JR trains are the most commonly used way to get around Tokyo, but for certain famous sights, taking the subway can actually save time by reducing transfers and long walks. Riding Tokyo Metro also offers a glimpse into the vast, highly advanced underground transportation world that keeps this megacity moving.

Tokyo Metro operates nine lines that cover almost all of Tokyo’s 23 wards. These include the Yurakucho Line, the Marunouchi Line that circles the Imperial Palace area, and the Hanzomon Line, which provides convenient access to traditional downtown neighborhoods. Coverage is both wide and detailed, making it easy to reach many areas directly. Tokyo Metro also offers several cost-effective passes, such as the 24-hour ticket that allows unlimited rides, as well as combination tickets with other transport operators. Used wisely, these passes can significantly reduce transportation costs.

Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket
With an advance-purchase ticket, you can ride all Tokyo Metro lines an unlimited number of times for 24 hours starting from your first entry through the ticket gate. For example, if you first enter at 3 PM, the ticket is valid until 3 PM the following day. Tickets purchased on the same day are valid only for that calendar day.
Price: Adults 800 yen / Children 400 yen

Tokyo is packed with must-see attractions, and many of them are more easily reached by subway than by JR lines. Below, we group popular spots by theme to help you plan your Tokyo Metro journeys more clearly, so you can travel smoothly and make the most of your time exploring the city.

For travelers drawn to history and nostalgia, Tokyo offers a wealth of places where the past still feels close. From ancient temples and imperial grounds to traditional shopping streets, these classic sights showcase the city’s cultural roots and are all easily reached by Tokyo Metro.

Sensoji Temple
・Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Asakusa Station, Exit 1, 2-minute walk

Imperial Palace
・Address: 1-1 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Tozai, Chiyoda, or Hanzomon Line, Otemachi Station, Exit C13a, 5-minute walk

Tsukiji Market
・Address: 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Tsukiji Station, Exit 1, about a 5-minute walk

Meiji Jingu Shrine
・Address: 1-1 Yoyogikamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Chiyoda or Fukutoshin Line, Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku) Station, Exit 2, about a 2-minute walk

Yanaka Ginza
・Address: 3-13-1 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Sendagi Station, Exit 2, about a 5-minute walk

If shopping is on your Tokyo Metro itinerary, you are in for a treat. From luxury flagships and independent boutiques to bargain electronics and snack-filled streets, these shopping areas are easy to reach by subway and cover every style and budget.

Ginza
・Address: 4-1-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza, Marunouchi, or Hibiya Line, Ginza Station, Exit B4, 1-minute walk

Omotesando
・Address: 3-6-12 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda, or Hanzomon Line, Omotesando Station, Exit A2, about a 1-minute walk

Shinjuku
・Address: 1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Shinjuku Station, Exit A15, 2-minute walk

Shibuya
・Address: 1-1-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin, Hanzomon, or Ginza Line, Shibuya Station, Exit 8, 2-minute walk

Ikebukuro Sunshine City
・Address: 1-1-21 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, Exit 2, 3-minute walk
・Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi or Fukutoshin Line, Ikebukuro Station, Exit 35, about an 8-minute walk

Akihabara
・Address: Akihabara, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Akihabara Station, Exit 3, about a 5-minute walk

Ameyoko Shopping Street
・Address: Ueno 4-chome, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza or Hibiya Line, Ueno Station, Exit 5B, 5-minute walk

If you are planning a culture- and art-focused trip, Tokyo offers an impressive range of museums and galleries that are easy to reach by subway. From the museum cluster in Ueno to the international art scene in Roppongi, and the strikingly original Yayoi Kusama Museum, these spots let you experience both classic and cutting-edge art in the city.

Ueno Park Museums
(Ueno no Mori Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Museum of Western Art, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo National Museum)
・Address: Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza or Hibiya Line, Ueno Station, Exit 7, about a 5–10 minute walk (varies by museum)

Mori Art Museum
・Address: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Roppongi Station, Exit 1B, direct access

The National Art Center, Tokyo
・Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Nogizaka Station, Exit 6 (Aoyama Cemetery side), direct access

Yayoi Kusama Museum
・Address: 107 Bentencho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Waseda Station, Exit 1, about a 7-minute walk

If you want to stroll through seasonal scenery or enjoy a relaxing picnic, Tokyo’s parks and gardens are especially beautiful during cherry blossom season in spring and foliage season in autumn. Many of the city’s most popular flower-viewing spots are easily reached by Tokyo Metro, making it simple to plan a scenic day out. From classic sakura parks to autumn ginkgo avenues and traditional gardens glowing with maple leaves, these places offer unforgettable seasonal views.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
・Address: 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station, Exit 1, about a 5-minute walk
・Access: Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Shinjuku-sanchome Station, Exit 2, about a 5-minute walk

Ueno Park
・Address: 5-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza or Hibiya Line, Ueno Station, Exit 7, about a 2-minute walk

Sumida Park
・Address: 1-1 Imado, Taito-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Asakusa Station, about a 2-minute walk

Chidorigafuchi Park
・Address: 2-chome, Kudan-minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Hanzomon Station, Exit 3, about a 3-minute walk

Meiji Jingu Gaien
・Address: 1-chome Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Gaienmae Station, Exit 4a, about a 2-minute walk
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Aoyama-itchome Station, Exit 1, about a 3-minute walk

Rikugien Garden
・Address: 6-chome Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Komagome Station, Exit 2, about a 6-minute walk

If you want to take in Tokyo’s skyline by day and night, the city offers several excellent observation spots that let you rise above the streets. From iconic towers to free public observatories, these viewpoints make it easy to appreciate Tokyo’s vast urban landscape.

Tokyo Tower
・Address: 4-2-8 Shiba-koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Kamiyacho Station, Exit 2, about a 7-minute walk

Tokyo Skytree
・Address: 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Oshiage (Skytree) Station, Exit A1, 1-minute walk

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
・Address: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Roppongi Station, Exit 1C, direct access

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
・Address: 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Access: Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Shinjuku Station, Exit A16 or A17, about a 10-minute walk

These spots can be combined based on your interests and schedule. One of the biggest advantages of using a subway day pass is the freedom to ride as many times as you like in a single day, which makes moving between viewpoints feel especially good value.

Money-saving tip:
The lowest single-ride fare on Tokyo Metro is around 180 yen. If you plan to use the subway four times or more in one day, which usually means visiting two or more places, a one-day pass is almost always the smartest choice.

Extended pass option:
Tokyo Metro also offers 48-hour and 72-hour passes that include both Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway. These are ideal if your itinerary stays within central Tokyo for two to three consecutive days. Please note that these passes are sold only to overseas visitors and residents living outside the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Yamanashi).