Tokyo Metro · Iriya, Akihabara, Asakusa and Shibuya
A transport guide comparing Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya and Ginza lines, IC and postpaid bank-card travel, and the coverage of the 24-hour ticket.
At a glance
- Evening journey
- Hibiya Line: Iriya→Akihabara
- Final day
- Ginza Line: Asakusa→Shibuya
- Official example journey
- Shibuya–Asakusa approximately 33 minutes
- Fare for this section
- IC JPY 252 / ticket or bank-card travel JPY 260 · official table dated 2026.04.01
Checked · 2026.10.27
Tokyo Metro · Iriya, Akihabara, Asakusa and Shibuya
A transport guide comparing Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya and Ginza lines, IC and postpaid bank-card travel, and the coverage of the 24-hour ticket.
- Subway
- IC cards
Distinguishing the Hibiya and Ginza lines
The Hibiya Line is marked with a silver H, and the Ginza Line with an orange G. Iriya→Akihabara is a direct Hibiya Line ride; Asakusa→Shibuya is direct on the Ginza Line. Checking the line letter and station number beside the station name helps distinguish other operators’ stations in the same area.
| Line | From | To | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibiya Line | Iriya H19 | Akihabara H16 | Toward Naka-meguro |
| Ginza Line | Asakusa G19 | Shibuya G01 | Toward Shibuya |
IC cards, paper tickets and bank-card travel
Transport IC cards pay fares from a prepaid balance, while paper tickets are purchased before boarding. Tokyo Metro introduced postpaid contactless travel using credit cards and similar cards at compatible gates on March 25, 2026. This began after the March 4–7 trip described here. Postpaid travel requires one card per person and use by the named cardholder only; there is no separate child fare, so the adult fare applies.
Asakusa–Shibuya fare and journey time
Metro’s main-route table dated April 1, 2026 lists Asakusa–Shibuya as 33 minutes, JPY 252 by IC or JPY 260 with a paper ticket or postpaid bank card. Add the walk to the station and through the exit to that train time. A route via another operator’s station of the same name may incur an additional fare.
Compare the 24-hour ticket for repeated rides
The Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket costs JPY 700 for adults and JPY 350 for children. It covers Metro’s nine lines, not all Tokyo transport including JR, Keikyu and the monorail. Check when validity starts for your purchase format and compare the total individual fares for your destinations that day. Three subway rides do not always make it worthwhile.
Transfers involving a change of operator or station
Dedicated transfer gates to JR are not covered by postpaid bank-card travel, so do not assume it works exactly like a transport IC card. Separate fare settlement is required outside the eligible coverage. Metro–Toei transfers that require leaving the gates incur a new fare if they exceed 60 minutes, so take care with long shopping or meal stops en route.
Detailed guides to individual facilities and stations
The individual INFO pages below explain each facility’s location, operation and access conditions.
Take a look around
Photos from multiple visits · capture years noted in captionsThe story behind this place
I Went to Tokyo for Miyu,
and Remembered the People, Too
Back on the Train, from Iriya to Akihabara
After resting at the hotel, I went out again. An acquaintance was due to join me there that evening, originally at seven. As the time approached, however, I could not get in touch; all I…
Read this scene ↗The Yellow Ginza Line, on My Way to Miyu
After checking out, I gathered my luggage and went outside again. The trip’s final event was the performance in Shibuya, so that was where I needed to go. There are several ways to reach…
Read this scene ↗