How to Ride the Toei Bus in Tokyo Explained｜Fares, Manners, etc.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Toei buses run comprehensively throughout Tokyo's 23 wards, with major routes running every 5 to 10 minutes, making them very convenient for getting around the city.

Fares are uniform, and are also cheaper than those of the Toei Subway and other subway lines, at 210 yen for adults (210 yen IC) and 110 yen for children (105 yen IC).

When traveling within Tokyo's 23 wards, be sure to take a Toei bus.

This article explains how to ride Tokyo's metropolitan buses in an easy-to-understand manner.

Toei buses in Tokyo's 23 wards are pre-ridden and pre-paid.

All Toei buses in the 23 wards of Tokyo use the pre-ride and pre-pay system.

Board the bus from the front door and insert cash or touch your IC card into the fare box provided. When getting off, the rule is to get off from the middle or rear door.

Thus, in principle, Toei buses allow passengers to board and disembark smoothly and prevent delays by requiring passengers to board in advance and pay in advance when boarding and disembark behind the buses.

Payment Methods for Toei Buses in Tokyo's 23 Wards

As mentioned above, Toei buses operating within the 23 wards of Tokyo accept cash and IC cards for payment.

Please note that 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen bills are not accepted when paying with paper money.

The fare for Toei buses within the 23 wards of Tokyo is 210 yen (IC 210 yen) for adults and 110 yen (IC 105 yen) for children.

How to ride a Toei bus in Tokyo's 23 wards

To board a Toei bus that operates within the 23 wards of Tokyo, follow the steps below.

1. check routes and bus stops

First, check the bus stops and bus routes to get to your destination.

To find routes and bus stops, applications such as Google Maps and Transfer Guide are useful.

You can also visit the Toei Bus website (https://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/bus/map/), a list of route maps and bus stop information (Min-kuru Guide) is also available.

2. wait for the bus at the bus stop

Once you know the bus route and bus stop to go to your destination, move to that bus stop and wait for the bus.

When you arrive at the bus stop, check the bus stop sign installed and confirm the bus number assigned to each destination.

Bus stop signs also indicate the estimated arrival time of the bus.

3. board through the front door and pay the fare

When the bus with the number you should board arrives, board through the front door of the bus.

Please insert cash into the fare machine or touch your IC card such as PASMO when boarding the bus.

The IC card should be placed horizontally against the card reader of the fare machine.

When the reading is completed correctly, a "beep" or "beep" or similar sound is heard.

Conversely, if the IC card cannot be read, an electronic "p-p-p-p" sound will be heard, and the user must touch the IC card correctly again.

4. press the "get off" button

When the next bus stop is the one you want to get off at, press the "get off" button.

For example, if you want to get off at "Roppongi 1-chome Station" followed by "Roppongi 4" followed by "Roppongi Station", press the "Get off" button when you pass "Roppongi 4".

By pressing the "get off" button, the bus will stop at the next bus stop.

5. getting off

When the bus stops, exit through the middle or rear door.

Rules and precautions regarding riding Toei buses

Below are the rules, cautions, and manners for riding metropolitan buses.

Payment in coins and 1,000 yen bills only

Only coins and 1,000-yen bills are accepted for payment on Toei buses; 5,000- and 10,000-yen bills are not accepted and cannot be exchanged, so have coins and 1,000-yen bills ready before boarding.

Please prepare other coins and bills since old coins and bills such as old 500-yen coins cannot be read by the fare machine.

Please note that the fare machine on the Toei bus will automatically clear the fare and return the change once the amount over the fare is entered.

Therefore, when paying with multiple coins or bills, such as 10 yen + 500 yen or 10 yen + 1,000 yen, the smallest amount should be inserted first.

By putting in the 10 yen first, the change that comes out will not be too small.

Items that can and cannot be brought onto Toei buses

For safety reasons and to prevent inconvenience to other passengers, Toei buses have the following regulations on what can and cannot be carried on board.

Other manners on Toei buses

Please observe the following manners when riding a Toei bus.

Cell phones are in silent mode and not talking.

It is good manners to set your phone to silent mode and refrain from talking on it while in the car. Also, turn off your phone when you are near priority seats.

Priority seating is given to those who need it.

Priority seats in each car should be given to the elderly, the physically challenged, pregnant women, people with infants, and people with help marks.

If no one has done so, or if a seat is available, you may sit down.

Incidentally, the Help Mark is a mark for people with illnesses or handicaps that are difficult to recognize on the outside.

They are carried by those who need assistance and care from their surroundings, such as those with artificial legs or joints, internal disabilities, intractable diseases, and early pregnancy.

If you see a person wearing the Help Mark, try to act considerately, such as giving up your seat or helping to evacuate in case of a disaster.

no smoking at any time

On Toei buses, smoking is prohibited all day both on board and at bus stops.

Any activity that constitutes smoking, including e-cigarettes and similar products, is prohibited.

Let's take a ride on the Tokyo Metropolitan Bus!

Toei buses are low-cost, convenient bus routes that can take you anywhere in Tokyo's 23 wards.

Travelers can also enjoy various views of Tokyo from the train windows.

We hope you will enjoy sightseeing in Tokyo on the Toei buses with reference to the riding style and manners introduced in this article.