How much are the Tokyo Subway 24-, 48-, and 72-hour tickets?

As of August 2026, adult prices are ¥1,000 for 24 hours, ¥1,500 for 48 hours, and ¥2,000 for 72 hours. Child prices are ¥500, ¥750, and ¥1,000. The clock starts when you first use the ticket, not at midnight on the purchase date.

Which trains does the Tokyo Subway Ticket cover?

It covers all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines as of August 2026. It does not cover JR trains, Toei buses, the Tokyo Sakura Tram, the Nippori-Toneri Liner, or private railways. A through train may continue beyond the subway network, but the section outside the covered lines costs extra.

How many rides make the 24-hour ticket worth it?

The official rule of thumb is at least six rides in 24 hours. The exact break-even point depends on the fares in your itinerary: longer subway rides reach ¥1,000 sooner, while a day with four short rides is normally cheaper on an IC card. Add the actual fares before buying.

Can I use the ticket for 24 hours over two calendar days?

Yes. As of August 2026, a 24-hour ticket used first at 3:00 p.m. remains valid until 3:00 p.m. the next day. The 48- and 72-hour versions work the same way from first use. Check the printed or displayed expiry time rather than assuming the ticket ends at midnight.

Can every Tokyo resident buy a Tokyo Subway Ticket?

No. It is a visitor product with eligibility rules that vary by sales channel. Overseas visitors are eligible, while domestic eligibility is generally limited to visitors from outside Tokyo and nearby prefectures. Bring a passport or other proof if the sales location requests it.

Should I buy the pass if my route includes JR?

Only if your covered subway fares alone exceed the pass price. As of August 2026, JR sections are separate, so you still tap an IC card or buy a JR ticket for them. A mixed subway-and-JR day often favors an IC card unless you make several additional Metro or Toei rides.

Tokyo's 24/48/72-Hour Subway Tickets: Pass or IC Card?

Is the subway pass cheaper for my actual Tokyo plan?

Do not decide from the words “unlimited rides.” Write down the stations you will actually use and separate the operators first. The Tokyo Subway Ticket covers Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway only. A route on JR, a private railway, or a bus does not become free just because it appears on the same map.

As of August 2026, use this decision flow:

List every ride from your first planned entry to the last.
Mark each ride Metro, Toei Subway, JR, private railway, or bus.
Add only the Metro and Toei Subway fares.
Compare that total with ¥1,000, ¥1,500, or ¥2,000.
Check that your final covered ride falls within 24, 48, or 72 hours from first use.

An IC card remains useful even when you buy the pass. Use the pass on covered subway lines and the IC card for any uncovered section.

What do 24, 48, and 72 hours cost and cover?

The ticket is valid for a rolling number of hours, not a set number of calendar days.

Ticket	Adult	Child	Valid from first use	Covered network
Tokyo Subway 24-hour	¥1,000	¥500	24 hours	Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway
Tokyo Subway 48-hour	¥1,500	¥750	48 hours	Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway
Tokyo Subway 72-hour	¥2,000	¥1,000	72 hours	Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway

If you first enter at 3:00 p.m., the 24-hour version runs until 3:00 p.m. the next day. That can be more useful than a calendar-day pass when your sightseeing starts after lunch. Check the expiry shown on the ticket or phone before your last ride.

The coverage boundary matters on through trains. A subway train can continue onto another operator’s tracks without making everyone change trains. Your Tokyo Subway Ticket covers the Metro or Toei section, but the fare outside that network remains payable. If you are unsure, show the ticket at a staffed gate before leaving the covered area.

How many rides make the pass beat an IC card?

Tokyo Metro’s regular adult IC fares are ¥178 to ¥324 as of August 2026. This means the answer depends on distance. The official Tokyo Subway Ticket page gives a simple visitor rule of thumb: roughly six rides per 24 hours for the 24-hour ticket, five per 24 hours for the 48-hour ticket, and four per 24 hours for the 72-hour ticket.

Travel pattern	Likely result	Why
3–4 short subway rides in one day	IC card usually wins	Total often stays below ¥1,000
6 short Metro rides in 24 hours	24-hour pass can win	6 × ¥178 = ¥1,068
4 longer subway rides in 24 hours	Calculate the route	Higher fares may cross ¥1,000 sooner
2 subway rides + several JR rides	IC card often wins	JR fares do not count toward pass value
Busy subway sightseeing over 3 days	72-hour pass may win	Average pass cost is about ¥667 per 24 hours

The six-ride example is deliberately conservative and uses the lowest Tokyo Metro IC fare. Do not count a transfer within one paid journey as a new ride. Use the fare shown by the official route search for each actual origin and destination.

Which lines are included, and which are not?

Coverage is based on the operator, not whether the train is underground.

Transport	Covered?	What to do
Tokyo Metro, all nine lines	Yes	Use the pass
Toei Subway, all four lines	Yes	Use the pass
JR lines, including Yamanote Line	No	Tap an IC card or buy a JR ticket
Private railways	No	Pay separately
Toei buses and Tokyo Sakura Tram	No	Use an IC card or the relevant pass
Airport railways	Only any covered subway section	Pay the airport/private section separately

This is why a pass can be excellent for a subway-heavy day around Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza, Shinjuku, and Roppongi, but poor for a plan built around JR stations. Choose routes first, then choose the ticket.

Where can visitors buy it, and what proof is needed?

As of August 2026, Tokyo Metro and Toei list online channels, airports, selected tourist information centers, hotels, subway sales locations, and other authorized sellers. The exact product form—paper, QR, or a ticket loaded through a supported card—depends on the seller.

The Tokyo Subway Ticket is not an unrestricted commuter product. It is intended for overseas visitors and eligible domestic visitors from outside Tokyo and nearby prefectures. A passport or other proof may be requested. Do not wait until the last minute at an ordinary machine and assume every machine sells every version.

Before paying, confirm four things on the official sales page:

your eligibility at that seller;
whether it sells 24, 48, and 72 hours;
whether the ticket is paper, QR, or another format;
where the first-use and expiry times will appear.

For a simple day with a few rides, tap an IC card and avoid the calculation. For a subway-heavy itinerary, total the covered fares and buy the shortest rolling-hour pass that contains them. That keeps the decision tied to your route instead of the promise of unlimited travel.