The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line for Shibuya, Ginza and Asakusa

The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is a subway line that runs between Shibuya and Asakusa. It is one of 9 subway lines that are operated by the private company Tokyo Metro. This is one of two underground railway systems in Tokyo. A separate underground railway network is operated by Toei Subway.

Except for some very early or late trains, most services on the Ginza Line run the full length of route. Services are also regular and run every 2 – 3 minutes. This line is often busy because it runs through many of Tokyo’s important commercial districts and heavily populated areas. The Ginza Line opened in 1927 and is the oldest underground railway in Japan.

Key Destinations

Within the Tokyo Metro subway system the Ginza Line is color-coded orange. There are 19 stations on this line.

Shibuya – Omotesando – Gaiemmae – Aoyama-itchome – Akasaka-mitsuke – Tameike-Sanno – Toranomon – Shimbashi – Ginza – Kyobashi – Nihombashi – Mitsukoshimae – Kanda – Suehirocho – Ueno-Hirokoji – Ueno – Inaricho – Tawaramachi – Asakusa

The key destinations on the Ginza Line are listed below with their transfer points. Example train fares and journey times are given from Ueno Station.

Shibuya Station

Shibuya is Tokyo’s neon-lit center of youth culture and nightlife, packed with department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants, night clubs and bars. A popular meeting point just outside the station is the bronze statue of Hachiko, a famously faithful dog. Beyond the statue is the Shibuya Crossing intersection which is overlooked by giant video screens and said to be one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings.

Transfer at Shibuya Station to Tokyo Metro’s Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines, JR East’s Yamanote, Saikyo, and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, the Keio Inokashira Line, the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyu Toyoko Line.

Omotesando Station

Omotesando is a tree-lined avenue known for its cosmopolitan cafes, and luxury brand name clothing boutiques. A short stroll down this leafy boulevard leads to Yoyogi Park, the hip Harajuku area and the entrance to Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Transfer at Omotesando Station to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.

Gaiemmae Station

Exit here for the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art (also called “Watari-um”). This museum is dedicated to contemporary visual arts and exhibits the work of well-known artists as well as up-and-coming stars. The museum building was designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta and is typical of his clean geometrical style. The museum is a 6 minute walk west of Gaiemmae Station.

Aoyama-itchome Station

This station is convenient for the Honda Welcome Plaza where you can view the Honda company’s latest products, see a demonstration of robotic technology, and take a ride on a driving simulator. Also nearby is the gallery and shop of Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square where you can view and buy handcrafted products from every region in Japan.

Transfer at Aoyama-itchome Station to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Toei Oedo Line.

Akasaka-mitsuke Station

Exit here for Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho; a mixed facility which includes a hotel, shops, restaurants, gardens, and the historic Kitashirakawa Palace which dates from 1930. Tokyo Garden Terrace is a 5 minute walk north of the station. A 10 minute walk east of the station is the National Diet Library which is one of the world’s biggest libraries.

Transfer at Akasaka-mitsuke Station to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.

Tameike-Sanno Station

Exit here for Hiei Jinja, a Shinto shrine which was first established in 1478. The shrine hosts a major festival called Sanno Matsuri every year in mid-June, and every two years this includes a parade with people in traditional costumes and portable shrines. Hiei Jinja is a 5 minute walk from Tameike-Sanno Station.

Transfer at Tameike-Sanno Station to Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and at nearby Kokkai Gijido-mae Station to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

Toranomon Station

Toranomon Station is a 6 minute walk from Kasumigaseki Station where you can transfer to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Hibiya, and Chiyoda lines.

Shimbashi Station

Exit here for the Old Shimbashi Station Railway Museum which is a 5 minute walk to the east of the present station building. Look out also for the old 1945 steam locomotive on display in “SL Square” just outside Shimbashi Station’s Hibiya Exit.

Transfer at Shimbashi Station to JR East’s Tokaido Main Line, Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line and Yokosuka Line. Transfers can also be made to the Toei Asakusa Line, and the New Transit Yurikamome Line which links Shimbashi Station to Toyosu Station via Odaiba.

Ginza Station

Ginza is Tokyo’s best known shopping and entertainment district and has many upmarket department stores selling luxury brand goods, gourmet restaurants, classy bars, art galleries, and theaters.

Transfer at Ginza Station to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.

Kyobashi Station

Exit here for Tokyo Police Museum, a family friendly museum dedicated to the history of the Japanese police force. Here children can try on police uniforms and enjoy simulated police car rides and animated movies. The museum is a 3 minute walk from Kyobashi Station, has English language captions on the exhibits, and is free to enter.

Nihombashi Station

Nihonbashi is a commercial district of Tokyo with many large department stores. The Mitsui Memorial Art Museum and the Bank of Japan Currency Museum are both an 8 minute walk from Nihombashi Station.

Transfer at Nihombashi Station to the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and the Toei Asakusa Line.

Mitsukoshimae Station

This station is named after the nearby Mitsukoshi Department Store. This elegant building is the flagship store of Japan’s oldest department store chain and has a fine range of brand fashion, arts, crafts, a basement food hall, and restaurants. Also nearby is the 9th century Fukutoku Jinja Shrine where people traditionally pray for success in lotteries. The shrine is a 3 minute walk from the station.

Transfer at Mitsukoshimae Station to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. Transfer to nearby Shin-Nihombashi Station for JR East’s Sobu Line.

Kanda Station

Transfer at Kanda Station to JR East’s Keihin-Tohoku Line, Yamanote Line, and Chuo Line.

Suehirocho Station

Suehirocho Station is an 8 minute walk from Kanda Myojin Shrine which was first founded in 730 AD. Kanda Matsuri Festival is held here in mid-May every two years and includes a portable shrine parade. Suehirocho Station is also within easy walking distance of the Akihabara district which has many wholesale stores selling cheap electronic and computer goods, as well as shops selling manga comics, games, toys, cosplay costumes, and anime-related goods.

Ueno-Hirokoji Station

Ueno-Hirokoji Station is very close to four other stations. Transfer to Okachimachi Station for JR East’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. Transfer to Ueno-Okachimachi Station for the Toei Oedo Line. Transfer to Naka-Okachimachi for Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya Line. Transfer to Yushima Station for Tokyo Metro’s Chiyoda Line.

Ueno Station

Ueno’s main attractions are the large number museums in the grounds of Ueno Park, the pandas at Ueno Zoo, and the bargain stores of Ameya-Yokocho shopping street.

Transfer at Ueno Subway station to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and at Keisei Ueno Station to the Keisei Main Line and Keisei Skyliner. JR Ueno Station is just above the Metro station and here you can transfer to JR East’s Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Utsunomiya Line, Joban Line, Ueno-Tokyo Line and Takasaki Line.

Transfers can also be made here to services on the Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkasen, and Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Tawaramachi Station

The Tsukuba Express (TX) Asakusa Station is approximately 8 minutes’ walk north of Tawaramachi Station.

Asakusa Station

Asakusa’s major attraction is Sensoji Temple. This is the oldest temple in Tokyo and dates back to 645 AD. The vast temple complex includes a famous “thunder gate” called the Kaminarimon, a five-story pagoda, and the Nakamise-dori approach road which is lined with traditional souvenir shops. On the west side of Sensoji is Hanayashiki Amusement Park which is the oldest amusement park in Japan. Tokyo Skytree is an 18 minute walk west of Asakusa Station, or just 3 minutes away on the Tobu Skytree Line.

There are four stations in Asakusa. The Tokyo Metro Station is located close to the Tobu and Toei stations, southeast of Sensoji Temple and close to the Sumida River. The TX Asakusa Station is located to the west of Sensoji Temple. At Toei Asakusa Station transfer to the Toei Asakusa Line. At Tobu Asakusa Station transfer to the Tobu Skytree Line and Tobu Limited Express services. At TX Asakusa Station transfer to the Tsukuba Express.

Fares

Full adult fares are charged for anyone aged 12 or older. Children aged between 6 – 11 are charged half the adult fare. Up to two toddlers (aged from 1 – 6) can travel for free if they are accompanied by an adult, however a third toddler will be charged a child’s fare. Infants under 1 year of aged are not charged.

Tickets, IC Cards, and Discount Passes

Transfer tickets offer cheaper fares if you need to transfer between the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway systems. These can be bought from any Tokyo Metro station ticket vending machine.

Prepaid IC cards such as PASMO, Suica and other regional IC cards can be used on Tokyo Metro instead of tickets. IC cards are economical, because the fares are cheaper than for regular tickets. IC cards also speed up transfers between different railway systems because you don’t need to stop in order to buy tickets.

The Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket gives unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro for 24 hours after its first use. It costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children and can be bought from ticket machines at any Tokyo Metro station.

The Tokyo Subway Ticket is only available for overseas visitors on a tourist visa. This ticket gives unlimited travel on both the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. It can be purchased at Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, travel agencies such as JTB, HIS, Kinki Nippon Tourist and Nippon Travel Agency, several hotels in Tokyo and some Big Camera stores.

The 24 hour ticket costs 800 yen for adults, and 400 yen for children.
The 48 hour ticket costs 1,200 yen for adults and 600 yen for children.
The 72 hour ticket costs 1,500 yen for adults and 750 yen for children.

You will need to show your passport to purchase this ticket. This ticket can also be bought in combination with various rail or limousine bus tickets from either Haneda Airport or Narita Airport. For complete details of how and where to buy this ticket, please visit the Tokyo Metro website.

The Tokyo Combination Ticket gives one day’s unlimited travel on Tokyo Metro Subway lines, JR lines (in the 23 wards of Tokyo) and the complete Toei transportation network (Toei Subway, Toei Bus, Toei Streetcar Arakawa Line, and Nippori-Toneri Liner). The ticket costs 1,590 yen for adults and 800 yen for children. It is available from automatic ticket machines at each station.

Chika Toku is a special discount service available for holders of Tokyo Metro and Toei one day tickets. Simply showing your one day pass entitles you to discount deals at 400 different shops, restaurants, museums, and other facilities around Tokyo. For full details visit the official Chika Toku website.

Useful Links

Tokyo Metro route maps in English, Chinese, Korean, German, Spanish, French and Russian are available to download as PDFs from the official Tokyo Metro website.

Free Wi-Fi is available at Tokyo Metro railway stations. For details of how to access this service please visit the Tokyo Metro website.

There is also an English language Tokyo Metro route search page where you can get information on fares, journey times, and transfers.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.