Tokyo’s subway map looks like one system, but two separate companies run it — Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway — and their fares don’t combine the way a first-time visitor would expect. Manually adding up posted single-ride prices for a trip that crosses both networks will almost always overestimate what you actually owe.
There’s a real transfer discount built into the system, applied automatically when an IC card calculates your route, but it’s nearly invisible unless you know to look for it. Tokyo residents have mostly stopped trying to understand the split entirely — they just tap in and tap out and trust the machine.
Want to know exactly how the discount works and when a multi-day pass is actually worth buying? Read the complete guide on [ Medium → ]
Recommended gear for this:
A rechargeable IC card-compatible phone case wallet
a portable phone charger for navigation apps
a slim city transit pass holder
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