I’ve constantly had this thing for cities. Back home, it’s my go-to method to get around– quickly, dependable, no traffic. And when I travel, that routine follows me. If a city has a metro system, I’m on it. There’s something about belonging to the daily rhythm of a place– sitting silently among locals, seeing the city pass you by from below, that simply clicks with me. I also love those lines that run on the ground level, enabling me to appreciate new sights!
I have actually utilized city systems all around the world– London, Moscow, Dubai, Bangkok, even Paris. And honestly, whenever I get the chance, I constantly prefer to use the city. It offers you a genuine feel of the city, you know? However Tokyo Metro? That’s a monster unto itself. It’s on a whole various level, enormous, complicated, sort of daunting at first, however also definitely remarkable once you begin figuring it out.
The very first time I traveled to Tokyo with my daughter in October 2024, I had it easy. I landed at Narita Airport, and the train to Ginza was direct– no transfers, no confusion. I purchased 2 PASAMO cards at the airport and they were our trusted buddies. It was smooth cruising. We took the train directly from Narita and got off at Higashi-Ginza, much like Google Maps said. And from there? Our hotel– Ibis Styles Ginza– was barely 240 meters away. So whatever was great. No opportunities of getting lost, no platform puzzles. It was the ideal soft landing into the Tokyo City world.
However, things were a little different when I traveled with my sister in March 2025. This time, we landed at Haneda and we were staying in Shioiri in Greater Tokyo on the Keikyu Line. We needed to switch trains at Keikyu-Kamata, and then catch another one to get to Shioiri. And honestly? That was our undoing. See, I had flown in from Delhi, and rather of sleeping on the flight like a sensible person, I binge-watched motion pictures the entire method. Not even a blink of sleep. So by the time we came to Haneda, my brain was in full-on fog mode, not precisely perfect for navigating the Tokyo Metro. But there we were, equipped with the very same reliable PASMO IC cards from 2024. I ‘d kept both, and it still worked– we simply topped it up a bit, and off we went, into the unknown.
Getting to Keikyu-Kamata wasn’t the issue. That part went fine. Google Maps informed us to head to Platform 4 or 5, I believe it was Platform 4, so we followed instructions like great travelers. Now, in most metro systems, if you’re standing at Platform 4, you just assume all the trains from there enter the exact same instructions, right? Basic logic. So I figured, alright, this need to take us to Shioiri.
However not in Tokyo. We got on the train, and after simply 2 stops, I could inform something was off. The stations showing up didn’t match what Google Maps was informing me. So we left, returned to Keikyu-Kamata, returned to Platform 4, very same regular, and got on another train. And guess what? Same outcome. Déjà vu. The names still weren’t lining up. And here’s the kicker: both of us were lugging one big suitcase each, plus a small backpack. It was getting outrageous. Nerves were torn. In any other city, I would’ve stated forget it, let’s just take a taxi. However this is Tokyo. Cabs here? They’ll burn a hole through your wallet. That was not an option.
So when we landed back at Keikyu-Kamata for the 3rd time, I told my sister– listen, this time, if Google Map states the train reaching 10:25 on platform 4 then that is the one to take, I’m taking the train that reaches 10:25. I do not care if other trains come before. I’m only getting on that 10.25 train.
And reasonable enough, that sufficed. As quickly as we boarded, the stations started matching Google Maps. Finally, I was really seeing the little blue dot move with the train. And after a while, we pulled into Shioiri.
From there, our hotel had to do with 340 meters away. We followed Google Maps for a couple of steps and after that, there it was. I identified the Mercure Yokosuka’s side gate. If there was a side gate, main gate might not be far! I was right, there was our hotel. And let me inform you, two tired passengers dragging luggage through the Tokyo maze? We were so pleased to see it. Just the sight of that hotel seemed like a little triumph. Later I would spot the hotel structure, the high one, right from the platform!
And that was the beginning of my Tokyo experience with my sis, Alka. Shioiri became our home base! You can see me in the photo standing at the really exact same station, all smiles! And then, 10 days later, when we were heading back to Haneda, whatever just clicked. All those stations that had seemed like a maze en route in? They were so simple to browse now. There was no confusion at all. We took the train from Shioiri to Keikyu-Kamata, hopped onto the next line directly to Haneda. It seemed like second nature.
I still wonder however– what happened en route in? Why did I screw up a lot of times coming from Haneda to Shioiri? Maybe I was simply jet-lagged or perhaps it was all those movies I watched on the airplane. But whatever the factor, by the time we were leaving, I had totally figured it out. Which? That felt pretty good.
And this is the start of my Tokyo City stories, you wager I have more to inform.