Toei Mita Line
The Toei Mita Line (都営地下鉄三田線, Toei Chikatetsu Mita-sen) is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei), spanning 26.5 kilometers with 27 stations from Nishi-Takashimadaira Station in Itabashi ward to Meguro Station in Shinagawa ward.[1] The line, color-coded blue and designated as Line I on subway maps, runs primarily north-south through central Tokyo, connecting residential, business, and cultural districts in wards such as Minato, Chiyoda, Bunkyo, and Toshima. It provides through-service with the Tokyu Meguro Line southward toward Hiyoshi and beyond, enhancing connectivity to southwestern Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.[1] Construction of the Mita Line began in the late 1960s to alleviate overcrowding on existing rail networks, with initial service commencing on December 27, 1968, between Takashimadaira and Sugamo stations.[1] The line was named after the Mita district in Minato ward, a key area it serves, and underwent several extensions, including northward to Nishi-Takashimadaira in 1976 and southward to Meguro in 2000.[1] As part of Toei's four-line subway network—which also includes the Asakusa, Shinjuku, and Oedo lines—the Mita Line carried millions of passengers annually in its early years, contributing to Tokyo's urban expansion and commuter relief.[1] The line's stations, such as Otemachi, Hibiya, and Sugamo, offer interchanges with major Tokyo Metro lines (e.g., Ginza, Chiyoda, and Yurakucho) and JR East services, facilitating seamless transfers across the city's extensive rail system.[2] Trains on the Mita Line are air-conditioned 6- and 8-car formations equipped with digital displays and bilingual announcements in Japanese and English, operating from approximately 5:00 a.m. to after midnight, with frequencies of 3 to 10 minutes during peak hours (as of 2025).[2] It supports various ticketing options, including the Tokyo Subway Ticket for unlimited 24-, 48-, or 72-hour travel on Toei and Tokyo Metro lines, making it a vital artery for both locals and tourists navigating Tokyo's dense urban landscape.[3]Overview
Route Summary
The Toei Mita Line is a subway line operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, commonly known as Toei Subway.[2] It extends 26.5 km from its northern terminus at Nishi-Takashimadaira Station in Itabashi Ward to its southern terminus at Meguro Station in Shinagawa Ward, serving 27 stations along the way.[3] The line is depicted in blue on official route maps. The line employs a 1,067 mm narrow-gauge track and is electrified with 1,500 V DC overhead catenary, enabling a maximum operating speed of 75 km/h.[4] All trains provide all-stations service throughout the route.[5] The underground section from Shirokane-Takanawa to Meguro is shared with the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line; passengers can use tickets from either operator on this segment, but fares are calculated based on the operating company for travel beyond it.[6] Some trains offer through services to the Tokyu Meguro Line and, via that line, to the Sotetsu lines.Ridership and Economic Impact
The Toei Mita Line serves as a vital north-south corridor in Tokyo's subway network, recording an average daily ridership of 606,811 passengers in fiscal year 2023 (April 2023 to March 2024). This figure reflects the line's role in transporting commuters between residential areas in northern Tokyo and business districts in the south, supported by its 27 stations over 26.5 km.[7] Ridership on the Mita Line peaked at 638,000 passengers per day in fiscal year 2016, driven by urban growth and integration with other lines. However, numbers declined post-2020, influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic's reduction in office commuting and travel restrictions, with recovery ongoing but not yet reaching pre-pandemic levels.[8][9] Financially, the line contributed an operating surplus of 6.30 billion yen in fiscal year 2023, ranking second among Toei Subway lines behind the Asakusa Line, which generated 8.67 billion yen. This profitability underscores the Mita Line's efficiency in fare revenue generation relative to operational costs. Crowding remains a challenge during peak hours; historical data from 2009 indicated levels reaching 164% of capacity between Nishi-Sugamo and Sugamo stations, highlighting past strains on infrastructure.[10][11] To improve accessibility and encourage ridership, Toei launched a public demonstration trial for tap-and-go payments using credit cards or mobile wallets at 26 stations across its lines, including Mita Line stations, beginning December 21, 2024. The trial was expanded to 55 stations, including additional Mita Line stations, on September 10, 2025, with plans for further rollout across the network. This initiative aims to streamline entry and exit processes, potentially boosting usage among tourists and infrequent riders.[12][13]Route and Stations
Route Description
The Toei Mita Line commences its northern segment at Nishi-Takashimadaira Station in Itabashi Ward, traversing primarily residential neighborhoods interspersed with local commercial districts as it heads southward through Itabashi and into Toshima Ward. This section serves commuter traffic from suburban areas, connecting to everyday shopping and community hubs before entering more urbanized zones. The northern portion north of Shimura-Sakaue Station includes approximately 5.2 km of at-grade and elevated track.[14] In the central segment, the line progresses through Bunkyo Ward, passing educational institutions and cultural sites, then enters Chiyoda Ward's Otemachi business district, a key financial center with high-rise offices and government buildings. Continuing into Minato Ward, it reaches the Mita area, characterized by administrative offices, hospitals, and upscale residential pockets, enhancing connectivity for white-collar workers and visitors to central Tokyo.[15][16] The southern segment extends from Shirokane-Takanawa Station in Minato Ward to Meguro Station in Shinagawa Ward, running mostly underground and sharing tracks and platforms with the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line to facilitate seamless transfers. This dual-operation arrangement optimizes capacity in this densely populated corridor near luxury housing and international schools. For this shared section, fares are integrated between the two operators, with a base ticket price of 180 yen (178 yen with IC card) applying uniformly regardless of the operating company.[6][1] Throughout its 26.5 km length, the line is mostly underground, with surface sections in the north, designed to navigate Tokyo's dense urban fabric with a maximum gradient of 3.5% and minimum curve radii of 160-161 meters in tighter sections, ensuring smooth operations amid varying subsurface conditions.[2] Key interchanges bolster the line's role in Tokyo's transit network: Otemachi Station provides major connections to Tokyo Metro's Chiyoda, Marunouchi, and Tozai Lines, serving as a gateway to the city's core; Mita Station links directly to the Toei Asakusa Line for eastward extensions; and Meguro Station offers transfers to JR East's Yamanote and Tokyu Meguro Lines, aiding southern and loop travel. Stations are designated with the prefix I-01 to I-27 from south to north for easy navigation.[15][17]Station List
The Toei Mita Line comprises 27 underground stations, designated with codes I-01 through I-27, spanning 26.5 kilometers from Meguro in the southwest to Nishi-Takashimadaira in the north.[2] These stations were opened in phases between December 1968 and June 2000, with the initial segment from Sugamo to Takashimadaira inaugurating service in 1968 and the extension to Meguro completing the route in 2000. All stations utilize side or island platforms configured for 6- or 8-car trains, and the line features half-height automatic platform gates at every stop to enhance passenger safety and accessibility—the first such installation across Tokyo's subway network.[1] The following table lists the stations in sequential order from south to north, including their administrative ward and primary transfer connections to other rail lines.| Code | Station Name | Ward (Location) | Primary Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-01 | Meguro | Shinagawa Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 01); JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Saikyō Line; Tokyu Meguro Line (through service) |
| I-02 | Shirokanedai | Minato Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 02) |
| I-03 | Shirokane-takanawa | Minato Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 03); Toei Asakusa Line (A 08 via Mita) |
| I-04 | Mita | Minato Ward | Toei Asakusa Line (A 08)[18] |
| I-05 | Shibakoen | Minato Ward | Toei Oedo Line (E 22)[19] |
| I-06 | Onarimon | Minato Ward | Toei Oedo Line (E 21)[19] |
| I-07 | Uchisaiwaicho | Chiyoda Ward | None (local connections to government offices)[19] |
| I-08 | Hibiya | Chiyoda Ward | Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (H 07), Chiyoda Line (C 08), Ginza Line (G 07); JR Yamanote Line (at Yurakucho) |
| I-09 | Otemachi | Chiyoda Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 09), Chiyoda Line (C 10), Tozai Line (T 09), Hanzomon Line (Z 02); JR multiple lines (Keiyo, Chuo, etc.) |
| I-10 | Jimbocho | Chiyoda Ward | Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line (Z 05), Tozai Line (T 10) |
| I-11 | Suidobashi | Chiyoda Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 10); JR Chuo-Sobu Line |
| I-12 | Kasuga | Bunkyo Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 11) |
| I-13 | Hakusan | Bunkyo Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 12) |
| I-14 | Korakuen | Bunkyo Ward | Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (N 13), Marunouchi Line (M 22); Tokyo Dome access |
| I-15 | Sugamo | Toshima Ward | JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Saikyō Line |
| I-16 | Nishi-sugamo | Toshima Ward | None (local residential area)[19] |
| I-17 | Shin-itabashi | Itabashi Ward | None (local connections)[19] |
| I-18 | Itabashikuyakushomae | Itabashi Ward | None (city hall access)[19] |
| I-19 | Zoshigaya | Toshima Ward | None (local residential)[19] |
| I-20 | Nishi-waseda | Shinjuku Ward | None (Waseda University access)[19] |
| I-21 | Takadanobaba | Shinjuku Ward | JR Yamanote Line, Saikyō Line, Tozai Line (T 03); Seibu Shinjuku Line |
| I-22 | Shinjuku | Shinjuku Ward | JR multiple lines (Yamanote, Chuo, etc.); Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (M 08), Oedo Line (E 28), etc.; multiple private lines |
| I-23 | Nakanosakaue | Nakano Ward | Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (M 16) |
| I-24 | Shin-nakano | Nakano Ward | Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (M 17); Chuo-Sobu Line |
| I-25 | Shimura-Sakaue | Itabashi Ward | None (local connections)[19] |
| I-26 | Hasune | Itabashi Ward | None (local residential)[19] |
| I-27 | Nishi-Takashimadaira | Itabashi Ward | None (northern terminus, residential)[19] |