Bought a 3-day transit pass in Tokyo and only used it for 2

I was in Tokyo last spring and grabbed a 3-day metro pass for 1,500 yen because I thought it would save money. Turned out day 3 I spent the whole time walking around Shinjuku and never touched the subway once. That's 500 yen wasted just because I assumed I'd ride it every day. Anyone else buy multi-day passes and end up walking more than they planned?

4 comments

4 Comments

jade_jenkins3d ago

Oh man, that's the classic tourist tax. You pay for the deluxe train buffet and end up eating street food instead. I did the same thing in Paris with a 5-day museum pass, used it for like two Louvre visits and a quick stroll through some random art gallery. Now I just toss a coin before buying any pass, heads I walk, tails I take the bus.

evan_green523d ago

Building on what @the_linda said, that pass pressure is real. I stopped buying them and just pick one thing I actually want to see each day, way more chill that way.

the_linda3d ago

Jade_jenkins hit on something I've noticed too, but here is another way to look at it. Those passes are a trap for people who plan too much, but they are a blessing for folks who like to wander. Think about it - the museum pass in Paris pays for itself after three visits, but you have to actually want to see that many museums. The real trick is knowing yourself, not just the city. Some people get more out of one deep visit to the Orsay than rushing through five places, so the pass is actually a waste for them.

sandra_bennett593d agoMost Upvoted

Gotta disagree with you here Linda. I bought the Paris museum pass thinking I'd wander, but ended up forcing myself into the Louvre on a Tuesday when I really just wanted to sit at a cafe and watch people. It's not about knowing yourself or the city, it's about how the pass makes you feel like you're wasting money if you skip a museum. That pressure ruins the freedom of wandering, you know? I get more joy from accidentally finding a tiny art gallery in the Marais than I do from checking off three museums in one afternoon. The pass works fine for people who actually want to see five museums, but for the rest of us it's just a guilt trip in plastic.