I’ve all the time had this factor for metros. Again house, it’s my go-to solution to get round—quick, dependable, no site visitors. And after I journey, that behavior follows me. If a metropolis has a metro system, I’m on it. There’s one thing about being a part of the on a regular basis rhythm of a spot—sitting quietly amongst locals, watching town move you by from beneath, that simply clicks with me. I additionally love these traces that function on the bottom degree, permitting me to admire new sights!
I’ve used metro methods all all over the world—London, Moscow, Dubai, Bangkok, even Paris. And actually, each time I get the prospect, I all the time desire to make use of the metro. It provides you an actual really feel of town, you already know? However Tokyo Metro? That’s a beast unto itself. It’s on a complete totally different degree, large, complicated, type of intimidating at first, but additionally completely fascinating when you begin figuring it out.
The primary time I traveled to Tokyo with my daughter in October 2024, I had it straightforward. I landed at Narita Airport, and the prepare to Ginza was direct—no transfers, no confusion. I purchased two PASAMO playing cards on the airport and so they have been our trusted companions. It was easy crusing. We took the prepare straight from Narita and received off at Higashi-Ginza, identical to Google Maps mentioned. And from there? Our lodge—Ibis Kinds Ginza—was barely 240 meters away. So every little thing was good. No probabilities of getting misplaced, no platform puzzles. It was the right comfortable touchdown into the Tokyo Metro world.
Nonetheless, issues have been a little bit totally different after I traveled with my sister in March 2025. This time, we landed at Haneda and we have been staying in Shioiri in Larger Tokyo on the Keikyu Line. We needed to change trains at Keikyu-Kamata, after which catch one other one to get to Shioiri. And actually? That was our undoing. See, I had flown in from Delhi, and as a substitute of sleeping on the flight like a wise individual, I binge-watched films your complete manner. Not even a blink of sleep. So by the point we arrived at Haneda, my mind was in full-on fog mode, not precisely best for navigating the Tokyo Metro. However there we have been, armed with the identical trusty PASMO IC playing cards from 2024. I’d saved each, and it nonetheless labored—we simply topped it up a bit, and off we went, into the unknown.
Arriving at Keikyu-Kamata wasn’t the difficulty. That half went high-quality. Google Maps instructed us to move to Platform 4 or 5, I believe it was Platform 4, so we adopted directions like good vacationers. Now, in most metro methods, in the event you’re standing at Platform 4, you simply assume all of the trains from there go in the identical course, proper? Easy logic. So I figured, alright, this could take us to Shioiri.
However not in Tokyo. We received on the prepare, and after simply two stops, I might inform one thing was off. The stations displaying up didn’t match what Google Maps was telling me. Déjà vu. So we received off, got here again to Keikyu-Kamata, went again to Platform 4,s ame routine, and received on one other prepare. And guess what? Identical consequence. The names nonetheless weren’t lining up. And right here’s the kicker: each of us have been lugging one large suitcase every, plus a small backpack. It was getting ridiculous. Nerves have been frayed. In another metropolis, I might’ve mentioned overlook it, let’s simply take a taxi. However that is Tokyo. Taxis right here? They’ll burn a gap via your pockets. That was not an possibility.
So after we landed again at Keikyu-Kamata for the third time, I instructed my sister—pay attention, this time, if Google Map says the prepare arriving at 10:25 on platform 4 then that’s the one to take, I’m taking the prepare that arrives at 10:25. I don’t care if different trains come earlier than. I’m solely getting on that 10.25 prepare.
And honest sufficient, that did the trick. As quickly as we boarded, the stations began matching Google Maps. Lastly, I used to be really watching the little blue dot transfer with the prepare as a substitute of towards it. And after some time, we pulled into Shioiri.
From there, our lodge was about 340 meters away. We adopted Google Maps for a couple of steps after which, there it was. I noticed the Mercure Yokosuka’s aspect gate. If there was a aspect gate, most important gate couldn’t be distant! I used to be proper, there was our lodge. And let me let you know, two drained passengers dragging suitcases via the Tokyo maze? We have been so completely satisfied to see it. Simply the sight of that lodge felt like a small victory. Later I might spot the lodge constructing, the tall one, proper from the platform!
And that was the start of my Tokyo journey with my sister, Alka. Shioiri grew to become our house base! You may see me within the image standing at the exact same station, all smiles! After which, ten days later, after we have been heading again to Haneda, every little thing simply clicked. All these stations that had felt like a maze on the way in which in? They have been really easy to navigate now. There was no confusion in any respect. We took the prepare from Shioiri to Keikyu-Kamata, hopped onto the following line straight to Haneda. It felt like second nature.
I nonetheless surprise although—what occurred on the way in which in? Why did I mess up so many instances coming from Haneda to Shioiri? Perhaps I used to be simply jet-lagged or perhaps it was all these films I watched on the airplane. However regardless of the cause, by the point we have been leaving, I had completely figured it out. And that? That felt fairly good.
And that is the start of my Tokyo Metro tales, you guess I’ve extra to inform.
