Commuter pass for trains in Tokyo?

[Benoist]

Hi,

I'll be staying in Tokyo for about a year starting in April. Still looking for a place to stay, though (if you have any suggestions similiar to what Sakura House, you're free to tell me about it).

Anyway, I need to put the train fares into my monthly budget. Is there a pass which allows you to go by any (or most) trains and subways in Tokyo? How much would these cost? Would it be cheaper to buy some kind of pass or to buy single tickets for a total of about 25,000yen per month?

I know there's Japan Rail Pass, but it's not really needed for me because I won't have much time travel around anyway.

 

[nice gaijin]

What's your purpose in coming to Tokyo for an entire year? If it's to study, you might be able to get a student Teiki, which gives you unlimited rides on a certain route between two points, for a relatively low price (compared to the general priced teiki). As far as I know, there are no "free passes" for an extended period of time that just let you get around the city.

 

[Benoist]

Yes, I'm going to study (pre-college visa). When I was there last year on holiday, I saw a lot of people just touching their wallets on the gates, so there should be some kind of passes to buy.

This is what my school says in FAQ:

"Is it possible to get a commuter pass at a student rate?"

"This depends on the type of transportation you want to use. For subways and JR, you'll have to pay the standard rate but bus lines offer student passes. "

 

[nice gaijin]

Unless the train companies don't see you as a "student," there's no reason you can't get a student teiki. On the other hand, I've been told that there are no student passes for the bus. Taking the bus would be more of an inconvenience for me, so I didn't inquire further on that point.

The "touching the wallet" thing is called a suica by JR, and it's just a prepaid card for convenience; there is no discount for using it. I have heard of a suica teiki, but you can only use it on JR lines. All other teiki (that involve other private lines or the subway) are just large cards you still have to feed through the turnstiles.

 

[Kirirao]

Unfortunately if your school(language school i presume) arent one of the few that have the qualification, theres no way you're going to get that student pass for the train. Most language school arent considered as a qualified school so theres no student teiki for us Fortunately for me theres some misunderstanding in the JR office until recently, our batch are lucky as we're able to get the student teiki. Not anymore tho. Good thing theres the renewal machine outside the midori madoguchi office. Even they says no I still can get the teiki *evil laugh*

And as for suica, it seems that you will be able to use it in metro, private line and buses pretty soon. Seen the advertisment everywhere. Seems like Suica and Passnet going to be universal.

 

[nice gaijin]

Well, that will be convenient, but that's about all it will be...

 

[Benoist]

Thanks for your replies. I guess I have to go with standard rates (might get a suice for convenience). I think I'll try to ask for a student teiki first though. :joyful:

 

[Kirirao]

Anyway, I need to put the train fares into my monthly budget. Is there a pass which allows you to go by any (or most) trains and subways in Tokyo? How much would these cost? Would it be cheaper to buy some kind of pass or to buy single tickets for a total of about 25,000yen per month?

Normal pass wouldnt cost you up to 25,000 yen seriously, unless you're living far far away like from Shinjuku <-> (A place with kanji that I never seen nor I can pronounce). Paying everyday will tho

and there is no pass that would let you go to or get off from any train station sub or whaterver. maybe the expensive JR Pass? Dunno never used it or know anything about it. Most normal commuter pass goes from point A to point B, should be able to exit anywhere in between.

If you want to save more. Do buy the 6month commuter pass rather then the 1 month. Save more~ A LOT more