Ginza Line Tokyo Metro 東京地下鉄銀座線
Ginza Line, Tokyo Subway
©Japan Visitor
Ginza Line: read a guide to the Ginza Line of Tokyo metro, the oldest subway line in Japan and Asia that runs from Shibuya to Asakusa.
The Ginza Line (color-coded "Orange") of Tokyo metro runs 14.3km from Shibuya Station in Shibuya to Asakusa Station in Asakusa, Taito-ku.
The Ginza Line is Japan's and indeed Asia's oldest subway line with work begun in 1925.
History
The Ginza Line is the oldest subway in Tokyo with the Marunouchi Line the next oldest line in Tokyo. The Midosuji Line in Osaka is Japan's second oldest subway line.
The Ginza Line was the brain-child of Japanese businessman Noritsugu Hayakawa (1881-1942), who was inspired by a ride on the London Underground in 1914. The first section of the Ginza Line from Ueno Station to Asakusa was completed in 1927. The Ginza Line expanded to Kanda Station in 1931 and reached Shibuya in 1934.
Ginza Line Stations
There are 19 stations on the Ginza Line, each with its own code beginning with G.
- Shibuya (G-01) (Transfer to the Fukutoshin Line, Hanzomon Line, Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
- Omotesando (G-02) (Transfer to the Chiyoda Line, Hanzomon Line)
- Gaiemmae (G-03)
- Aoyama-Itchome (G-04) (Transfer to the Hanzomon Line, Toei Oedo Line)
- Akasaka-Mitsuke (G-05) (Transfer to the Marunouchi Line, Yurakucho Line, Hanzomon Line, Namboku Line)
- Tameike-Sanno (G-06) (Transfer to the Marunouchi Line, Namboku Line, Chiyoda Line)
- Toranomon (G-07)
- Shimbashi (G-08) (Transfer to the Toei Asakusa Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Tokaido Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Yurikamome Line, Yamanote Line)
- Ginza (G-09) (Transfer to the Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line)
- Kyobashi (G-10)
- Nihonbashi (G-11) (Transfer to the Tozai Line, Asakusa Line)
- Mitsukoshimae (G-12) (Transfer to the Hanzomon Line, Sobu Line)
- Kanda (G-13) (Transfer to the Keihin-Tohoku Line, Yamanote Line, Chuo Line)
- Suehirocho (G-14)
- Ueno-Hirokoji (G-15) (Transfer to the Oedo Line, Hibiya Line)
- Ueno (G-16) (Transfer to the Hibiya Line, Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Nagano Shinkansen, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Yamanote Line, Joban Line, Takasaki Line, Tohoku Main Line, Keisei Main Line)
- Inaricho (G-17)
- Tawaramachi (G-18)
- Asakusa (G-19) (Transfer to the Tobu Skytree Line, Asakusa Line, Tsukuba Express).
Ginza Line Times
The first Ginza Line train leaves Shibuya Station at 5.01am with the last train at 12.15am. The first train leaves Asakusa at 5.01am with the last train at 12.05am.
Subway services are a little less frequent on weekends and public holidays. There are things you can do if you miss the last subway and have to wait until the first train the next morning.
Here are some useful tips for using the Tokyo subway system.
1. First buy a pre-paid smartcard, such as a Suica or Pasmo (if purchased in Tokyo, different if purchased elsewhere). They require a refundable 500 yen initial charge, but make subway use much easier than having to buy a paper ticket at a station whenever you ride a train. Simply touch the card for a second on the sensor at the ticket wicket as you pass through.
2. Identify in advance the number of the exit you will need to take at the destination station and ...
3. having identified that exit, board the car closest to that destination exit. You will save time (and be less likely to get lost) if you can board the car that will stop closest to the destination station exit you will leave from. There are charts for that purpose on the station wall, telling you the appropriate cars for each exit at each station, or you can ask a station attendant. " no deguchi ni oriru no de, dono sharyo ni noreba ii desu ka."
4. Mind your manners. Don't eat or drink on the train, remove your backpack if you're standing, don't put luggage on the seat beside you, don't talk on your cell phone, and if you're talking to people, try and keep it subdued.
Tokyo Subway
Photo by Liam Burnett-Blue on Unsplash
