Been to Tokyo 9 times in 5 years, got a chance to experience both good and bad hubs to not only maximize use of Subway Pass but minimize transfer times & crowds. which ones are your favorite/least? key factors:
* speed of travel to actual track (2min or less)
* elevator/escalators for ease of luggage
* adjacency to multiple lines that support day/multi-day passes
* lack of crowds
* multiple entrance/exits
* ease of access to <$75 USD/night places
i’ve ranked it from best to worst – ~~strikethroughs~~ are what i don’t recommend.
1. **Takaracho/Kyobashi – Tokyo Subway 3-Day**
**closest hub to Tokyo station, both have elevators straight down to tracks & can get you to Ginza line quick w/ minimal effort along with multiple entrances/exits. staying in between means you’re within 2-3 SHORT blocks of a station. great if you’re flying to either Narita or Haneda since the “A” line goes thru Takaracho. stayed b/w these two multiple times, extremely easy access (granted w/ transfers) to Tsujiki, Toyuse, Shimbashi, Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc. Platforms are never packed either.**
2. Shimbashi/Shiodome – Tokunai or Tokyo Subway
if you find yourself in the right area, it’s short and sweet. if you venture too far, you’re walking – a lot. i found myself here a lot during 2024 when transfering from Shinagawa – althought i has the connection to the “U” Yurikamome line, that’s on the complete other side of the station, much farther away on the Shiodome side. Shiodome itself is a network of 2nd floor overhead walkways that can get you to a lot of places (including Ginza donki w/ elevator) but you need to know exactly where it can and can’t get you. Good 2nd choice but cheap hotels exist only on the Karasumori exit with one closer to Shiodome.
3. Shinagawa – Tokunai Pass
stayed here 2024, useless w/ Subway pass b/c “A” Asakusa line already starts as KK – you’d have to IC card it to Sengakuji, tap out, then go back in w/ subway pass. very convenient for JR subway lines especially JY Yamanote line. Get Tokunai Pass via JR East instead, 760 yen per day. doesn’t provide multiple days and overall more expensive for 3 days for Toei/Metro Subway. entry/exit on either side but no side entry/exits – somewhat confusing and relatively wide. if you’re hopping on the KK or JY line, it’s dirt easy – everything else, be prepared to be confused.
4. ~~Ueno – Tokunai or Tokyo Subway~~
~~i hate this station with a passion. a nightmare to navigate for a newbie, Shinkansen entrance not clearly labeled. has JR and Metro lines, main Shinkansen hub if you don’t want to deal w/ Tokyo station crowds. getting your suitcase to/from station is a pain – one side is Ueno Park while the urban side requires stairs or knowledgable navigation to get UP to the walkways since only ground entry is on the southwest end.~~
5. ~~Nihombashi/Kayabachō – Tokyo Subway~~
~~also in between two stations, but i found it much less effective than Takaracho/Kyobashi. station is much longer and larger than T/K, making it much more complex to transfer to/from even though it houses multiple lines. Kayabachō Station has the H & T lines while Nihombashi has A, G, and T. overall, way less straight forward and more walking~~
6. ~~Ginza/Higashi-ginza – Tokyo Subway~~
~~like Nihombashi/Kayabachō, it’s a huge station and pain to navigate. your main reason for going to Ginza is the “M” Marunouchi line.~~
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by BizCard55