How to Get Around Tokyo

The rail network is the city. JR lines, the two subway systems and several private railways together carry more passengers than anywhere else on earth, run to the minute, and reach almost everything. Get an IC card — Suica or Pasmo, or the version on a phone — and tap in and out.

The Yamanote line loops around the central wards and connects most of the districts a visitor wants, which makes it the easiest thing to orient by.

Stations are enormous. Shinjuku has over 200 exits, and picking the right one matters more than picking the right train. Follow the exit numbers rather than the compass.

Trains stop around midnight and restart around five. Missing the last train is a genuine planning problem and is why the city has capsule hotels and all-night bars.

Taxis are clean, safe and expensive; doors open automatically.

Walking is how you actually see it.