Tokyo

Transportation

Tokyo is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient, if occasionally very crowded trains and subways run by a variety of operators, with buses, monorails and trams playing a secondary role.

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Airports

• Tokyo International Airport in Ota Ward (Haneda) ? Mainly for domestic flights.
• Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture ? Major gateway for international travelers.
• Chofu Airport in Chofu City ? Handles commuter flights to the Izu islands.
• Oshima Airport? Oshima Island
• Hachijojima Airport? Hachijo Island
• Miyakejima Airport? Miyake Island
• Tokyo Heliport? Koto Ward

Railways and subways

Rail is the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the most extensive underground network in the world and an equally extensive network of surface lines. Most lines in Tokyo are privately owned and operated, with the exception of Toei Subway (run directly by the metropolitan government). Railway and subway lines are highly integrated; commuter trains from the suburbs continue directly into the subway network on many lines, often emerging on the other side of the city to serve another company's surface line. It is estimated some 20 million people take the 70 plus train lines and go through 1000 stations in the metropolitan area daily. Some of the larger stations, like Shinjuku Station and Tokyo station, are miles long and are the busiest in the world.

Related Topics:
Shinjuku Station - Tokyo station

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• JR East?The largest passenger railway company in the world. In addition to the Shinkansen ("bullet train" lines), JR operates Tokyo's largest railway network, including the Yamanote Line loop, the Keihin-Tohoku Line between Saitama and Yokohama, the Chuo Line to West Tokyo, and the Sobu Line to Chiba. It is also the majority stockholder in the Tokyo Monorail, one of the world's most commercially successful monorail lines.
• Keihin Kyuko Electric Railway (Keikyū)?Operates out of Shinagawa Station to Kanagawa and Haneda Airport.
• Keisei Electric Railway?Operates out of Ueno Station to Chiba (including Narita International Airport).
• Keio Electric Railway?Operates out of Shinjuku Station to West Tokyo.
• Odakyu Electric Railway?Operates out of Shinjuku Station to Kanagawa, most notably Odawara and Hakone.
• Seibu Railway?Operates out of Shinjuku Station and Ikebukuro Station to West Tokyo.
• Tobu Railway?Operates out of Ikebukuro Station and Asakusa Station to Saitama, Gunma, and Tochigi.
• Tokyo Kyuko Electric Railway (Tokyu)?Operates out of Shibuya Station to West Tokyo and Kanagawa.
• Tokyo Metro (formerly Eidan)?Operates Japan's largest subway network.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation?Operates the Toei subway lines and the Arakawa streetcar line, Tokyo's sole streetcar line.
• Tsukuba Express, linking Akihabara Station with Tsukuba since its opening in August 2005.

Buses

The metropolitan government operates Toei buses mainly within the 23 special wards while private bus companies operate other bus routes. Bus transportation is convenient for places far from the train or subway stations. Most bus routes stop or terminate at a train or subway station, and they can be quite complicated with no signs in English. The Toei buses charge 200 yen per ride which the customer pays while boarding. Buses run by other companies may charge according to distance, and the customer pays when leaving the bus.

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Others

• Taxis?Available along most major streets. Starting fare is about 650 yen.
• Streetcars?Once a common sight before subways and buses came to fore, streetcar lines have shrunk to only one route called the Toden Arakawa Line plying the route between Waseda and Minowabashi.
• Ferries/Boats?Long-distance ferries operated by Tokai Kisen go to outlying islands such as the Ogasawara Islands and Izu Islands. River boats on the Sumida River operate between Asakusa and Kasai Rinkai Park, mainly for tourists.
• Expressways?Many expressways converge at Tokyo including the Tomei Expressway, Chuo Expressway, Kan'etsu National Expressway, Ken-ō Expressway, Tokyo Gaikan Expressway, Daisan Keihin Highway, and Keiyo Highway. The Shuto Expressway network covers central Tokyo, linking the intercity expressways together.