Tokyo / CITY GUIDE
Compare the airport connection to your actual accommodation. Haneda has Keikyu and Tokyo Monorail services; Narita has the Narita Express and Keisei routes, including the Skyliner to Nippori and Keisei-Ueno. Airport buses can be useful when they stop near your hotel. From Kyoto or Osaka, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen arrives at Shinagawa and Tokyo; choose the station that makes the final connection simpler.
Airport & intercity connectionsJR lines, Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway and private railways work together as the city’s transport network. The Yamanote Line links many major centres, while the Chūō–Sōbu local trains and subway routes can provide more direct connections. Plan the station exit as well as the train: a large interchange can involve a substantial walk.
Give each day a smaller part of the map. Walk between nearby places when it is pleasant, and use a short rail journey when the distance, weather or your energy calls for it. Buses and the Tokyo Sakura Tram are useful additions for areas beyond the main visitor routes.
Tokyo transport guideA transport IC card such as Suica or PASMO makes ordinary journeys straightforward: tap in and out, and keep enough balance for the next ride. Day tickets can suit a busy travel day, but compare the fare and the operators covered. A subway-only ticket does not include JR journeys. Reserved-seat and airport express services may need a separate ticket.
Using the subwayTrains do not run all night. Check the last connection to your own station before settling into an evening, and allow time to reach the correct platform. For day trips, compare the full door-to-door journey and the final return train. A direct route can be worth more than saving a few minutes on a complicated transfer.
Compatible iPhones bought outside Japan can add Suica or PASMO directly in the built-in Wallet app—there is no need to buy a Japanese phone or install a separate transit app. On an iPhone 8 or later with current supported iOS, open Wallet, tap +, choose Transit Card, then Suica or PASMO and add a balance. You need an Apple Account with two-factor authentication and an eligible payment card for funding.
Once set up, Express Mode lets you tap through supported gates without unlocking your phone. You still need to add and fund the transit card; it does not come preloaded with credit.
Apple’s setup instructions & requirementsFor museum days and eastern Tokyo
A useful starting point if your interests cluster around Ueno, Yanaka and Asakusa. Compare the actual walk to the station rather than relying on the neighbourhood name.
For western neighbourhoods and evenings out
A useful base for western neighbourhoods, shopping and evenings out. Compare station exits and the walk home; a room close to the right line is more useful than the district name alone.
For onward trains and a central base
Consider this area when a Shinkansen departure matters. Balance convenience with the price and walking distance of the specific hotel.