Tokyo Last Train Guide 2026: Times, Taxis and First Trains

Last-train times depend on the line, the station and the direction, and weekday and weekend timetables differ. Published weekday examples from January 2026 show the spread. From Shinjuku, the last JR Yamanote Line trains left at about 1:00 a.m., with first trains at 4:43 a.m. From Ginza, the last Tokyo Metro Ginza Line train toward Shibuya left at 12:01 a.m., and the first ran at 5:18 a.m. From Shinjuku, the last Toei Oedo Line train toward Hikarigaoka left at 12:58 a.m.

As a rule of thumb, subway lines tend to stop earlier than the Yamanote Line, and first trains on JR lines often start before 5 a.m. while many subway lines start around 5 a.m. Many lines moved their last trains earlier in the 2021 timetable revisions, so older guides and forum posts may give times that are no longer correct.

The most common way to miss the last train is not the first line but the connection. You catch a late Yamanote Line train, only to find that the subway or private railway line to your hotel stopped earlier. Always check the full route, including transfers, not just the first leg.

Route-planning apps and sites such as NAVITIME and Yahoo! Transit have a last-train search that works backward from your destination, and Tokyo Metro, Toei and JR East all publish station timetables online. Setting a phone alarm about 30 minutes before your last departure gives you time to pay, walk to the station and find the right platform.

• Search the whole route to your hotel, not just the first train
• Check the weekend or holiday timetable if you are travelling on one
• Set an alarm around 30 minutes before the last departure
• Hubs such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro offer more lines, and more last-train options

A transit IC card saves time at ticket machines when you are racing for the last train. JR East's Welcome Suica card for short-term visitors can be used for 28 days from purchase and works for trains, buses and shopping. On iPhone, JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile app issues a Suica that is valid for 180 days; any balance left at the end is not refunded.

Top up earlier in the evening rather than at the station just before the last train. Physical Welcome Suica cards are topped up in cash, not by credit card. On iPhone, Express Mode lets you tap through the gate without opening the Wallet app. IC cards are also accepted at some late-night businesses, such as the Karaoke Kan chain, which helps if you end up waiting for the first train.

Tokyo taxi fares were revised on April 20, 2026. According to the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association's rates table for standard taxis in the 23 wards plus Musashino and Mitaka, the meter starts at 500 yen for the first 1.0 km and adds 100 yen for every additional 232 m. When the car moves at under 10 km/h, 100 yen is added every 1 minute 25 seconds.

From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., fares carry a 20 percent late-night and early-morning premium. A long-distance discount of 10 percent applies to amounts over 9,000 yen, expressway tolls are paid by the passenger, and booking a pickup adds an ordering fee set by each taxi company. Because the premium applies to the whole metered fare, even a short cross-town ride after midnight adds up, and splitting it between two or three people narrows the gap with other options.

Hailing a cab in busy districts after midnight can be difficult, especially on Friday nights. Ride-hailing apps such as GO, which shows a fare estimate before you book, and Uber let you set the destination in advance and pay by card. There is no tipping in Japanese taxis.

If a taxi is too far or too expensive, several kinds of business stay open overnight. Prices below are typical 2026 ranges from Tokyo travel guides and vary by location, night and seat or room type.

Many chains that once stayed open 24 hours now close earlier because of staff shortages, so check the specific branch's current hours on a map app before you head there.

• Internet and manga cafes: roughly 2,000 to 4,000 yen for an overnight stay, with some city-center branches costing more. Many offer private rooms that lock, flat seats you can lie on, drink bars and showers. First-time visitors register as members and show photo ID; a passport works.
• Capsule hotels: typically about 3,000 to 6,000 yen. Most have gender-separated floors and lockers, many accept walk-ins, and foreign nationals show a passport at check-in. Some restrict late check-ins, so call or book ahead if it is very late.
• 24-hour saunas and large public baths: around 3,000 to 5,500 yen including the late-night surcharge. Sleeping is on recliners in shared rest areas.
• Karaoke free time: roughly 1,000 to 3,000 yen per person for about 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., often with a one-drink order. Better for groups than for sleeping.
• Family restaurants and fast food: the cheapest option, but far fewer are open all night than in the past.

Under Tokyo's youth ordinance, people under 18 are not allowed into facilities such as karaoke boxes, manga cafes and internet cafes between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m., so families and younger travelers should plan to be back before then.

Avoid sleeping on benches or in the street. Tokyo is generally safe, but entertainment districts after the last train are busy with people who have been drinking, and theft is a real risk. Stick to well-lit main streets, and for solo travelers, places with controlled access such as capsule hotels or cafes with lockable rooms are the safer choice.