Will visit Japan for the first time in October. During the visit, I plan to stay a couple of days in Tokyo. I read about the PASMO card as well as the 1 and 2 day travelcards for public transport in the City.

Question: If I pay for the 1day travelcard, I definitely know what this day will cost me. Using the PASMO card also seems very convenient but I wonder if using this card might in the end be more expensive than the 1day ticket. Or is there a cap like you have it in London with the Oystercard where you pay single fares but only up to the price of a 1 Day Travelcard? So at the end of the day, you get the best fare for your travel pattern that day. Does it work the same way with PASMO?

Thank you!

Day passes in Tokyo are not recommended, either, because they cover only some of the train lines or are too expensive.

So, for just a 1-day stay, I personally would buy just single ticket for each ride, unless you know that you will be using only JR lines, in which case a Tokunai Pass makes sense or Tokyo Metro in which case their day pass makes sense.

If you also visit the Kansai Area (Osaka, Kyoto), then I would consider the Suica prepaid card, which is not only valid on all trains in Tokyo, but also JR trains in the Kansai area (and some other areas of Japan).

Or is there a cap like you have it in London with the Oystercard where you pay single fares but only up to the price of a 1 Day Travelcard?

I will probably stay 4-5 days in Tokyo, thatLs why I am considering the PASMO card. As for the 1 Day Travelcard, I was thinking of the one that covers both metro operators (Toei Subway as well as Tokyo Metro). IsnLt that the Ichinichi Jyosha Ken ticket for Yen 1,000?

I guess there isnLt an easy answer to this, but maybe a rule of thumb: How many trips within Tokyo would I have to make each day for the 1 day subway ticket to be effectively cheaper than the PASMO?

I like the convenience that comes with the PASMO, but if this convenience will cost me significantly more than purchasing a travelcard each day, then I would rather purchase the ticket that covers Toei Subway andTokyo Metro. I assume that with both ''lines'', I can cover almost every single place within Tokyo (geopgraphically speaking), canLt I?

Cheers,
Doc

In that case, go for Pasmo or Suica. I recommend Suica because it is also valid in some areas outside of Tokyo.

As for the 1 Day Travelcard, I was thinking of the one that covers both metro operators (Toei Subway as well as Tokyo Metro). IsnLt that the Ichinichi Jyosha Ken ticket for Yen 1,000?

It does not cover the most convenient Yamanote Line, and, in my opinion, is overpriced. Few tourists will spend more than 1000 yen on a single day on subway travel.

I assume that with both ''lines'', I can cover almost every single place within Tokyo (geopgraphically speaking), canLt I?

a) can use it on any train or subway lines
b) can use it on buses
c) can use it at stores
d) you can go to the machine and ask it to print out a receipt of the places you visited

Basically a short one-way distance on the subway is 160yen, then 190yen, then 210yen.

Start at Pt.A
Go to Pt. B 160yen
Go to Pt. C 160yen (320)
Go to Pt. D 160yen (480)
Go to Pt. E 160yen (640)
Go home Pt.F 210yen (850)

Even in the above scenario where you go to 4 different tourist spots, then go home, it's still less than 1,000 and I don't know many people who have hit so many spots in a day.

And the other poster is right, the one-day is only good for the subway. If you take any JR or other even any non-Toei or non-TokyoMetro lines, you gotta pay extra.

If you are arriving via Narita Airport, you should maybe consider getting the NEX+Suica deal:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

Also, your NEX ticket will get you to a lot more JR stations than Tokyo station:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/guide.html

So you will only need to start using the Suica card if you need to additionally use a subway, bus or private railway to get to your Tokyo hotel.