Yokohama Municipal Subway is a rapid transit railway network with just two subway lines: the Blue Line which runs north to south, and the Green Line which runs west to east. These two lines are connected at Center-Minami Station and Center-Kita Station.
Boarding a Blue Line train at Yokohama Station
The Blue Line
The Blue Line runs between Azamino Station in the north and Shonandai Station in the south. This line is especially useful as it provides a quick link between the main transport hubs of Shin-Yokohama Station and Yokohama Station and the major sightseeing areas of the bay area around Sakuragicho Station and Kannai Station. For full details of this route and its key destinations see our Blue Line article.
A Green Line train at Center-Minami Station. Platform screen doors are installed on all platforms to ensure passenger safety
The Green Line
The Green Line runs between Nakayama Station in the west and Hiyoshi Station in the east. This line runs mainly through residential areas. However, there are some locations of interest along the route such as Yokohama Municipal Zoo which can be reached via Nakayama Station, and Yokohama International Swimming Pool which is located near Kita-Yamata Station. Yokohama History Museum and some other historical attractions are located close to Center-Kita Station which is served by both the Green and Blue lines. For full details of the Green Line’s key destinations see our Green Line article.
Platform signage on the Blue Line at Yokohama Station
Buying Tickets
The base fare is 210 yen for adults for the first 3 kilometers. Child fares are half the price of adult fares.
Yokohama Municipal Subway also accepts rechargeable prepaid IC cards such as PASMO or SUICA. The two main advantages of these cards are that the fare is slightly cheaper than for regular tickets, and you don’t need to spend time buying tickets at each station. Simply hold your card against the card reader at the ticket gate and walk right through.
Ticket machines at Yokohama Station
Ticket machines are located beside the ticket gates at all subway stations. These machines can be used to buy regular tickets, one-day discount passes, and PASMO cards. They can also be used to top up the credit on your PASMO card.
A fare table at Yokohama Station
Above the machines are fare tables showing all the stations on both lines in both Japanese and English.
A ticket machine touch screen
The ticket machines are easily operated by a touch screen and have English language guidance. To buy a ticket, simply press the “Ticket” button at the top left of the screen, choose the appropriate fare, and insert your money into the coin slot. The machines accept 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen notes as well as coins. Buttons at the far left also give options for multiple tickets and tickets for children.
Discount Passes
Two kinds of discount pass are available for use on the Yokohama Municipal Subway. The Yokohama Subway One-Day Subway Pass costs 740 yen for adults and 370 yen for children and can be used for unlimited rides on both the Blue and Green lines. The Yokohama Subway & Bus One Day Pass costs 830 yen for adults and 420 yen for children and covers all city bus and sightseeing bus routes, and all stations on the Yokohama Municipal Subway lines. You can buy these passes from subway ticket machines for immediate use, or buy them in advance at customer service centers at Center-Minami Station, Shin-Yokohama Station, Yokohama Station, and Kamiooka Station. The combined subway and bus pass can also be bought on board buses or at bus pass counters at city bus terminals.
Transfers & Connections
Several stations on the Blue Line provide connections with other rail services.
Azamino Station also serves the Den-en-toshi Line which runs to Shibuya Station in central Tokyo.
At Shin-Yokohama Station you can transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen for intercity destinations such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. This station also serves the JR Yokohama Line.
Yokohama Station is Yokohama’s main transportation hub with a number of railway lines as well as highway and local bus services. Here you can transfer to JR East’s Tokaido Line, Yokohama Line, Yokosuka Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, and Negishi Line. Private railway lines at Yokohama Station are the Keikyu Main Line, the Tokyu Toyoko Line, the Sotetsu Main Line, and the Minatomirai Line. For information about bus services from Yokohama Station check our articles Tourist and City Bus Services in Yokohama and Intercity Highway Buses from Yokohama.
At both Sakuragicho Station and Kannai Station transfers can be made to the JR Negishi Line.
At Kami-Ooka Station you can transfer to the Keikyu Main Line.
Totsuka Station serves JR East’s Tokaido Line, Yokosuka Line, and Shonan-Shinjuku Line.
At Shonandai Station transfers can be made to the Odakyu Enoshima Line and the Sotetsu Izumino Line.
The Green Line is a shorter railway line with fewer connections. At Nakayama Station passengers can transfer to the JR Yokohama Line and at Hiyoshi Station transfers can be made to the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyu Meguro Line.
Lost Property Inquiries
If you have lost something on the Yokohama Municipal Subway, you can telephone the Yokohama Call Center at 045-664-2525 between the hours of 10.00-11.30 and 12.30-16.30 on weekdays and 10.00-12.30 on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. Language support is available in Chinese, Spanish, English. Alternatively, you can send an email to callcenter@city.yokohama.jp.
Useful Links
For more detailed information about Yokohama Municipal Subway and Bus services visit Yokohama City’s official website where you can also find a route map of the subway system. To quickly look up train times and fares, use English language route finders like Hyperdia or the Japan Transit Planner.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
