The code system does the work
Before any Japanese: every Tokyo line has a letter and every station a number. The Ginza Line is G, so Shibuya is G-01 and Ginza is G-09. Match the letter and count the numbers and you can ride the whole system without reading a single kanji. The words below are for when you want to read the signs anyway.
Two operators, one city
Tokyo's subway is run by two companies — the signs tell you which.
東京メトロ (Tokyo Metro) and 都営 (Toei) are separate subway operators; the JR 山手線 (Yamanote) loop overlaps them above ground. One IC card (Suica / スイカ or Pasmo / パスモ) taps onto all of them — but a paper transfer between Metro and Toei can need a new ticket.
Platforms and direction
The words that get you on the right train, the right way.
A platform sign like 3番線 浅草方面 reads "platform 3, bound for Asakusa." Direction is always 〜方面 (hōmen) plus the names of stations down the line, so you pick your platform by where the train is heading, not just the line.
Train types
Some trains skip stations — check the type before boarding.
Within the subway most trains are 各駅停車 (all stops), but lines that continue onto suburban railways mix in 急行 (express) and 快速 (rapid) trains that skip stops. If your station is small, make sure the train isn't an express that blows right past it.
Read the next sign yourself
Learn the kana behind the station names, paste a line or station into the converter, or point the app at a platform sign and read it live — even underground, where the app's offline Trip mode keeps working with no signal.
Ready when you are
Read the platform, not just the map.
Kanapow breaks any Japanese word into mora with tap-to-hear pronunciation, so station names, exits, and transfers all become readable. Free on iPhone — and the Japan Trip pack works fully offline, for when you're deep underground.
Download on the App StoreTokyo subway reading FAQ
Is the Tokyo subway in English?
Yes — Tokyo Metro and Toei stations, maps, and ticket machines all carry English alongside Japanese, and every station has a letter-and-number code (like G-09). You can navigate without reading Japanese, but knowing a few words like 出口 (exit), 乗換 (transfer), and 番線 (platform) removes the last bit of friction.
What's the difference between Tokyo Metro and Toei?
They're two separate subway operators that share the city. Tokyo Metro (東京メトロ) runs nine lines; Toei (都営) runs four. A single IC card like Suica or Pasmo works on both, but a paper transfer between them can need a separate ticket — the signs say 乗換 (norikae, transfer).
What does 番線 mean on a platform sign?
番線 (bansen) means "platform" or "track number". A sign reading 3番線 is platform 3. Direction is shown as 〜方面 (hōmen, "bound for"), followed by the names of stations further down the line.
How do I know which train type to take?
Watch for 各駅停車 / 普通 (local, every stop), 快速 (kaisoku, rapid), 急行 (kyūkō, express), and 特急 (tokkyū, limited express). Most subway trains are local, but lines running onto suburban tracks mix in faster types that skip stations — check before you board.