Key Facts
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation released 2024 fiscal year ridership data (Apr 2024–Mar 2025).
• Toei Subway operates 4 lines: Oedo (38 stations), Shinjuku (21), Asakusa (20), Mita (27).
• Total daily average ridership across 106 stations: 2,640,766 boardings + 2,640,766 alightings = 5,281,532.
• All lines saw ridership increase from 2023 fiscal year.
• Top 5 stations by daily ridership (boarding + alighting):
1. Shinjuku (Shinjuku Line) 289,400
2. Oshiage (Asakusa Line) 227,566
3. Sengakuji (Asakusa Line) 209,882
4. Jimbocho (Mita Line) 139,451
5. Shinjuku (Oedo Line) 128,940
• Bottom 5 stations by ridership:
1. Shintakashimadaira (Mita Line) 9,534
2. Shirokanedai (Mita Line) 10,310
3. Nishitakashimadaira (Mita Line) 12,970
4. Ushigome-Kagurazaka (Oedo Line) 13,686
5. National Stadium (Oedo Line) 13,711
• Low ridership at Shintakashimadaira and Nishitakashimadaira due to residential area, limited commercial facilities, and good bus service.
• Asakusa Line top 5 stations:
1. Oshiage 227,566
2. Sengakuji 209,882
3. Mita 107,560
4. Daimon 103,281
5. Nihombashi 94,679
• Oshiage is a key transfer hub connecting Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Tobu Skytree Line, and Keisei Oshiage Line, serving Tokyo Skytree and Narita Airport access express.
• Mita Line top 5 stations:
1. Jimbocho 139,451
2. Otemachi 109,600
3. Meguro 108,156
4. Mita 105,092
5. Sugamo 88,108
• Jimbocho is a major transfer point with Shinjuku Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, near universities and famous bookstores.
• Meguro connects JR Yamanote Line and Tokyu Meguro Line; since Mar 2023, some Mita Line trains run through to Shin-Yokohama via Sotetsu and Tokyu lines.
• Mita station area undergoing large redevelopment including a new 24-story complex.
• Shinjuku Line top 5 stations:
1. Shinjuku 289,400
2. Jimbocho 123,381
3. Bakuro-Yokoyama 112,233
4. Kudanshita 111,197
5. Ichigaya 90,108
• Shinjuku station is a global busiest terminal with about 3 million daily passengers across all operators.
• Redevelopment ongoing at Shinjuku West Exit including new high-rise buildings and improved pedestrian and vehicle flow.
• Oedo Line top 5 stations:
1. Shinjuku 128,940
2. Daimon 116,169
3. Kachidoki 91,189
4. Roppongi 83,043
5. Monzen-Nakacho 81,017
• Oedo Line is the longest with 38 stations, featuring a loop around central Tokyo.
• Roppongi area hosts cultural and business facilities like Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown.
• Kachidoki sees growth from large-scale residential towers and office commuting demand.
• Mita Line’s through service to Shin-Yokohama reduces transfers and travel time, part of a 7-operator, 14-line wide-area network.
• Oedo Line extension plan under study to extend from current terminus Hikarigaoka to Oizumigakuencho (tentative), targeting around 2040 opening.
• Extension aims to increase ridership and stimulate development near new stations.
• Data source: Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation; photos: PIXTA.
Summary
The 2024 fiscal year data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation reveals that Shinjuku station on the Shinjuku Line remains the busiest in the Toei Subway network, with nearly 290,000 daily users. Oshiage station on the Asakusa Line ranks second, serving as a vital transfer hub for airport access and Tokyo Skytree visitors. The Mita Line’s Jimbocho station leads its line, benefiting from multiple transfer options and proximity to academic and commercial areas. Conversely, stations at the Mita Line’s terminus, such as Shintakashimadaira, show the lowest ridership due to their residential nature and alternative transport options. The Oedo Line, the longest line, features a loop serving key central Tokyo areas, with stations like Roppongi and Kachidoki reflecting both cultural and residential growth. Notably, through services connecting the Mita Line to Shin-Yokohama have enhanced connectivity and reduced travel times. Future plans include extending the Oedo Line to Oizumigakuencho by around 2040, expected to boost ridership and local development. These insights highlight evolving travel patterns and urban dynamics within Tokyo’s subway system.
