# Un-confuse the Japanese Subway System for me **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200 "2010-06-23T02:21:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/21 "2010-06-23T15:11:32Z")
> [@KinkiNipponTourist](#): > > Please please please consider changing your hotel. As **Tanaqui** points out, it’s hugely inconvenient to haul yourself into Tokyo every day, and Narita can’t even charitably be called a tourist destination. I agree. Narita is in the middle of nowhere. It’s a 1.5-hour trip to Tokyo. As for rail tickets - the JR Pass (is that the $220 pass?) is a good deal if you’re travelling long distances. It’s a waste of money if you’re just staying in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It’s difficult to spend that much on public transport in the Tokyo area in a week. Also, I believe the JR pass just covers JR lines, and not the Tokyo Metro , Tokyu, or other commuter rail companies. Instead, just get a [Suica card](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica) and put several thousand yen on it. It’ll work for all subways and commuter rail (there are many companies besides JR and Tokyo Metro). It’ll also work for city buses. It’ll even work on vending machines at train stations. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/22 "2010-06-23T15:29:46Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Instead, just get a [Suica card](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica) and put several thousand yen on it. It’ll work for all subways and commuter rail (there are many companies besides JR and Tokyo Metro). It’ll also work for city buses. It’ll even work on vending machines at train stations. Though, technically, this is no different from just buying tickets at full price for each train. It just gives you the advantage of not having to stand in line to buy the ticket (or figuring out the display.) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/23 "2010-06-23T15:37:48Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > As somebody mentioned before, if you are ever truly stuck, just stand in front of the ticket booth or the rail info mural with a dumbfounded look on your face. If it’s a busy station, somebody will try to help you soon. That’s what I did the first few days of my first visit to Tokyo. It really does work. Of course, it’s obvious from my appearance that I am not Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/24 "2010-06-23T15:42:41Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Though, technically, this is no different from just buying tickets at full price for each train. It just gives you the advantage of not having to stand in line to buy the ticket (or figuring out the display.) Point taken, I guess I should have emphasized that. Still, it’s a _huge_ convenience and time saver. Without the Suica, each time you take a train, you’d have to figure out the cost of the trip and buy a ticket for that exact amount. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/25 "2010-06-23T15:45:20Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Without the Suica, each time you take a train, you’d have to figure out the cost of the trip and buy a ticket for that exact amount. I never got the Suica, so I ended up doing that, but frankly I found that to be a novel and even fun experience each time. Like I said, I don’t have much experience with public transit systems. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/26 "2010-06-23T15:47:39Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > In that case, the JR pass (which is the $200 thing we’re talking about) may be your best bet. I’ve been assuming you want to mostly stay within Tokyo for your tourism. > [@scr4](#): > > I agree. Narita is in the middle of nowhere. It’s a 1.5-hour trip to Tokyo. > > As for rail tickets - the JR Pass (is that the $220 pass?) is a good deal if you’re travelling long distances. It’s a waste of money if you’re just staying in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It’s difficult to spend that much on public transport in the Tokyo area in a week. > > Instead, just get a [Suica card](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica) and put several thousand yen on it. Glad to see I’m not the only one getting confused here. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/27 "2010-06-23T15:53:28Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Glad to see I’m not the only one getting confused here. My bad. Though, IMO, 5 days is barely enough to see Tokyo, much less the rest of Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/28 "2010-06-23T16:32:25Z")
If you can manage it, get a hotel in Shinjuku–the station there is where pretty much every line transfers through. That’s where my mom stayed when she came to visit me, and it was very reasonably priced, IIRC. As for the mechanics of actually buying tickets, you will look at a map at your current location, find where you’d like to go, and remember the amount listed by it. (IIRC, there will be both an alphabetized list of names and a map display.) You then purchase a ticket for that amount at a kiosk–and these \*\*do \*\*have the option of English instructions. You use the ticket to get in through the gate at your departure station (picking the ticket up after it’s been scanned), and then you use it again to exit at your destination (where you don’t get it back again, assuming it was just the full fare). If you’re really confused, you can just buy the cheapest ticket and then adjust it at a kiosk once you reach your destination. The only confusing thing is that some maps at smaller stations do not have station names in English. But, again, if you’re really confused, just buy the cheapest ticket, and then if you’re not sure which track to go to, stand around looking confused until someone helps you (or politely ask likely-looking people). > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > For all real purposes, though, you generally only use the JR and then you only use yamanote or chuou. Yup, the Yamanote line makes a big circle around the city–I think it actually follows the old moat-thing. > [@](#): > > The subway doesn’t go out to Narita, and even in Tokyo proper you’re still generally better off with the JR. I spent a semester in Tokyo my junior year of college–I was there for a little over four months. I rode the JR _constantly_, and took the subway maybe once. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/29 "2010-06-23T16:57:59Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I spent a semester in Tokyo my junior year of college–I was there for a little over four months. I rode the JR _constantly_, and took the subway maybe once. There are many touristy areas and shopping areas which are far from JR stations, but serviced by Metro stations. Asakusa, Ginza, Roppongi, etc. The area inside the Yamanote line is basically the Tokyo downtown area. See the [Metro map (PDF)](http://www.tokyometro.jp/rosen/rosenzu/pdf/rosen_eng.pdf) here; the gray dashed line connecting Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ueno, etc is the Yamanote line. Within this area, apart from the Yamanote line itself, JR only has one other line that goes straight across from Shinjuku to Tokyo. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/30 "2010-06-23T18:24:39Z")
Yeah, I spent most of my time in Shinjuku and Harajuku, and occasionally Shibuya. Roppongi, Ginza, and Asakusa I only went to once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/31 "2010-06-23T20:29:16Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > OT, but why does your name include “Kinki” (the Kyoto/Osaka region) when you live in Kantō (the Tokyo region)? > > And welcome to the SDMB! Thanks **Giles**! I chose this name because it’s an actual [company name](http://www.knt.co.jp/kokusai/), and because, you know, it has the word kinki in thar. And I’m easily amused. ahem. And to get us back on topic, Meeko, my offer of an icy-cold Asahi Super Dry/tea etc., still stands. See you in Shinjuku! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/32 "2010-06-23T20:42:22Z")
> [@KinkiNipponTourist](#): > > And I’m easily amused. No worthier reason exists. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/33 "2010-06-23T21:44:40Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > You then purchase a ticket for that amount at a kiosk–and these \*\*do \*\*have the option of English instructions. You use the ticket to get in through the gate at your departure station (picking the ticket up after it’s been scanned), and then you use it again to exit at your destination (where you don’t get it back again, assuming it was just the full fare). Right, because you know, it would be waaay to easy to have the one price fits all model. 😕 Seriously? They really care where you get off at? Where do they get off? [[Heh]]. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/34 "2010-06-23T21:59:50Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Instead, just get a [Suica card](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica) and put several thousand yen on it. It’ll work for all subways and commuter rail (there are many companies besides JR and Tokyo Metro). It’ll also work for city buses. It’ll even work on vending machines at train stations. So you are talking about [this](http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html)? I can use the card all-over, can use it in vending machines, and I can get some of my money back if I dont spend it all? Whats the downside here? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/35 "2010-06-23T22:14:34Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Right, because you know, it would be waaay to easy to have the one price fits all model. > > 😕 > Seriously? They really care where you get off at? Where do they get off? [[Heh]]. I’m not sure what you’re confused about. It’s a train network. The ticket price depends on how far you’re going. That’s hardly unusual. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/36 "2010-06-23T22:18:29Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > So you are talking about [this](http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html)? yes. > [@](#): > > Whats the downside here? Compared to what? If you mean compared to the JR pass, the downside is that you’re still paying full price for the tickets, which may or may not be less than the cost of the JR pass. But as I said, it’ll probably be less, if you aren’t traveling to other cities. Compared to buying tickets with cash every time? I guess the downside is that you miss out on the experience of figuring out ticket prices and buying tickets. And of course you have to put a certain amount of money on the card up front. And you have to go to the trouble of getting the refund at the end of the trip. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/37 "2010-06-23T22:38:07Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I’m not sure what you’re confused about. It’s a train network. The ticket price depends on how far you’re going. That’s hardly unusual. Right, I see T R A I N but I think S U B W A Y. ☹ - - - How does Suica work from Narita? ---
**Author:** ![chromaticity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@chromaticity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chromaticity)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/38 "2010-06-23T22:47:02Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > How does Suica work from Narita? The same as usual, if I remember you get an express ticket for the skyliner which you have to feed into/out the slot along with swiping your suica. These days I use the keisei local to get to Narita, as I rarely travel with more than a small bag. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/39 "2010-06-23T22:52:36Z")
> [@chromaticity](#): > > The same as usual, if I remember you get an express ticket for the skyliner which you have to feed into/out the slot along with swiping your suica. > > These days I use the keisei local to get to Narita, as I rarely travel with more than a small bag. No offense to Chroma. **But, OMFG THIS.** Why do we have to add Skyliner and Keisei into the equation at this point? Show me one person, Japanese or otherwise not confused by the transport situation in Japan, and I will show you a liar. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200/40 "2010-06-24T00:03:34Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Why do we have to add Keisei into the equation at this point? :smack: :smack: :smack: This only reinforces my point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-confuse-the-japanese-subway-system-for-me/544200.md?page=3)