Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket Worth It? 72-Hour Pass Review
I swiped through Tokyo's subway gates 24 times in just four days. Here is exactly how the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket saved me money and hassle.
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I swiped through Tokyo's subway gates 24 times in just four days. Here is exactly how the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket saved me money and hassle.
Tokyo Subway Ticket Route Check
How much do you actually save with a 72-hour unlimited pass?
During my recent 4-day, 3-night trip to Tokyo,
I swiped through the subway turnstiles
a whopping 24 times.
If I had paid the standard base fares,
it would have cost me over ¥4,320 JPY (about ~$31).
But thanks to the 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket,
I covered all my rides for just ~$11!
Before you buy a subway pass for your trip,
I've put together all the essential information
you need to decide if it's right for you.
Table of Contents
1. Individual Fares vs. Unlimited Pass
2. Which Lines Are Included?
3. My Honest 72-Hour Pass Review
Bonus: Klook Discount Codes (Valid until 12/31/2026)
Absolutely! While exploring Tokyo,
you'll rely on the subway constantly.
Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Akihabara,
Ginza, Tokyo Station, the Harry Potter Studio Tour...
Even if you only visit 3 or 4 of these areas,
you'll easily rack up 20+ rides.
(I easily hit 20+ rides over my 4-day trip!)
Tokyo's subway fares
vary depending on the line.
I checked the latest official fare charts
for Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and JR East.
[ Base Fares by Network ]
Tokyo Metro: ¥180 JPY
Toei Subway: ¥180 JPY
JR East: ¥150 JPY
Yurikamome: ¥190 JPY
Keep in mind, fares increase
the further you travel.
Here are the unlimited subway pass prices:
24-Hour Pass | 48-Hour Pass | 72-Hour Pass |
~$6 | ~$9 | ~$11 |
Break-even point (at ¥200/ride): | ||
4+ rides | 6+ rides | 8+ rides |
If you buy the 72-hour pass like I did,
you only need to ride the subway twice a day
to get your money's worth.
Hotel → Restaurant/Sightseeing → Hotel
Even with a relaxed itinerary,
buying the pass is a guaranteed money-saver.
Get Your Tokyo Metro Pass Here
The clock starts ticking the moment you first use it.
ex) For the 24-hour pass:
If you activate it at 5:00 PM on Monday,
it's valid until 5:00 PM on Tuesday.
Because it tracks the exact hours
rather than calendar days,
a 72-hour pass easily covered my 4-day trip.
The expiration date and time
will be printed on the back of the ticket
after you pass it through the first gate.
The unlimited pass covers specific networks:
All Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway lines.
I thought I might need to use JR lines,
but you can get almost everywhere
using just the Metro and Toei lines.
That's 13 lines in total!
[ How to spot them ]
Look for a single letter inside a colored circle!
(Except for 'U', which is the Yurikamome line)
Here are the major stations for key lines:
G Ginza Line |
Asakusa, Ueno, Nihombashi, |
M Marunouchi Line |
Shinjuku, Ginza, Tokyo Station, Ikebukuro |
H Hibiya Line |
Roppongi, Ginza, Ueno |
E Oedo Line |
Shinjuku, Roppongi, |
A Asakusa Line |
Daimon, Nihombashi, Asakusa |
Where you CANNOT go
with this pass:
The Odaiba area (teamLab Planets),
Tokyo Disneyland, suburban day trips, and Narita Airport.
I activated my pass on the evening
of my first day.
I used it non-stop until
I caught the Skyliner to the airport
on my final day.
I maxed out the full 72 hours
across my 4-day itinerary.
Beyond saving money, the best part was the convenience.
I didn't need to buy a physical IC card (like Suica)
or worry about constantly reloading it.
My friend, who was using a subway pass
for the first time, absolutely loved
how seamless it was.
With the 72-Hour Tokyo Subway Ticket,
I saved about ~$23 in transit fares,
and riding the subway was completely stress-free.
Even if I accidentally took a train in the wrong direction
and had to re-enter the turnstiles,
I didn't have to pay extra.
Honestly, despite visiting Japan many times,
the subway system can still be confusing!
Finally, I'm sharing some discount codes
valid across all Klook categories,
including the Tokyo Subway Ticket.
Visit the exclusive discount page
and apply the coupon codes before checkout.
↑
Discount Codes: 세시간전26001
세시간전26002
세시간전26003
Updated for April 2026
Valid on minimum purchases of ~$38, ~$77, and ~$192 respectively.
The article's author used the subway a total of 24 times during their 3-night, 4-day trip. If calculated at individual basic fares, it would have cost 4,320 yen (approximately ~$26). However, by using a 72-hour Metro Pass for ~$9, they saved approximately ~$20 on transportation.
Based on a fare of 200 yen per ride, the 72-hour Tokyo Metro Pass becomes worthwhile after 8 or more rides. For a 3-night, 4-day trip, using the subway more than twice a day will allow you to break even.
The Tokyo Metro Pass allows access to a total of 13 lines, including Tokyo Metro and Toei lines. Major stations mentioned in the article include Ginza Line (Asakusa, Shibuya), Marunouchi Line (Shinjuku, Tokyo Station), Hibiya Line (Roppongi), Oedo Line (Toshimaen), and Asakusa Line (Asakusa).
The duration of the Metro Pass is calculated precisely from the moment it is first used. For example, if you activate a 24-hour pass at 5 PM on Monday, you can use it until 5 PM on Tuesday.
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