Tokyo train lines maybe complicated but with Google Maps. Things has become much much easily.
Suica/PAsmo Card
If you are doing a free and easy in Tokyo, you can buy a Suica / Pasmo card at the airport. For theThe card will cost 2000 yen, a deposit of 500 yen is automatically included in the price. The deposit can be claimed back ONLY in Tokyo, at by JR East stations for Suica, and participating private railway and subway stations for Pasmo. You can purchase both cards at the airport. There is no significant difference in price most of the time. Mainly is for the convenience of checking out the fare and queuing up to buy tickets and having to take out your money every now and then. However, it can't be used for shinkansen, limited express tickets and airport bus.
For me, I bought the Suica card, it can be used in some other parts of Japan which include Osaka and Kyoto which I also visited.
MOre information on Suica Card and where to get it
More information on Pasmo card and where to get it
Good read on both cards http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html
One-day Pass
There are more than 1 type of one-day pass available.
If you do want to save some money, you can buy the pass only on days that you travel extensively.
1. Metro one day pass Adult 600 yen Child 300yen
At trip on the metro cost around 170-310 yen. If you make more than 3 trips, this is a good deal to get. However, not all places are accessible by the metro. Do your research and plan those metro trips together, it will help you save quite a significant amount of money. This is valid for 24 hours.
2. Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro One day pass. Adult 1000 yen child 500 yen
This is valid for Toei Subway and Tokyo. However, this is only valid for the day of purchase
3. Tokyo Combination ticket (Tokyo Furii Kippu) Adult 1590 yen Child 800yen
This allow unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, Toei Streetcar (Toden), Toei Bus (except for buses with fixed seats, etc.), all sections of Nippori-Toneri Liner as well as all JR lines within the Tokyo metropolitan area. This is only valid on the day of purchase
4. Tokunai PAss Adult 730 yen child 360 yen
This is for JR trains (except JR express trains) running within the 23 wards of Tokyo as many times as you want.
This is valid on day of purchase.
5. Toei One- Day Economy pass Adult 700 yen Child 350yen kyotso ichinichi Josha-ken
This is available on Toei streetcars, buses and from ticket vending machines at Toei Subway stations. This is avilable on day of purchase
6. Yurikamome One-day Open ticket Ichiniichi JOshu-ken Adult 800 yen Child 400 yen
Availble for Odaiba (Tokyo Bay area)
The one day pass is available at the train station itself. The Metro pass will be available at the metro station.
More information on one day pass
GOOGLE MAP: How to navigate your way around Tokyo
As I mentioned, Google maps work very well in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.
Before you set off, you can plan your route. Google map will show you the different options available. If you have the metro pass, you will try to choose the one that suggest metro rides. And if you are someone on a budget, you can choose the one that is the cheapest or walk. If you are with elderly, choose the least complicated and the one with least walking.
Key in the place you are going. You can choose my location. As I am back in Singapore, I can't choose my location. Walking is the cheapest. Jr line seems to the cheapest but takes the longest time and the walking time is almost the same as walking straight to the location.
Fakutoshin line will be the metro line. The bus caught my interest the most as I have never taken the bus in Tokyo before and the walking time is shorter. I asked the hotel about the bus route, but they do not know anything about it.I went during autumn so the weather was good for walking. If you are going during summer/cold winter, maybe walking is not a good choice. The bus is good if you are not good with stairs but bus stop is not as clearly marked as train station. The good thing about walking is sometimes you catch some beautiful sights that you clearly don't expect to see.
I am a bit paranoid about getting lost so I will be check whether the walking route is complicated as sometimes we missed a turn and we end up walking a much longer distance. I will keep my GPS on till I reach the destination to ensure that I don't missed out anything
1. Taking the bus to Meiji Shrine
Click on the options for more details like walking distance. The number of stops. Fairly close by bus stop.
Bus stop is near to the shrine which means I can take a nice walk around the gardeb before I reach the Shrine.
2. For the walking part, I will definitely recommend you keep the GPS. They will tell you when to turn at every little junction. Will get there safe and sound and shortest possible time. Zoom in to see the important landmarks to make sure you are on the right track. And there is a little arrow when you are walking. Make sure your arrow is pointing to the direction of the road you are supposed to talk. I sometimes do a 360 turn to make sure I am starting on the correction direction.
Below is the preview. You can analyse the route to decide if it worth the walk. However, when you are walking and the GPS is on, you can instant update of your location so you will not be lost.
3. Going by Metro. They will show you the stops and time so if it is a long ride. Can just space out and play with you hp. press the individual options for more information.
I am not an expert on Japan transport but I hope this helps.
