Tōkyō subway
The Tōkyō rapid transit system is operated by two different companies; Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Ticket prices start at ¥160 and most lines start at around 5 AM and stop service between midnight and 1 AM.
 | Tokyo Metro subway consists of nine subway lines—Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, and Fukutoshin Lines—that cover the area of Tokyo’s 23 wards and carry some 6.36 million passengers per day. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides. |
 | The four Toei Subway lines are operated by the Tōkyō metropolitan government. Tokyo Metro and Toei trains form completely separate networks. While users of prepaid rail passes can freely interchange between the two networks, regular ticket holders must purchase a separate ticket. |
Ōsaka subway
 | Ōsaka subway has eight lines, including the Nankō Port Town Line, which is a completely automated, driverless train system. The network covers most of the city, fares begin at ¥200 for a single journey, and the subway is open between 5 AM and midnight. |
Nagoya subway
 | Nagoya subway has six lines and together with commuter rail forms an extensive network of 47 lines covering most of the Greater Nagoya region. The fares begin at ¥200 for a single journey, most lines start at around 5 AM and finish at midnight. |
Sapporo subway
 | The Sapporo subway has three lines, the first of which, the Namboku Line, was opened in 1971 prior to the 1972 Winter Olympics. The system is unique in that the trains are guided by a central rail with rubber tires on two narrow steel tracks. Fares begin at ¥200, services start at around 5 AM and finish at midnight. |
Sendai subway
 | The Sendai subway system consists of just one line (a second line is scheduled to open in 2015). Fares start from ¥200 for a single journey, the subway is open from around 5 AM till midnight. |
Kyōto subway
 | Kyōto’s subway has two lines. Archaeological artifacts found during the construction of the subway are displayed at Karasuma Oike Station. Fares start from ¥210 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM. |
Fukuoka subway
 | The Fukuoka City subway has three lines, all of the trains are completely automated, and each station has a unique logo. Ticket prices start from ¥100 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM. |
Yokohama subway
 | The Fukuoka City subway has three lines, all of the trains are completely automated, and each station has a unique logo. Ticket prices start from ¥100 for a single journey, the subway runs from 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM. |
Kōbe subway
 | The Kobe Municipal Subway has two lines. Apart from the subway and several commuter rail lines there are two automated elevated rubber-tyred light metro lines which connect the mainland to two islands. Fares start from ¥200 for a single journey, the subway opens at 5:30 AM and closes at midnight. |
Women-only carriages
To counter groping in the cars by male perverts, known as chikan, some Japanese subways have introduced women-only carriages running during the rush hour. They are indicated with a pink sign and a guard is usually present to enforce the rule, politely asking any man who fails to read the notice to get in a different carriage.
Tōkyō Subway Museum
If you are interested in Japanese subway systems, some of which are unique and logistically breathtaking, the Tōkyō Subway Museum is definitely worth a visit. The museum, located underneath the Tōzai line, has everything from historic carriages, through video displays and poster exhibitions, up to model train layouts and even hands-on driving simulators. The museum also has displays on tunnelling technology, subway maintenance cars, and is overall a must-visit if you love trains and subways.
Shopping
One thing that may positively surprise you about taking underground trains in Japan is that underground shopping complexes have been built surrounding the underground stations, making the whole experience somewhat more pleasurable and glamorous.
