A guide to the Tokyo Metro system

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Okay, so the good thing about Tokyo is that the public transportation system is fantastic. You can get anywhere, and all the metro and train maps can be found in English at every station. Also, the people here are so orderly, always waiting politely in line, never making hardly any noise at all on the trains (actually, don’t be surprised if you find people sleeping both sitting and standing up no matter what train you are on). The Metro stations provide free wifi – although you can only access it five times. Also, every station has really great public toilets that are always neat, clean and easily accessible. What’s less easy is the fact that there are so many different lines. And to top it of, you also have the JR lines going through the city, and outside it.

Wikipedia says: “Public transport within Greater Tokyo is dominated by the world’s most extensive urban rail network (over 130 lines, over 2,000 km of operational rail, over 3,500 km of unique daily services and over 1000 stations)”.

Most probably you won’t be making a stop at all 1000 stations if visiting Tokyo as a tourist (or even if you live in the city for all of your life for that matter). However, you will be changing lines quite often to get around as the city is SO BIG. The other day I had to change lines 4 times just to get home. If traveling from one part of the city to another, it will take you at least 30 minutes – 1 hour.

My number one recommendation to getting around: Google Maps. Works perfectly when deciding the best route to take, and is seamlessly integrated with the public transportation time table and fare counter (only downside being that when there is a problem with the trains – which there seldom is – all information will be in Japanese). Also, check out Tokyo Metro’s English website here: http://www.tokyometro.jp/en. Here you can learn more about the ticket types, and read more about all the lines and stations.

Otherwise, it’s all safe, and like I said, fairly easy to get around. But don’t be all to chocked if you find yourself tightly packed with businessmen during rush hour in the mornings and afternoons. Then again, that is an experience in itself!

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