GETTING AROUND TOKYO
Tokyo has a very advanced public transportation infrastructure - with JR trains (mostly above ground), subways and buses. Using Google maps for directions generally works well - Buses can be a little intimidating at first, but Google does a good job of providing multi-modal directions that involve buses and trains.
Some good information on Wikipedia about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Subway
Most foreign visitors to Tokyo become very adept at using the subways and JR lines. If you purchase an Integrated Chip (IC) card, you use it to pay fares on all subways, train lines, buses, and most taxis. It saves you the effort of calculating fares for each trip that you make and it makes transfers between lines very simple.
The two main IC cards that you're likely to encounter in Tokyo are SUICA (issued by JR) and PASMO (issued by the subway companies). Both cards work on all lines in the same way. The differences between the two are too minute to discuss here.
At the moment (October 2023), due to a shortage of chips for the IC cards, the issuing companies for IC Cards in Tokyo are only offering "WELCOME" cards to visitors. On the plus side, there is no deposit required for these cards. On the negative side, they expire after 30 days (and any remaining credit will be lost).
- Tokyo has two main subway companies, but if you're using an IC card, you needn't worry about which one you're using:
Tokyo Metro:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/e/
Toei Subway:
http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/english/index.html
JR Lines:
JR Trains, Subways and Buses now all accept IC contact cards for payment. Cards can be charged up with 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000 or 10,000yen of credit.
When ordinary (not "WELCOME") IC cards become available again, it will be possible to buy one which does not expire. In that case, you will pay a 500 yen deposit for the card.
The deposit is returnable - but JR charges about 210yen in admin fees if you have some money remaining on the card. So it is best to completely use up any credit that you have on the card. (And then you will get the full 500 yen returned).
So if you purchase a "SUICA" card at a JR station - it will also work on the subway. And vice versa if you purchase a "PASSMO" card at a subway station. (However, supply of PASMO cards is currently limited so you may find it easier to buy a SUICA card).
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646228
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suica
Taxis are readily available in Tokyo - but it may be worth noting this advice:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=469063