Private Rails around Tokyo

In Tokyo, private rails link the downtown with outskirts. It has no dominant power in the city center, but it radiates outward widely from the central point – the circle of JR Yamanote Line. Operated by various private companies, you have a mass of choices to go to the suburbs of Tokyo, airports and more places in the surroundings. The rail lines of Tokyu, Keio, Keisei, Keikyu, Tobu Railway, Seibu Railway, Odakyu, etc. weave a huge system to transfer with JR trains as well as the metro lines.

Tips to Take Private Rails

The operators have their business in different areas around Tokyo. Thus, you have a few choices only if going toward a certain direction. For example, Keikyu Airport Line and Tokyo Monorail line stretch to Haneda Airport, while Keisei lines connect the Narita Airport.

Passagerway & Platforms

To choose a railway to your destination, you can take the frequency, waiting time, fare, and specific route, etc. into consideration before making a choice.

As there are many operators and rail lines, it is much more important to check the operator and station when taking the train. Make sure that you get to the right station and platform of the train you’re to take, through the number of lines and stations.

Overall, you need to exit from the former station when transferring, for the stations may be affiliated to different operators. There is a long walk perhaps between two stations.

The transportation IC card, such as Suica card, is more convenient to take private rails, as it’s bothersome to buy the tickets especially when the lines belong to different companies.

If you want a pass, please purchase it before travelling to the place. What should call your attention is, you have to make sure what vehicles are included in the pass. Generally, all the vehicles usable, including the trains, buses, and even water buses, can be utilized as being run by the same company. If there is a vehicle of other operators, the pass cannot be used.

The Main Destinations & Accessible Private Lines

  Nikko: Tobu Nikko Line
  Narita Airport: Keisei Skyliner, Keisei Access Express, Keisei Main Line
  Odaiba: Yurikamome
  Haneda Airport: Keikyu Airport Express, Tokyo Monorail Line
  Mt. Takao: Keio Takao Line
  Yokohama: Tokyu Toyoko Line, Keikyu Main Line
  Kamakura: Odakyu Enoshima Line
  Hakone: Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar, Odakyu Odawara Line + Hakone Tozan Line
  Mt. Fuji: Fujikyuko Line

Note: These private rail lines are not the only way to reach the places, while JR lines also lead to most of these destinations. You can compare the routes and choose one best on your tour.

Keio – West of Tokyo

Keio is one of the big private railway operators in Japan, owning railways mainly in southwestern Tokyo as well as the north of Kanagawa.
  Main lines:
Keio Line (KO): Shinjuku - Keio Hachiōji, 32 stations
Inokashira Line (IN): Shibuya - Kichijōji, 17 stations

Tokyu

Tokyu operates its railways around the area from Tokyo to the southwest of Kanagawa.
  Main lines:
Toyoko Line (TY): Shibuya - Yokohama, 21 stations
Den-en-toshi Line (DT): Shibuya - Chuo-rinkan, 27 stations

Keisei (KS) – between Tokyo & Narita

Eastward Keisei lines are also welcomed, as constructed between Tokyo downtown and China, where Narita International Airport is located.
  Main lines:
Keisei Main Line: Keisei Ueno - Narita Airport, 42 stations; Access Express/Skyliner trains are included

Keikyu (KK) – between Tokyo & Yokohama

Keikyu operates railway lines from Minato in Tokyo and Kawasaki, Yokohama & Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa. The airport express to Haneda Airport is also a line of Keikyu with high traffic.
Main lines:
  Keikyu Airport Line: Keikyu Kamata - Haneda Airport Terminal

Odakyu – To Odawara & Its Environs

Odakyu Service Center

From Tokyo to Hakone, direct Odakyu Limited Express Romancecar is the optimal rail choice. Odakyu also run the line to Kamakura.
  Main lines:
Odawara Line (OH): Shinjuku - Odawara, 47 stations
Enoshima Line (OE): Sagami-Ono - Katase-Enoshima, 17 stations
Tama Line (OT): Shin-Yurigaoka - Karakida, 8 stations

Tobu Railway – To the North of Tokyo

Tobu railways run through Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi and Gunma, which link Tokyo and the adjacent region in the north.
  Main lines:
Skytree Line (TS): Asakusa - Tobu Dobutsu-koen, 30 stations
Nikko Line (TN): Tobu Dobutsu-koen - Tobu Nikko, 25 stations

Seibu Railway – Northwest to Saitama

Ikebukuro & Chichubu Line (SI): Ikebukuro - Hanno - Seibu Chichibu, 36 stations
Shinjuku Line (SS): Seibu Shinjuku - Hon-Kawagoe, 29 stations

Yurikamome: Shimbashi - Toyosu, 16 stations around Odaiba

Tokyo Monorail: Monorail Hamamatsucho - Haneda Airport Terminal 2, 11 stations