Metro & Subway Accessibility

Two Subway Systems, One City

Tokyo has two separate subway operators that share some stations:

• Tokyo Metro: 9 lines, approximately 180 stations. Lines include Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, and Fukutoshin.
• Toei Subway: 4 lines, approximately 106 stations. Lines include Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, and Oedo.

Both systems accept the same IC cards (Suica and PASMO), so you can move between them without buying separate tickets. Together, they cover most of central Tokyo and connect to JR commuter lines and private railways.

Elevator Coverage

Tokyo's subway accessibility has improved dramatically, especially after Japan's Barrier-Free Transportation Law and the preparations for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

Toei Subway has completed installing elevators at all subway stations to provide at least one barrier-free route between ground level, ticket gate level, and platform level. This means every Toei station has step-free access from the street to the train platform.

Tokyo Metro has also achieved elevator coverage at virtually all of its stations, with barrier-free routes available from street level to platform at the vast majority of stations. A small number of stations may have limited access from certain entrances, but at least one barrier-free entrance exists at each station.

Ramp Assistance for Boarding

The gap between the platform edge and train door is the main barrier in Tokyo's subway. The gap varies by station and line but is typically 5 to 15 cm horizontally. To solve this, station staff deploy portable ramps (called slope boards, or suroopu ita in Japanese) at every station on both systems.

How to Request a Ramp

1. At the station office: When you enter the station, go to the station staff office (usually near the main ticket gate). Tell them your destination. The staff member will radio ahead to the destination station.
2. At the platform intercom: If you are already on the platform, use the intercom button (marked with a help symbol) to contact staff.
3. At the accessible gate: Many stations have a wider accessible ticket gate near the station office. Staff there can arrange ramp assistance.

The staff member will escort you to the correct position on the platform, place the portable ramp when the train arrives, and assist you with boarding. At your destination station, another staff member will be waiting with a ramp to help you exit.

Wheelchair Spaces on Trains

All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway trains have designated priority areas near the doors for wheelchair users, passengers with strollers, and elderly travelers. These areas have fold-up seats and grab bars. There is no need to reserve a space in advance.

On the Toei Mita Line, built-in boarding slopes are installed at specific carriage doors to reduce the platform gap. The Toei Oedo Line has completed slope installation at all doors near the wheelchair-designated areas of the fourth and fifth carriages.

Tactile Paving

All platforms in the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway systems have tactile paving (tenji burokku) along the platform edges. These yellow raised blocks warn visually impaired passengers of the platform edge. They also run along corridors and to exits. Wheelchair users should be aware that tactile paving creates a slightly uneven surface, which can cause vibration on power wheelchairs.

Accessible Toilets

Accessible toilets are being progressively installed at all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway stations. Most major stations already have them. These are typically "multipurpose toilets" located near the ticket gates, with grab bars, lowered sinks, emergency call buttons, and enough space for a power wheelchair to turn.

IC Cards: Suica and PASMO

Suica (issued by JR East) and PASMO (issued by private railways and subways) are rechargeable IC cards that work on all trains, subways, and buses in Tokyo. They are interchangeable, so you only need one.

How to Use

1. Buy a Suica or PASMO at any ticket machine. The deposit is 500 JPY (refundable). Load money onto the card at the same machine.
2. Tap the card on the reader at the ticket gate when you enter the station.
3. Tap again when you exit. The fare is automatically deducted.
4. If you use the wider accessible gate, tap the card on the reader there.

IC cards save time and eliminate the need to buy individual tickets at machines that may be difficult to reach from a wheelchair. You can also use them to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and many shops.

Peak Hour Warning

Tokyo's subway is extremely crowded during rush hours. Trains between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM run at 150% to 200% capacity on major lines. For wheelchair users, this crowding makes boarding and exiting very difficult, even with staff assistance.

Avoid traveling between 7:30 and 9:30 AM and between 5:30 and 7:30 PM if possible. Midday (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) and evenings after 8:00 PM are the most comfortable times to travel by subway.

Accessible Route Planning

Several apps and websites help plan wheelchair-accessible routes through Tokyo's subway system:

• Tokyo Metro website (tokyometro.jp): Search stations by barrier-free facility. Filter by elevator, accessible toilet, wheelchair-accessible escalator, and more. Available in English.
• Toei Transportation website (kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp): Barrier-free facility guide for all Toei stations. Available in English.
• Navitime for Japan Travel app: Route planner with a barrier-free option that prioritizes elevators and avoids stairs. Available in English.
• Google Maps: Shows some elevator and accessibility information for Tokyo stations, though coverage is not complete.
• Accessible Japan website (accessible-japan.com): Detailed accessibility guides for Tokyo transport, written by and for wheelchair users.

Station Staff and Language

Station staff at Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway speak limited English, but they are trained to assist wheelchair users and are generally patient and helpful. Many stations have pictogram communication boards for common requests.

At major tourist stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Roppongi), staff are more likely to speak some English. At smaller stations, showing your destination on your phone or a map is the easiest way to communicate.

Subway Accessibility Summary