Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is an underground railway line that runs services between Asakusa and Shibuya. It is operated by the private transport company Tokyo Metro which has a total of 9 different subway lines. Tokyo Metro is one of two separate subway systems in Tokyo, the other being the Toei Subway network.

Entrance to the Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
The majority of services on this route run the full length of the Ginza Line, with the exception for some very early or late trains. Services are also regular, running every 2 – 3 minutes, and it is often busy as the line runs through many of Tokyo’s important commercial districts and heavily populated areas.

Tokyo Metro Ginza Line trains
Key Destinations
Within the Tokyo Metro system the Ginza Line is color-coded orange. There are 19 stations on this line. These are as follows:
Asakusa – Tawaramachi – Inaricho – Ueno – Ueno-Hirokoji – Suehirocho – Kanda – Mitsukoshimae – Nihombashi – Kyobashi – Ginza – Shimbashi – Toranomon – Tameike-Sanno – Akasaka-mitsuke – Aoyama-itchome – Gaiemmae – Omotesando – Shibuya
Because Asakusa Station is a terminal station on this line, trains at platforms 1 and 2 are all headed toward Shibuya. Below are the locations you are most likely to visit with transfer points included. Example train times and train fares are given from Asakusa Station.

A Ginza Line subway train at Asakusa Station
Asakusa Station
Asakusa’s main 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 approach road which is lined with traditional souvenir shops. Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station is one of four “Asakusa Stations” in the area. Transfers can be quickly made to the nearby Toei Asakusa Station for the Toei Asakusa Line, and to Tobu Asakusa Station for the Tobu Skytree Line and Tobu Limited Express services. The Tsukuba Express (TX) Asakusa Station is approximately 10 minutes’ walk to the west.

A train bound for Shibuya at Platform 1 Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Tawaramachi Station
The Tsukuba Express (TX) Asakusa Station is approximately 8 minutes’ walk north of this station.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 1 minute
Ueno Station
Ueno is a popular location in Tokyo because of its large park, zoo, and many museums. There are also many shrines and temples in the area. Ueno Station is also a major transportation hub. Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and to the Keisei Main Line at nearby Keisei Ueno Station. JR Ueno Station is just above the Metro station and here you can transfer to JR East’s Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Utsunomiya and Takasaki lines, as well as to Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Hokuriku, and Hokkaido Shinkansen services.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 5 minutes
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.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 7 minutes
Suehirocho Station
This station is an 8 minute walk from Kanda Myojin Shrine which was first founded in 730 AD. The 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, toys, games, and other anime-related goods.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 8 minutes
Kanda Station
Transfer here to JR East’s Keihin-Tohoku Line, Yamanote Line, and Chuo Line.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 10 minutes
Mitsukoshimae Station
Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. Transfer to nearby Shin-Nihombashi Station for JR East’s Sobu Line.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 12 minutes
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 within walking distance of Nihombashi Station. Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and the Toei Asakusa Line.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: 14 minutes
Ginza Station
Ginza is Tokyo’s best known shopping and entertainment area and has many upscale department stores selling luxury brand goods, gourmet restaurants, classy bars, art galleries, and theaters. Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 18 minutes

The Ginza 4-chome intersection is the center of Tokyo luxury shopping.
Shimbashi Station
Close by Shimbashi Station are two attractions that will appeal to railway enthusiasts. Displayed outside the station’s Hibiya Exit in “SL Square” is an old steam locomotive dating from 1945. The Old Shimbashi Station Railway Museum is also just a 5 minute walk to the east of the present station building. The present Shimbashi Station is an important transportation hub and transfers can be made here between several railway lines. JR East have services on the 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.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 20 minutes
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.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 22 minutes
Tameike-Sanno Station
Exit here for Hie Shrine. Founded in 1478 Hie Shrine holds a major festival parade every June 15th. Transfer here to Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and at nearby Kokkai Gijido-mae Station to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 24 minutes
Akasaka-Mitsuke Station
Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 25 minutes
Aoyama-itchome Station
Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Toei Oedo Line.
Train fare: 200 yen
Train time: 28 minutes
Gaiemmae Station
The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art is a 6 minute walk west of this station.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 29 minutes
Omotesando Station
Exit here for Omotesando – a tree-lined avenue known for its cool cafes, and international brand name clothing stores. A short stroll down this leafy boulevard leads to Yoyogi Park, the trendy Harajuku area and the entrance to Meiji Jingu Shrine. Transfer here to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 31 minutes

Shibuya Crossing is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tokyo
Shibuya Station
The Shibuya district is a bright center of youth culture and nightlife, packed with department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants, night clubs and bars. The statue of Hachiko, a dog, is a famous meeting point just outside the station, and beyond the statue is the famous Shibuya Crossing intersection overlooked by giant video screens and neon-lit signs. Transfers can be made here 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.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 34 minutes

A train departing from Platform 2 Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station
Fares
Full adult fares are charged for anyone aged 12 years 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. Fares for IC cards are cheaper than for regular tickets and IC cards are also useful if you want to transfer between different railway systems without stopping 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.
Tokyo Metro also have an English route search page where you can get information on fares, journey times, and transfers.
Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Michael Lambe (4,7), hide0714/PIXTA (2), iflower/PIXTA (3), matya1234/PIXTA (5), Sean Pavone/PIXTA(6). All rights reserved.