Tsukuba Express “TX! 1-Day Unlimited Ride Ticket” Now Sold Year-Round
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company has been selling the “TX! 1-Day Unlimited Ride Ticket” (TX！1日乗り放題きっぷ) year-round since October 1, 2026. The ticket lets you get on and off as many times as you like for one day between Akihabara and Tsukuba stations on the Tsukuba Express (TX). At the same time, the ticket format has changed from the previous magnetic ticket to a QR ticket. Because you can buy it at any time of year, day trips that combine sightseeing and errands along the line are easier to plan. This article covers the price, validity, how to buy it, how to use the QR ticket, and points to watch out for, such as the gates where it cannot be used.
Ticket Overview
- Railway company: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company (Tsukuba Express)
- Product name: TX! 1-Day Unlimited Ride Ticket (TX！1日乗り放題きっぷ)
- Valid section: Tsukuba Express Line, Akihabara–Tsukuba (entire line)
- Benefit: Unlimited rides within the valid section for one day
- Price: ¥2,560 for adults, ¥690 for children
- Validity: Valid only on the day of purchase (no advance sales)
- Sales start: Sold year-round from October 1, 2026
- Ticket type: QR ticket (previously a magnetic ticket)
- Where to buy: Ticket vending machines and Information Counters (Goannai Counter) at Tsukuba Express stations
Price: ¥2,560 for Adults, ¥690 for Children
The ticket costs ¥2,560 for adults and ¥690 for children. A single ticket lets you hop on and off at any station between Akihabara and Tsukuba as often as you like, making it well suited to days when you plan to visit several stations or make multiple stopovers. On the other hand, if you are simply making a round trip, paying the regular fare may sometimes be cheaper. Before buying, sketch out your plans for the day and compare the ticket price with the total of the regular fares.
At ¥690, the child ticket is very reasonably priced compared with the adult ticket. When traveling along the line as a family, combining adult and child tickets makes it easier to estimate your transportation costs for the day.
Now a QR Ticket: How to Use It at the Gates
Hold the Ticket over the QR Code Reader When Entering and Exiting
Along with the switch to year-round sales, the ticket has changed from a magnetic ticket to a QR ticket. Instead of inserting it into the slot of the ticket gate as with a magnetic ticket, you hold the ticket over the QR code reader on a QR-compatible automatic ticket gate both when entering and when exiting. Since you repeat this every time you get on and off, keep the ticket with you until you have finished traveling for the day.
Watch Out for Gates Where It Cannot Be Used
The QR ticket cannot be used at every gate. The following two gates are IC card-only, so you cannot pass through them with the TX! 1-Day Unlimited Ride Ticket.
- Shin-Okachimachi Station: the gate dedicated to transfers to the Toei Oedo Line
- Nagareyama-otakanomori Station: the Kokage Terrace Gate
If you are transferring to the Toei Oedo Line at Shin-Okachimachi Station, or getting on or off at Nagareyama-otakanomori Station, you will need to use another gate that accepts QR tickets. People who usually use these gates with an IC card are especially likely to head there out of habit, so be careful. Also note that the ticket is valid only on the Tsukuba Express Line, so riding the Toei Oedo Line requires a separate fare.
How to Buy and Purchase Conditions
Where to Buy
The ticket is sold at ticket vending machines and Information Counters at every Tsukuba Express station. Since it is not limited to specific stations, you can buy it right at the station where your trip begins.
Vending Machine Sales Hours
Ticket vending machines sell the ticket from the first train until 6:00 p.m. You cannot buy it from a vending machine in the evening, so even if you plan to explore the line only in the afternoon, it is best to buy it early. Please check the Information Counter hours at the station.
Validity and Advance Sales
The ticket is valid only on the day of purchase, and there are no advance sales. You cannot buy it the day before, so you need to purchase it at the station on the day you use it. You can ride as often as you like within the valid section on that day, but the ticket cannot be carried over to the next day or later.
Who Is This Ticket For?
- Travelers who want to stop at several stations along the way between Akihabara and Tsukuba
- People who want to make multiple stopovers in a day for shopping, dining, or strolling
- Travelers with flexible plans who cannot decide in advance where to get on and off
- Families traveling along the line with children who want a clear idea of their transportation budget
Because it is sold year-round, you can use it on weekends, holidays, or whenever suits your schedule, without worrying about seasons or campaign periods. Not having to buy a ticket or check the fare every time you ride is another advantage unique to unlimited ride tickets.
Checklist Before You Ride
- Purchase only on the day of use; no advance sales
- Vending machines sell the ticket from the first train until 6:00 p.m.
- Hold the ticket over the QR code reader when entering and exiting
- The Toei Oedo Line transfer gate at Shin-Okachimachi Station and the Kokage Terrace Gate at Nagareyama-otakanomori Station are IC card-only and cannot be used
- The valid section is Akihabara–Tsukuba; travel outside this section or on other companies’ lines requires a separate fare
- Depending on your itinerary, regular fares may be cheaper, so compare in advance
Summary
The “TX! 1-Day Unlimited Ride Ticket” offers unlimited rides for one day between Akihabara and Tsukuba on the Tsukuba Express for ¥2,560 (adults) or ¥690 (children). It has been sold year-round since October 1, 2026, and is now issued as a QR ticket. Keep in mind that it can only be bought on the day of use, that vending machines sell it until 6:00 p.m., and that some IC-only gates cannot be used, and you can explore the line efficiently. For the latest sales information and details, check station notices or announcements from Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company.
Source: https://www.traicy.com/posts/20261022380774/