Tokyo Subway Pass

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Tokyo subway pass is a pass only for visitors to Tokyo. It can be used on all lines serviced by Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Note that it's different from JR pass that works on lines serviced by JR group. Tokyo subway pass comes in 3 different time limit - 24 hour, 48 hour and 72 hour. Each of the time limit has different price tag for adult and children.

Just like JR pass, you could purchase the coupon and then exchange for the pass when you arrive in Tokyo. Or you could just go to places that sell them like what we did. We bought ours from BIC Camera in Shinjuku.

The best thing I like about this card was the ease of use. You just insert it at the gate of subway station before you pass through and insert to open the gate when you arrive at the destination. It is good for 24 hours from the time of your initial use. We got ours on evening of our first night in Tokyo and started using it as soon as we receive it and it's valid till the same time the following night. All for 800 yen (USD 7.30)



I would recommend anyone to use the pass over your Suica card if you are going to maybe around 5 stations. Look at the diagram of my example of travelling for 24 hours with regular fares. Within 24 hours we would have spent about 1000 yen if we were to use our Suica card. I think most visitors would have traveled to more places than us in 24 hours. So I am pretty sure you could save some $. Just make sure to choose "subway" option when using Google maps to help navigate the form of transportation to use.

Now the last part. You could save more bucks if you actually arrive in Tokyo by plane and need to get to town using Keisei skyliner (instead of JR Narita Express). The following link shows how you could save more $ if you purchase the bundle of Keisei Skyliner and Tokyo subway pass together.
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/value_ticket/subway.php

For more information of the current price of different Tokyo pass and locations to get them please check out the link below.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/

Check the "subway" option and look up the price. Plan ahead so you could make the most of your pass.