Lines of Tokyo Subway

Subway Route Map of Tokyo

Tokyo subway, together with JR ordinary trains - the most widely used transportation modes in Tokyo that connect major hubs, can meet most of your travel needs within the city. It has 13 lines in total, which are operated by two different companies, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. In specific:

Lines of Tokyo Metro

Tokyo Metro operates 9 among the 13 lines, including Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line, Tozai Line, Chiyoda Line, Hanzomon Line, Yurakucho Line, Namboku Line, and Fukutoshin Line. With these 9 lines, passengers can get to main transportation hubs of the city like Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, and Ikebukuro Station. In addition, passengers can also travel to some places that are not covered by JR ordinary trains, like Asakusa, Sky Tree, Ginza, Tsukiji, and Omotesando.

1. Tokyo Metro Ginza Line

Shown in orange color and represented by “G” in route maps, Ginza Line is a widely used line by visitors. It begins in Shibuya, and runs through central Tokyo and towards Asakusa. There are a total of 19 stations on the line, including mainly:
(1) G01 Shibuya Station
Nearby attractions: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Hachiko Statue
(2) G02 Omote-sando Station:
Nearby attractions: Omotesando, Meiji Jingu Shrine
(3) G09 Ginza Station
Nearby attractions: Ginza - Tokyo’s famous shopping district
(4) G11 Nihombashi Station
Nearby attractions: Marunouchi, one of Tokyo’s busiest shopping districts
(5) G16 Ueno Station
Nearby attractions: Ueno Park
(6) G19 Asakusa Station
Nearby attractions: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise-dori Street

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: Generally speaking, the interval between trains is around 2-4 minutes. However, there are fewer departures in early morning and at late night, when the interval is about 5-10 minutes.

2. Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

With red as the representative color and “M” as the representative letter, Marunouchi Line is the only one that passes Tokyo Station among all lines of Tokyo subway. It passes through three major commercial districts of Ginza, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, and has a total of 25 stations. Trains on the line can arrive at:
(1) M08 Shinjuku Station
Nearby attractions: Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck
(2) M09 Shinjuku-sanchome Station
Nearby attractions: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
(3) M16 Ginza Station
Nearby attractions: Ginza - Tokyo’s famous shopping district
(4) M17 Tokyo Station
Nearby attractions: First Avenue Tokyo Station, Imperial Palace, Marunouchi, Nihonbashi
(5) M18 Otemachi Station
Nearby attraction: Imperial Palace
(6) M25 Ikebukuro Station
Nearby attractions: Sunshine City

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: The interval is 2-5 minutes during most hours, but is about 10 minutes in early morning and at late night.

3. Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

The Hibiya Line’s signature color is silver, and its logo features the letter “H”. It is a line that runs from Nakameguro to Kita-Senju, with a total of 22 stations. It’s no exaggeration to say that riding only the Hibiya Line can gain yourself a colorful and fulfilling day: it passes through Ginza, Akihabara, and Ueno shopping districts, as well as attractions like Ueno Park and Tokyo National Museum. Its major stations include:
(1) H02 Ebisu Station
Nearby attractions: Yebisu Garden Place, Yebisu Beer Brewery
(2) H09 Ginza Station
Nearby attractions: Ginza - Tokyo’s famous shopping district
(3) H11 Tsukiji Station
Nearby attractions: Tsukiji Market
(4) H16 Akihabara Station
Nearby attractions: Akihabara
(5) Ueno Station
Nearby attractions: Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: Trains run every 2-5 minutes most of the time, but every 10-20 minutes during the early morning.

4. Tokyo Metro Tozai Line

With signature color and letter of sky blue and “T”, respectively, this line runs from Nakano in Tokyo to Chiba Prefecture. There are a total of 23 stations, allowing passengers to transfer to all subway lines of Tokyo except Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line. It has following major stations:
(1) T01 Nakano Station
Nearby attractions: Nakano Broadway, Nakano Sun Mall
(2) T09 Otemachi Station
Nearby attraction: Imperial Palace
(3) T10 Nihombashi Station
Nearby attractions: Marunouchi, one of Tokyo’s busiest shopping districts

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: The trains on Tozai Line run every 2-10 minutes. Rushing hours in morning and evening are when the trains run most frequently, but also when they are most crowded.

5. Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line has representative color of green and representative letter of “C”. It passes through Tokyo’s several major areas of Yoyogi, Roppongi, Hibiya, Chiyoda, and Kita-Senju, with a total of 20 stations along the line. Its key stations include:
(1) C01 Yoyogi-uehara Station and C02 Yoyogi-koen Station
Nearby attractions: Yoyogi Park
(2) C03 Meiji-jingumae Station
Nearby attractions: Meiji Jingu Shrine
(3) C04 Omote-sando Station:
Nearby attractions: Omotesando, Meiji Jingu Shrine
(4) C11 Otemachi Station
Nearby attraction: Imperial Palace
(5) C16 Nishi-nippori Station
Nearby attractions: Yanaka Ginza

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: Trains run every 3-4 minutes during rush hours in the morning and evening, and 5-10 minutes during other hours.

Tips: It is quite useful and convenient for visitors that Chiyoda Line operate as a through service with the Odakyu Line. Simply put, some trains on the Chiyoda Line can take you directly to stations on the Odakyu Line, such as Odawara Station.

6. Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line

Hanzomom Line runs from Shibuya Station in Shibuya Ward to Oshiage Station in Sumida Ward. On route maps and transfer signs, the line is shown in purple and designated by letter “Z”. There are only 14 stations in total, but you can transfer to any other subway lines of Tokyo with the help of this line. Its important stations include:
(1) Z01 Shibuya Station
Nearby attractions: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Hachiko Statue
(2) Z02 Omote-sando Station:
Nearby attractions: Omotesando, Meiji Jingu Shrine
(3) Z08 Otemachi Station
Nearby attraction: Imperial Palace
(4) Z14 Oshiage Station
Nearby attractions: Tokyo Skytree

Operating Hours & Frequencies: Trains run from around 5:10 to 24:10 on Hanzomom Line, with an interval of 2-15 minutes.

7. Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

For Yurakucho Line, the signature color is gold and the signature letter is “Y”. It runs from Wako City in Saitama Prefecture to Shinkiba Station in Koto Ward, Tokyo, traveling through central Tokyo from northwest to southeast. The line has a total of 24 stations, include mainly:
(1) Y09 Ikebukuro Station
Nearby attractions: Sunshine City
(2) Y18 Yurakucho Station
Nearby attractions: Ginza, many izakayas

Operating Hours & Frequencies: There are trains running between 5:00 and 24:00, with a relatively short interval of 3-9 minutes.

8. Tokyo Metro Namboku Line

The line is designated by the letter “N” and its signature color is emerald green. Namboku Line runs north to south through Tokyo and passes Shinagawa Ward, Chiyoda Ward, Shinjuku Ward, and Kita Ward. Among the total of 19 stations, important ones for visitors include:
(1) N01 Meguro Station
Nearby attractions: Meguro River – a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Meguro Museum of Art
(2) N14 Komagome Station
Nearby attractions: Rikugien Garden

Operating Hours: 5:15-24:00
Train Frequencies: The interval between trains is mostly 10-20 minutes. However, during rushing hours from 7:00 to 9:00, the interval will shorten to 3-5 minutes.

9. Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

Letter code and representative color of Fukutoshin Line shown in route maps are “F” and brown, respectively. The line runs from Wakoshi Station in Saitama Prefecture to Shibuya Station in Tokyo, connecting the three major subcenters of Tokyo: Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. The line has a total of 16 stations, including the following major stops:
(1) F09 Ikebukuro Station
Nearby attractions: Sunshine City
(2) F12 Higashi-Shinjuku Station
Nearby attractions: Kabukicho
(3) F13 Shinjuku-sanchome Station
Nearby attractions: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
(4) F15 Meiji-jingumae Station
Nearby attractions: Meiji Jingu Shrine
(5) F16 Shibuya Station
Nearby attractions: Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Hachiko Statue

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Frequencies: Trains on Fukutoshin Line run every 3-5 minutes most of the time. However, during late evening hours, there may be only one train every 10 minutes.

Lines of Toei Subway

Toei Subway operates 4 lines in total, including Asakusa Line, Mita Line, Shinjuku Line, and Oedo Line. These lines can get to Asakusa, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Nihonbashi, Ginza, and Tsukiji.

1. Toei Asakusa Line

Toei Asakusa Line is shown by pink color with “A” as the line code in line maps. It starts at Nishi-Magome, passes through Nihonbashi and Asakusa, and finally gets to Oshiage. The line has a total of 20 stations, including the following major stations:
(1) A08 Mita Station
Nearby attractions: Tokyo Tower
(2) A11 Higashi-ginza Station
Nearby attractions: Ginza
(3) A13 Nihombashi Station
Nearby attractions: Marunouchi, one of Tokyo’s busiest shopping districts
(4) A18 Asakusa Station
Nearby attractions: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise-dori Street
(5) A20 Oshiage Station
Nearby attractions: Tokyo Skytree

Operating Hours & Train Frequencies: Trains run from 5:00 to 24:30 and departure every 3-15 minutes on Asakusa Line.

Tips: Asakusa Line provides through service with Keikyu Line and Keisei Line, as a result, some trains can take passengers directly to Haneda Airport and Narita Airport.

2. Toei Mita Line

Its identification letter and color are “I” and dark blue, respectively. Toei Mita Line runs from Meguro Station in Shinagawa Ward to Nishi-takashimadaira Station in Itabashi Ward, with a total of 27 stations. Specifically, its main stations include:
(1) I01 Meguro Station
Nearby attractions: Meguro River – a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Meguro Museum of Art
(2) I04 Mita Station
Nearby attractions: Tokyo Tower
(3) I09 Otemachi Station
Nearby attractions: Imperial Palace

Operating Hours: 5:10-24:00
Train Frequencies: There is a departure every 3-15 minutes.

3. Toei Shinjuku Line‌

Marked by grass green color and “S” letter in route maps, Shinjuku Line has a total of 21 stations between Shinjuku and Motoyawata. Visitors can take it to:
(1) S01 Shinjuku Station
Nearby attractions: Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck
(2) S02 Shinjuku-sanchome Station
Nearby attractions: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:00
Train Frequencies: There is a departure every 4-20 minutes.

4. Toei Oedo Line

The Oedo Line is represented by “E”, with the signature color of magenta. It is a loop line with a total of 38 stations, connecting prime downtown locations such as Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Ryogoku. Its main stations include:
(1) E18 Tsukijishijo Station
Nearby attractions: Tsukiji Market
(2) E21 Akabanebashi Station
Nearby attractions: Tokyo Tower
(3) E26 Yoyogi Station
Nearby attractions: Meiji Jingu Shrine
(4) Shinjuku Station
Nearby attractions: Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck

Operating Hours: 5:00-24:30
Frequencies: There is a train every 3-15 minutes.

Tips: Many of the platforms of Oedo Line are in quite deep ground, requiring lot of walks. So, if you have large pieces of luggage, you are recommended to choose alternative routes.