Tokyo Metro Pass

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Trekker

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Coming to Tokyo for a week, interested in buying some sort of a pass for the Metro -- i.e., either a weekly pass that for a flat fee would be good for unlimited rides; or a pass one can put a set amount of money on, then use until depleted.

The Metro website is a tad confusing. Is the PASMO Card the only option that does what I've described above?

Also, when buying either regular tickets, or a PASMO Card, do the machines that sell them only take cash, or can one use a VISA credit card as well?

As always, thanks in advance for your responses!

Cheers -
Trekker
 
Trekker said:
Coming to Tokyo for a week, interested in buying some sort of a pass for the Metro -- i.e., either a weekly pass that for a flat fee would be good for unlimited rides; or a pass one can put a set amount of money on, then use until depleted.
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The PASMO card (or the SUICA card offered by JR -- they both can be used on all Tokyo area trains) is your best bet.

If you're coming into Narita and taking the train, the SUICA & N'EX package can be a good value, and you can then recharge the card (in ticket machines, from as little as 1,000 yen.) Otherwise just buy a new PASMO or SUICA from a machine or ticket office.

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

The Tokyo Metro, Toei subway, and JR all offer their own, as well as combined, one-day passes, and one month long passes for all lines (inside the Yamanote line for the JR), but those aren't really economical for only one week.

Also, when buying either regular tickets, or a PASMO Card, do the machines that sell them only take cash, or can one use a VISA credit card as well?
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The Tokyo Metro has some machines that allow credit card purchase for all tickets and passes. See here for a photo of one:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/ticket/pass/ticketmachine/index.html

Any station that has a staffed ticket office also will take credit cards.
 
Trekker,
In september I was in Tokyo. That time I found that railway providers have their own pass system. JR one day pass will allow you to use any JR lines only for one day. Similarly, Toukaido subway has their own one day commuter pass that can only be used to ride in toukaido subways. Travelling is quite expensive in Japan. Therefore, I suggest you to plan before you start to travel.
 
Ditto what Zap said.

I've used subway systems in many cities and countries around the world and never seen one that even comes close to matching Tokyo's in performance or apparent safety. Unless you are afraid of crowded conditions (which do get amazingly extreme, also beyond anything I've witnessed elsewhere during commuter rush hours), it is hard to guess what you would have to fear.

-Ww
 
...and did we mention clean? You have never seen a Metro system so tidy and clean. Not even graffiti anywhere. Can you even imagine that coming from a Western city these days? And all the vending machines work and give perfect change. The worst thing about the Tokyo Metro system is that it shuts down around from around midnight to 5 in the morning. Maybe that was what you found scary?
 
Indeed! I'm so used to the cleanliness of the Tokyo subways that when I ride in a NYC one, for example, I get this urge to head straight back to the hotel to shower the moment I get out of the train. :-/

-Ww
 
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Serena Vincente said:
i hear crazy things about tokyo metro... a bit scary

Serena Vincente x
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She might be referring to the chikan/groping stuff that happens. That isn't going to be the first obvious thing that springs to mind for most men talking about the Metro...
 
meiji said:
She might be referring to the chikan/groping stuff that happens. That isn't going to be the first obvious thing that springs to mind for most men talking about the Metro...
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I do not mean to minimize the seriousness of chikan nor the distress it causes to its victims, but the very fact that this problem gets so much attention in Japan and has drawn significant responses (such as "women only" cars during rush hour on the trains) is testimony to how very very safe Tokyo subways are compared to those elsewhere in the world. In any other city I could name that is even remotely comparable to Tokyo in population, groping is VERY far from the most serious crime that occurs regularly on their metros. Note also that Serena is Italian; I can assure you that groping in Tokyo mass transit compares to that in Rome as a gentle April shower compares to a raging September typhoon! It's really really bad there…seriously!

-Ww
 
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meiji said:
She might be referring to the chikan/groping stuff that happens. That isn't going to be the first obvious thing that springs to mind for most men talking about the Metro...
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We are basically talking about ass-fondling. That that is even considered a serious problem here speaks to itself. In other countries' metro systems you have more serious problems to worry about.
 
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