I’ve always had this thing for metros. Back home, it’s my go-to way to get around—fast, reliable, no traffic. And when I travel, that habit follows me. If a city has a metro system, I’m on it. There’s something about being part of the everyday rhythm of a place—sitting quietly among locals, watching the city pass you by from below, that just clicks with me. I also love those lines that operate on the ground level, allowing me to admire new sights!

I’ve used metro systems all around the world—London, Moscow, Dubai, Bangkok, even Paris. And honestly, whenever I get the chance, I always prefer to use the metro. It gives you a real feel of the city, you know? But Tokyo Metro? That’s a beast unto itself. It’s on a whole different level, massive, complex, kind of intimidating at first, but also absolutely fascinating once you start figuring it out.

The 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 bought two PASAMO cards at the airport and they were our trusted companions. It was smooth sailing. We took the train straight from Narita and got off at Higashi-Ginza, just like Google Maps said. And from there? Our hotel—Ibis Styles Ginza—was barely 240 meters away. So everything was good. No chances of getting lost, no platform puzzles. It was the perfect soft landing into the Tokyo Metro 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 had 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 instead of sleeping on the flight like a sensible person, I binge-watched movies the entire way. Not even a blink of sleep. So by the time we arrived at Haneda, my brain was in full-on fog mode, not exactly ideal for navigating the Tokyo Metro. But there we were, armed with the same trusty PASMO IC cards from 2024. I’d kept both, and it still worked—we just topped it up a bit, and off we went, into the unknown.

Arriving at Keikyu-Kamata wasn’t the issue. That part went fine. Google Maps told us to head to Platform 4 or 5, I think it was Platform 4, so we followed instructions like good tourists. Now, in most metro systems, if you’re standing at Platform 4, you just assume all the trains from there go in the same direction, right? Simple logic. So I figured, alright, this should take us to Shioiri.

But not in Tokyo. We got on the train, and after just two stops, I could tell something was off. The stations showing up didn’t match what Google Maps was telling me. Déjà vu. So we got off, came back to Keikyu-Kamata, went back to Platform 4,s ame routine, and got on another train. And guess what? Same result. 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 ridiculous. Nerves were frayed. In any other city, I would’ve said forget it, let’s just take a taxi. But this is Tokyo. Taxis here? They’ll burn a hole through your wallet. That was not an option.

So when we landed back at Keikyu-Kamata for the third time, I told my sister—listen, this time, if Google Map says the train arriving at 10:25 on platform 4 then that is the one to take, I’m taking the train that arrives at 10:25. I don’t care if other trains come before. I’m only getting on that 10.25 train.

And fair enough, that did the trick. As soon as we boarded, the stations started matching Google Maps. Finally, I was actually watching the little blue dot move with the train instead of against it. And after a while, we pulled into Shioiri.

From there, our hotel was about 340 meters away. We followed Google Maps for a few steps and then, there it was. I spotted the Mercure Yokosuka’s side gate. If there was a side gate, main gate could not be far away! I was right, there was our hotel. And let me tell you, two tired passengers dragging suitcases through the Tokyo maze? We were so happy to see it. Just the sight of that hotel felt like a small victory. Later I would spot the hotel building, the tall one, right from the platform!

And that was the beginning of my Tokyo adventure with my sister, Alka. Shioiri became our home base! You can see me in the picture standing at the very same station, all smiles! And then, ten days later, when we were heading back to Haneda, everything just clicked. All those stations that had felt like a maze on the way in? They were so easy to navigate now. There was no confusion at all. We took the train from Shioiri to Keikyu-Kamata, hopped onto the next line straight to Haneda. It felt like second nature.

I still wonder though—what happened on the way in? Why did I mess up so many times coming from Haneda to Shioiri? Maybe I was just jet-lagged or maybe it was all those movies I watched on the plane. But whatever the reason, by the time we were leaving, I had totally figured it out. And that? That felt pretty good.

And this is the beginning of my Tokyo Metro stories, you bet I have more to tell.

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