By Subway in Tokyo

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By Subway

The Metro system is especially user friendly, with color-coded lines (the trains are not colored-coded) and a Roman letter and number (such as G 9 for Ginza Station) marking the entrance and interiors of stations along with their names in Japanese and English. Metro help desks offer help in English from 9 AM to 5 PM at Ginza, Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Asakusa stations. Thirteen lines serve Tokyo; nine of them are operated by Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd., and four by the Tokyo Municipal Authority (Toei). Trains run roughly every five minutes (5 AM-midnight); except during rush hours, the intervals are slightly longer on the newer Toei lines.

Fares begin at ¥160. Toei trains are generally a bit more expensive than Metro trains, but both are competitive with JR lines. From Ueno across town to Shibuya on the Ginza Line (orange), for example, is ¥190. Metro (but not the Toei) has inaugurated an electronic card of its own, called Metro Card. The denominations are ¥1,000, ¥3,000, and ¥5,000. Automatic dispensers are installed at some stations. For ¥710, you can purchase a one-day open ticket at Metro offices or ticket dispensers that gives you unlimited use of all Metro trains.