Tokyo's metro map looks like a maze. Guide to reading symbols, transferring and buying the 1-day pass.
Tokyo Metro: 9 lines (Ginza G, Marunouchi M, Hibiya H, Tozai T, Chiyoda C, Yurakucho Y, Hanzomon Z, Namboku N, Fukutoshin F). Toei Subway: 4 lines (Asakusa A, Mita I, Shinjuku S, Oedo E). Each has a color + letter code — stations labeled e.g. "G-09 Shinbashi".
Lines are COLOR-coded. Look for the colored circle on signs to find your platform. Direction shown by terminus (e.g., "Shibuya" means toward Shibuya). Next-station boards on platforms show the 2 adjacent stations and current one.
Tokyo Metro 24h ticket: ¥600, 9 Metro lines only. Tokyo Subway Ticket (tourist only): ¥800/24h, ¥1,200/48h, ¥1,500/72h — covers Metro + Toei (13 lines). Buy at airport tourist counters, major hotels. Must show passport.
Same company (Metro↔Metro or Toei↔Toei): no new ticket, walk through underground transfer walkways (follow colored-line signage). Metro↔Toei: technically need new ticket, but IC cards auto-calculate. Metro↔JR↔private: ALWAYS new ticket or IC card.
Shinjuku (3.5M/day), Shibuya (2.4M), Ikebukuro (2.3M), Tokyo (500K), Shinagawa (330K). 07:30-09:30 and 17:30-19:30 are peak — pack extra time and avoid massive transfers if possible. Women-only cars run during morning peak.
