Ueno Station
- Published on : 03/09/2025
- by : Ph.L
- Youtube
Known for the museums and zoo nearby, Ueno Station is a major railway hub in the Japanese capital of Tokyo. It is one of the oldest stations in Tokyo, as well as one of the busiest. How do you find your way around? Japan Experience is here to help.
A gateway to northern Japan
Located in the east of the city, Ueno Station is served by 14 train and subway lines, organized into 20 platforms on three floors, including several Shinkansen lines that open the door to the north of the country. Less extensive than Tokyo Station, Ueno Station is also a convenient point of access to Narita Airport.
Main lines
JR East lines
- Yamanote Line
- Keihin–Tōhoku Line
- Ueno–Tokyo Line (direct connections to Shinagawa, Yokohama, Odawara, and Atami)
- Utsunomiya Line (which changes to the Tōhoku Main Line)
- Takasaki Line
- Jōban Line (including Hitachi / Tokiwa rapid services)
Shinkansen
- Tōhoku Shinkansen: to Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
- Yamagata Shinkansen: to Yamagata and Fukushima
- Akita Shinkansen: to Morioka and Akita
- Jōetsu Shinkansen: to Niigata
- Hokuriku Shinkansen: to Kanazawa, Toyama, and Nagano
Subways
- Ginza Line (G)
- Hibiya Line (H)
Transfers
- Keisei Main Line (to Narita Airport) via Keisei Ueno Station, accessible from Ueno Central Station
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© くろふね, wikimedias
Main exits
The busiest exit is located south of the station (Park Exit), but there are many secondary exits.
North exits
- Iriya Exit: This exit mainly leads to residential areas.
South exits
- Central Gate: this is one of the station's main exits. It provides access to bus and taxi stops, as well as major shopping streets.
- Park Exit (Kōen-guchi): This is the busiest exit at Ueno Station. Accessible from the main hall, it leads to Ueno Park and Zoo, as well as some museums such as the National Museum of Nature and Science.
- Parco Exit: This exit provides direct access to the station's department stores, such as the Atre shopping center.
- Keisei Ueno Exit: This exit leads to Keisei Ueno Station, located a few hundred meters from Ueno Main Station.
East Exits
- Hirokoji Exit: Located in the station basement (level 5b), this exit provides direct access to the Ameyoko shopping district.
- Asakusa Exit: This exit also opens onto Ueno Park and provides access to the Asakusa district.
- West exits
- Shinobazu Exit: This exit opens onto Shinobazu Pond and a few izakaya. It is a very popular exit at sunset.
Discover our transfers and rail passes from Ueno
One of Tokyo's oldest stations
Ueno Station opened in 1883, at the dawn of the railway era in Japan. Following the 1923 earthquake, the station was ravaged by fire. Quickly rebuilt, it welcomed the Ginza Line in 1927, the first subway line in Asia!
Over the decades, Ueno has become a major railway hub, connecting northern Japan with the capital. Its reputation was cemented in 1985 with the arrival of the first Shinkansen lines, connecting Tokyo with the major cities of Tōhoku and Hokuriku.
The opening of Tokyo Station to the Shinkansen in the 1990s reduced daily traffic at Ueno Station. Nevertheless, it remains one of the city's busiest stations today, with nearly 370,000 passengers per day.
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