okachimachi Station (Oedo Line), 8:00 to 20:00 every day, and other places (Toei, Japanese). Where Tokyo Metro sells it in Tokyo: not checked. As of September 19, 2026, the two pages below explain the ways to buy: Tokyo Metro's ticket page and the Tokyo Subway Ticket site.
- Tokyo Metro: Tokyo Subway Ticket (official English page)
- Tokyo Metro: 1-day open tickets, including the 24-hour ticket (official English page)
The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket (paper) can be bought ahead only from Tokyo Metro's online store. On the day, it is sold at ticket machines at every station. The IC version is sold at ticket machines at all stations except some, and at pass offices. Refunds are for unused tickets within the valid period, with a 220 yen fee.
Some online sellers also sell the Tokyo Subway Ticket. We did not check how each seller delivers the ticket or its price.
Airport transfer and attraction sets
Tokyo Metro's official sales page lists sets that combine a subway ticket with an airport transfer, or with tickets to places such as observation decks, aquariums, museums, studio tours and spas. Buy a set only if you plan to go to that place on a day you use the subway. The Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket is covered in our Narita Airport to Tokyo article, including the price range after the March 2026 increase.
If you are heading west after Tokyo, see Kansai Airport to Kyoto and Osaka.
Common questions
Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket worth it?
It depends on your day. On a subway-only day, it pays off from 6 rides at 178 yen. The 700 yen Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket pays off from 4 rides. For three days with many rides, the 72-hour ticket is the lowest in our arithmetic. If you also ride Toei lines, the Tokyo Subway Ticket or the one-day ticket covers them.
How many rides do I need to break even?
24 hours: 6 rides at 178 yen, 5 at 209 yen, 4 at 252 yen. 48 hours: 9 to 6 rides in total. 72 hours: 12 to 8 rides in total. The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket: 4 rides at 178 yen.
Does the Tokyo Subway Ticket cover the JR Yamanote Line?
No. It covers Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines only. The official site says it is not valid on all Tokyo train operators. JR lines are outside its range, so you need an IC card for them. We did not find an official list of every line that is excluded.
Can I use a credit card to ride the Tokyo subway?
Yes, on Tokyo Metro and Toei since March 25, 2026. The fare matches the paper ticket, adult fares only, and you cannot go through to JR East. See the section above. We do not list which card brands work.
Is Suica or PASMO better for tourists?
Fares are the same on Tokyo Metro and Toei (IC fares in 1 yen steps). The IC version of the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket is for PASMO only. We did not check card stock. Suica top-ups are by cash only, and a credit card cannot top up Suica (JR East).
When does the 24-hour clock start?
Paper and QR Tokyo Subway Tickets: at your first gate. PASMO version: at purchase. See the section on QR tickets above.
Can visitors from within Japan buy it?
The official pages differ (see "Who can buy the Tokyo Subway Ticket"). Check the official page. Japanese people living abroad cannot buy it (Toei).
Is the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket cheaper?
It is 700 yen and covers Tokyo Metro lines only. Tokyo Metro says four rides pay for it in the 180 yen zone. It is a different ticket from the 1,000 yen Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours).
What is the difference from the one-day ticket?
The one-day ticket (1,100 yen) covers Tokyo Metro and Toei from the first train to the last on that day. The Tokyo Subway Ticket (24 hours, 1,000 yen) costs less, but only if you are eligible to buy it. Its 24 hours start at your first gate.
Does the Tokyo Subway Ticket include the Skyliner?
No. The Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket is a separate set. See our Narita Airport to Tokyo article.
Is there a discount for children?
Children pay half. The Tokyo Subway Ticket is 500 / 750 / 1,000 yen for children, and the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket is 350 yen. The calculator is for adults.
Can I get a refund?
A Suica refund costs 220 yen, and the 500 yen deposit comes back. Refunds for the Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket are described above. We did not check the Tokyo Subway Ticket refund rules.
Sources and data date
All fares were checked on September 19, 2026. Prices and timetables can change; check the operator's page before you travel.
- Tokyo Metro: Tokyo Subway Ticket; Tokyo Subway Ticket site; where to buy in Tokyo; 1-Day Open Tickets; Regular Tickets; Tap to Ride; January 30, 2026 news release on ticket prices (Japanese); Fares and actual travel times for major sections, as of April 1, 2026 (PDF); Guide to operations as of March 14, 2026 (Japanese, PDF).
- Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei): Regular fares (Japanese); Discounted fares (Japanese); Money-saving tickets (Japanese); QR ticket news release (Japanese).
- JR East: Suica; Welcome Suica; fare search after the March 2026 revision (unchinkensaku.jre-maas.com).
- Statistics: Japan Tourism Agency, Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan, 2025 calendar year (final), Japanese PDF, reference table 2, "Visitors, spending per person, total travel spending and average nights by prefecture" (【参考2】), Tokyo Prefecture: 20.892 million visitors and 5.4 nights, all purposes. Public Data License 1.0 (processed by Japan Trip Math).
Our calculator and tables are arithmetic on the fares above.