Yokohama Municipal Subway Information
The system is a rapid transit system in the city of Yokohama in Japan. The system began operation on 12 April 1972 and currently has 2 lines (Blue and Green) serving 42 stations. The network has a total system length of 53.4 kilometres (33.2 miles). It is operated by the Yokohama City Transportation Bureau. Plans are underway to extend the Blue Line.
The Yokohama Municipal Subway, also known as the Yokohama Metro, is a widely used transport system in the city. It serves about 542,000 passengers per day. Fare information is not provided.
The Yokohama Metro does not operate 24 hours a day and has no air conditioning. However, passengers can walk between platforms, making transfers easy. The Kanazawa Seaside Line, LRT and rubber-tyred trains are equipped with driverless technology, which has been in use since 1989.
The platforms of the Kanazawa Seaside LRT line are equipped with screen doors to ensure passenger safety. The Yokohama Metro is operated by the Yokohama City Transportation Bureau.
The operating hours of the Yokohama Metro are from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily. The fare is usually between 206 and 545 yen.
Yokohama Municipal Subway Map
Map of Yokohama Municipal Subway showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Yokohama Municipal Subway map in PDF format.
Lines and Stations
The Yokohama Municipal Metro consists of two lines: the Blue Line and the Green Line. Most of the stations in the system are underground, but there are also a few surface stations. The Blue Line was the first to open in 1972, while the Green Line opened later in 2008.
Blue Line
The Blue Line is the longest line in the Yokohama Metro, with a total length of 40.4 km and 32 stations. It passes through various wards in Yokohama, including Aoba-ku, Tsuzuki-ku, Kōhoku-ku, Kanagawa-ku, Nishi-ku, Naka-ku, Minami-ku, Kōnan-ku, Totsuka-ku and Izumi-ku, as well as the Fujisawa ward in Kanagawa. Most of the stations on this line are underground, except for a small extension and Kaminagaya station.
Internally, the Blue Line is divided into two separate lines: Line 1 and Line 3. Line 1 is 19.7 km long and serves 17 stations, with Shōnandai and Kannai as its termini. Line 3 covers the rest of the Blue Line and is 20.7 km long with 26 stations. Its termini are Kannai and Azamino. The Blue Line provides connections to other public transport and shares stations with the Green Line at Kita Center and Minami Center.
The Blue Line is identified by its colour (blue) and the letter B in the regional system. It is well connected to suburban, regional and long-distance trains. In 2014, an average of 513,897 people used this line daily.
Green Line
The Green Line is the second line of the Yokohama Metro and was opened in 2008. It is 13.1 km long and serves 10 stations. The wards served by this line include Midori-ku, Tsuzuki-ku and Kōhoku-ku. The Green Line has both underground and surface stations, with Kawawachō and the shared stations with the Blue Line (Kita Center and Minami Center) being the surface stations.
The Green Line is also known as Line 4 in the numerical identification system. Its terminals are Nakayama and Hiyoshi. The line is identified by its colour (green) and the letter G in the local area. In 2014, an average of 129,104 people travelled daily on this line.
Connections with Other Systems
Yokohama is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, which is densely populated and requires efficient transport systems. In addition to the Yokohama Municipal Metro, there are several other transport companies and lines that provide connections to various parts of the city and beyond.
One of the major transport companies is Japan Railway Company East (JR East), which operates numerous train lines. Shin-Yokohama station on the Blue Line and Nakayama station on the Green Line are connected to the Yokohama Line operated by JR East. Yokohama and Totsuka stations connect with the Tokaido and Yokosuka lines, while Yokohama, Sakuragichō and Kannai stations connect with the Negishi line. The Keihin-Tohoku line passes through Yokohama station, and the Shonan-Shinjuku line passes through Totsuka station.
Another major transport provider is the Tokyu Corporation, which operates several railway lines. Yokohama and Hiyoshi stations are served by the Tokyu Toyoko line, while Azamino station is connected to the Den-en-toshi line. Hiyoshi station also has connections to the Meguro Line. Other railway operators such as Keikyu, Minatomirai, Odaiku and Sagami also have lines that connect to various stations in Yokohama.
The Yokohama Metro also connects to the Tokaido Shinkansen, commonly known as the Bullet Train, which connects Tokyo and Osaka. Shin-Yokohama Station is the transfer point between the Yokohama Metro and the Shinkansen. In addition, there are over 50 bus lines operated by the same parent company as the metro, providing a comprehensive bus service throughout the city. Tickets are interchangeable between the metro and buses.
Yokohama also has a connection to an aquatic bus (small ferry) that departs from Yokohama Port. Passengers can access the port through the east exit of Yokohama Station. The Aquatic Bus serves four stations, including Yamashita Park.
Connections to the Airports
Yokohama does not have its own airport as it is part of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The two main airports serving the area are Narita Airport and Haneda Airport.
Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport, is the closest airport to Yokohama and is about 15km away. Although it primarily handles domestic flights, it also serves international flights. While there is no direct subway connection, Keikyu offers a train service from Yokohama Central Station to Haneda Airport via the Blue Line.
The other airport is Narita International Airport. This facility handles about 50% of the country’s international flights. Although Tokyo Narita (as it is commonly known) is much further from Yokohama than Haneda (almost 80 km in a straight line), it still receives the majority of international passengers, so there are many transports to and from the airport. The easiest way to get to Yokohama from Narita, or vice versa, is to take the Narita Express, a train that connects it with Tokyo, Shinjuku, Omiya and Yokohama. In the latter, the metro connects with the railway at Yokohama and Totsuka stations.
Schedule and timetables
The timetable and frequency of the trains are clearly defined by the metro authorities. Information is available on the official website. In general, the system opens before 5.30 a.m. and closes after midnight. The exact opening and closing times and frequency of trains vary from line to line.
On the Blue Line, the first train leaves the terminal (Azamino station) at 5:14 in the morning, while the last train leaves at 12:49 the next night. At weekends, the last train leaves a little earlier, at 12:19 in the evening.
On the Green Line, the first train leaves Hiyoshi station at 5:15 in the morning from Monday to Friday, while the last train leaves at 12:40 in the evening. This changes slightly on weekends, when the first train leaves at 5:14 and the last at 12:28.
Frequency or service varies a lot during the day. At the start of a normal weekday, Blue Line trains run every 9 minutes for the first hour, but at 6am the frequency increases to a train every 6 to 8 minutes. At 7am, rush hour begins and trains speed up to meet demand: the frequency is set at 4 minutes until 9am, from which time there is a train every 7 minutes until 4pm. At 4pm, the frequency increases again to one train every 5 or 6 minutes, and this continues until around 11pm, when things start to slow down. The last trains run every 12 minutes.
The Green Line is pretty much the same. Trains run every 10 minutes from the time the system opens, but the frequency drops to 6 minutes and then to 4 minutes as the morning rush begins at around 7:00 a.m. Trains slow down a bit after 8:00 a.m. and the frequency is relatively stable until 11:00 p.m., when things really slow down, with trains running every 12 minutes until the doors close for the night.
Tariffs, tickets and cards
There are several types of ticket that a passenger can use on the Yokohama Municipal Metro. The standard basic fare is calculated based on the distance the passenger will travel and starts at 210 JPY (about $1.84 USD) for tickets paid in cash. As with any major public transport system, there are special fares for different types of users. All normal fares have a 50% discount for children.
The first option is the Day Pass. This ticket allows the user to travel as much as they like, regardless of distance, for a full operating day (until the system closes). The price of this ticket is ¥740 ($6.48 USD).
There are also integrated day passes that give unlimited access to both subway and bus lines. This ticket normally costs ¥830 JPY ($7.27 USD).
Another option is the Multi-Ride Pass, which allows up to 11 rides during peak hours, 12 rides from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (off-peak), and up to 14 rides on weekends and holidays.
For frequent users of the Yokohama Metro, there is a special card called PASMO. This card offers the advantage of not using paper tickets and gives a small discount on all tickets purchased.
Group tickets are also available and can be purchased at any station. This is a good option if you are travelling with friends or family.
Finally, there are special monthly passes for frequent commuters and students, which offer the best prices. These passes are designed for those who rely heavily on public transport.
Future Expansions
The Yokohama metro has a promising future with several expansions planned. While some projects have been put on hold, many are still under consideration. One planned extension will connect the Yokohama metro to the soon-to-be-built Kawasaki metro, a neighbouring city between Tokyo and Yokohama. Another project that is likely to move forward soon is the construction of Line 2, which will connect Kanagawa-Shimachi to Byobugaura via Yokohama Station.
As for existing lines, there are plans to extend the Blue Line from its current terminus at Azamino to Shin-Yurigaoka. The Green Line was originally conceived as a circular line, so most expansion plans for this line are aimed at completing this vision.
Advice
As with any public transport system, there are a few things to remember when using the Yokohama Municipal Metro:
- Follow all instructions given by the system operators. If you don’t understand Japanese, ask for help or look for signs in English.
- Bicycles are not allowed on the subway unless they are properly packed in special bags. They must not exceed certain maximum dimensions (250 cm in length). The same limit applies to any other items that passengers are allowed to carry.
- Plan your trip in advance and buy your tickets carefully, as errors can occur when calculating fares based on distance travelled.
- There are special seats for pregnant women, the elderly and the disabled. These seats should not be occupied by other passengers. There is also a women-only carriage available for those who wish to use it.
Fun Facts
- The design of Yokohama Metro stations features white tiles on the walls with blue and yellow decorations, creating a distinctive aesthetic throughout the system.
- There is a designated women’s car on the Blue Line, which provides a comfortable and safe space for female passengers.
- The Yokohama Metro is one of nine metro systems in Japan and serves as an important transportation network for the city.
Tourism and Sightseeing
Yokohama is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with many attractions that are easily accessible by metro. Here are some notable places to visit:
- Minato Mirai 21: Passengers can disembark at Sakuragicho station and take a short walk to the Minato Mirai 21 district. This waterfront area is a bustling commercial zone with skyscrapers, shopping malls, entertainment venues and beautiful views of the bay. It is also a popular spot for cruise ship arrivals and departures.
- HARA Model Railway Museum: Located near Takashimacho Station, this museum is a train enthusiast’s paradise. It houses an extensive collection of model trains that show the history and development of railways in Japan. It is a great destination for families and anyone interested in trains.
- Hongaku-ji Temple: Walk from Kanagawa Station to Hongaku-ji Temple, a historic Buddhist temple with traditional Japanese architecture. Dating back to the 16th century, it offers a serene and peaceful atmosphere for visitors to explore and appreciate.
Yokohama’s subway system provides convenient access to these attractions and many more, making it easy for tourists to navigate the city and explore its diverse offerings.