Tokyo Station
- Published on : 28/10/2026
- by : Phoebe
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Tokyo Station
@Unsplash
Located in the heart of the Japanese capital, Tokyo Station is a must-see for travelers. With its many train lines—including the Shinkansen—and shopping arcades, it serves as the capital’s largest gateway to the rest of Japan. How do you find your way around? The Japan Experience team is here to guide you.
One of the main gateways to Japan
Tokyo Station is one of the country’s main rail hubs. It connects the capital’s neighborhoods to major Japanese cities, from Kyoto and Osaka to Kanazawa and Hakodate. It serves hundreds of thousands of passengers every day and handles several thousand trains.
JR East Lines
- Yamanote Line (山手線): the circular line that connects Ueno, Akihabara, Shibuya and Shinjuku.
- Keihin-Tōhoku Line (京浜東北線): toward Ueno and Ōmiya to the north, Shinagawa and Yokohama to the south.
- Chūō Line (中央線): toward Shinjuku, Tachikawa, and Takao, west of Tokyo.
- Tōkaidō Line (東海道線): to Yokohama, Odawara, and destinations along the southwest coast.
- Ueno-Tokyo Line (上野東京ライン): serves destinations including Utsunomiya and Takasaki.
- Sōbu Line / Yokosuka Line (総武線・横須賀線): From the underground platforms, toward Chiba and the Yokohama and Yokosuka areas.
- Keiyō Line (京葉線): to Maihama, home to Tokyo Disney is located.
Shinkansen
Tokyo Station is also a major departure point for high-speed trains.
- Tōkaidō Shinkansen (東海道新幹線): to Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, and—on some services—Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
- Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線): to Sendai, Morioka, and Shin-Aomori.
- Hokkaidō Shinkansen (北海道新幹線): to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, on the island of Hokkaidō.
Platform at Tokyo Station
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- Jōetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線): to Niigata.
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線): to Nagano, Toyama, and Kanazawa.
- Yamagata Shinkansen (山形新幹線): to Yamagata and Shinjo.
- Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線): to Akita.
Subway
- Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (東京メトロ丸ノ内線): This line connects to Ginza, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, among other destinations.
The nearby Ōtemachi Station also offers connections to several other subway lines. It is connected to Tokyo Station via underground walkways.
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A Station with Two Faces
Tokyo Station may seem complex at first glance, but its layout is based on a simple principle: it stretches from north to south, with two large, opposing facades—one to the west and the other to the east.
Marunouchi Side: Historic Elegance
To the west, the Marunouchi side is recognizable by its imposing red-brick building, which has been restored to its historic appearance. This is where the station’s famous facades and domes are located , as well as the Tokyo Station Hotel.
The surrounding neighborhood is a major business district, characterized by its modern skyscrapers and wide avenues. Exiting through Marunouchi, you can walk to the station square, Gyōkō-dōri Avenue, and the vicinity of the Imperial Palace.
Tokyo Station, Marunouchi Side
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Yaesu Side: Shops and Shinkansen Departures
To the east, the Yaesu (八重洲) side is convenient for travelers taking the bullet train. Access to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is located on this side, near the Yaesu exits and the department stores.
There are also shopping malls, souvenir shops, restaurants, and bus terminals serving various regions of Japan as well as Tokyo's airports.
Tokyo Station, Yaesu Side
@wikimedia
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The main exits from Tokyo Station
Unlike Shinjuku Station, whose exits are spread out across a sprawling network, Tokyo Station is organized around two main facades, each with several exits.
Marunouchi Exits
Marunouchi North Exit (丸の内北口)
This exit provides access to the northern section of the historic facade, the Tokyo Station Hotel, and the Ōtemachi district. It offers convenient access to the shopping streets and office buildings of Marunouchi.
Marunouchi Central Exit (丸の内中央口)
This is one of the best exits for admiring the historic building. It opens onto the station plaza and offers a beautiful view of the avenue leading to the Imperial Palace.
Marunouchi South Exit (丸の内南口)
This exit leads to the southern end of the historic building and the area around KITTE, a shopping center housed in the former Tokyo Central Post Office building.
KITTE
@wikimedia
Yaesu Exits
Yaesu North Exit (八重洲北口)
This exit leads to the Daimaru Tokyo department store, local shops, and the northern entrances to the Shinkansen area. It’s convenient for accessing services for rail travelers.
Yaesu Central Exit (八重洲中央口)
Located in the heart of the east side of the station, it offers direct access to shops and transportation hubs. It’s a useful landmark for travelers heading to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen gates.
Yaesu South Exit (八重洲南口)
This exit serves the southern part of the station and provides access to long-distance buses. It is a useful landmark for travelers continuing their journey by bus.
Nihombashi Exit
The Nihombashi Exit (日本橋口), located northeast of the station, leads to the Nihombashi district and the nearby office buildings. It’s a convenient alternative to the Yaesu exits for accessing this part of Tokyo.
Our tip: There are many exits at Tokyo Station, and the walkways can be long. Figure out your destination before leaving the platforms and follow the signs that specifically indicate Marunouchi, Yaesu, or Nihombashi.
Nihombashi
@wikimedia
Where can you eat and shop at Tokyo Station?
Tokyo Station is much more than just a transit hub! It’s also a popular destination for sampling local cuisine and buying souvenirs.
- GRANSTA TOKYO: a complex of shops and restaurants located inside the station, offering a wide variety of culinary specialties and takeout items.
- Tokyo Character Street: a space dedicated to characters and merchandise from popular franchises such as One Piece, for example.
Tokyo Street Character
@Guilhem Vellut on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
- Tokyo Ramen Street: a street lined with restaurants specializing in ramen—the perfect place to sample different versions of these famous Japanese noodles!
- Tokyo Gift Palette: a space dedicated to gifts, pastries, and local specialties to take home.
- Ekiben: lunch boxes prepared for train travel are available in many shops throughout the station. They’re a great way to discover regional specialties before boarding a Shinkansen.
Note: These shopping areas are divided between those freely accessible and those located inside the ticket gates. Be sure to check whether you need to pass through the gates to reach a shop.
History of Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station has a history spanning more than 100 years. Opened in 1914, its construction was part of an ambitious project: to connect the capital’s major rail lines within a central station, near the Imperial Palace.
The historic red-brick building was designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo and quickly became one of the Japanese capital’s most iconic landmarks.
In 1929, the opening of the Yaesu entrance completed the station’s layout along both of its facades. The building was later damaged during World War II, before being rebuilt after the war.
Shinkansen Tracks (Tokyo Station)
@ykanazawa1999 on Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The year 1964 marked a major turning point with the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, coinciding with the Tokyo Olympic Games. The station then became a key departure point for high-speed travel across the country—a legacy that Tokyo Station continues to uphold today.
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