Tokyo station guide. How to change the trains, Shinkansen, Narita Express and other local trains.

Station information
Tokyo station Marunouchi building. (C) JP Rail
2012.06.20
Looking to track#9 and 10 (Tokaido Rapid trains) from track#20 for Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station (C) JP Rail

Tokyo station is the biggest station in Japan. And most of you use this station to get on Shinkansen, Narita Express or Tokyo local trains. But this station is very complicated because it is too big and too many platforms.

In this post, I would like to explain about this station and how to change the train in Tokyo station.

Overview

All lines on conventional lines have a line color, such as orange color for Chuo line. (C) JP Rail

First of all, please see Tokyo station map on JR East website.

Tokyo station structure is divided into three parts, ground floor, underground (Sobu line/Rapid, Narita Express) and another underground (Keiyo line/local train to Maihama, TDL). I think this is the reason why Tokyo station is very complicated. There are 20 tracks at the ground floor. Another 4 tracks each at both underground floor. There are many trains arriving and departing every minutes. Overall the following trains depart and arrive at Tokyo station:

  • Shinkansen (high speed long distance train running on the designated track)
  • Limited Express trains (the fastest train on conventional tracks)
  • Rapid trains (suburban commute train)
  • Urban commute train

I think many of you will change these trains at Tokyo station.

Ticket gate/Exit

There are more than 10 exits (ticket gate). These exits are divided broadly into two sides, Yaesu and Marunouchi. The exits looking toward the east (lower side on the map) are called “Yaesu (八重洲)”. The exits looking toward the west (upper on the map) are called “Marunouchi (丸の内)”. Each sides have North exit, Central exit, South exit and some more exits. When you exit/enter, just make sure Marunouchi (west) or Yaesu (east). You don’e need to be nervous about North, Central and South. You can move easily after you exit.

At Yaesu side, there are many exits.

For all trains — Yaesu South, Yaesu Central, Yaesu North
For Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen (to Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata) — Yaes South, Yaesu North Central, Yaesu North, Nihonbashi
For Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano, Akita, Yamagata Shinkansen (to Sendai, Shin-Aomori, Niigata, Nagano, Akita, Yamagata) — Nihonbashi

Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen is shown by blue and Tohoku and other four Shinkansens are shown by Green.

When you get on Shinkansen, you need to go through Shinkansen ticket gate or transfer gate. If you get on Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo station Yaesu side, you can use Shinkansen ticket gate at Yaesu south exit, Yaesu central north exit or Nihonbashi exit (north side of Yaesu north exit). These three exits are only for Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen passengers. Be careful! You cannot get on Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen from these exits. These Shinaksens are completely different from Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. Only Nihonbashi exit can be used for all Shinkansen lines. Otherwise enter Tokyo station from South, Central or North and go through Shinkansen transfer gate. But Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen is completely different line from Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen. Shinkansen transfer gate is different. There are lots of sign. But please make sure before go through. Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen

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Hotels in Tokyo Station – Tokyo, Japan
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At Marunouchi side, it is very simple. Six exits, South, Central and North at both ground and underground. There is no Shinkansen ticket gates. So if you get on Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo station Marunouchi side, you can go through any exits and enter Tokyo station anyway. After you enter Tokyo station, you need to go through one more ticket gate, Shinkansen transfer gate.

If you transfer from any conventional line trains, just go through Shinkansen transfer gate. You don’t need to exit the station.

And also there are one more exits at underground, Keiyo underground Yaesu exit near Keiyo line tracks.

Tracks and platforms

There are 20 tracks / 10 platforms on ground floor and 4 tracks / 2 platforms each at both underground.

Ground floor

You can get on Local commute train, Rapid service and limited express trains on conventional lines at track #1-10.

Track#Name of lineDestination
1,2■Chuo lineShinjuku, Hachioji, Takao
3■Keihin Tohoku lineAkihabara, Ueno, Omiya
4■Yamanote lineAkihabara, Ueno, Ikebukuro
5■Yamanote lineYurakucho, Shinbashi, Hamamatsucho, Shinagawa, Shibuya
6■Keihin Tohoku lineHamamatsucho, Shinagawa, Yokohama, Ofuna
7,8■Ueno Tokyo lineUeno, Utsunomiya, Takasaki, Omiya, Mito
Limited Express Hitachi, Tokiwa
9,10■Tokaido lineShinagawa, Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Izukyu-Shimoda, Shuzenji
Limited Express Sunrise Seto / Surise Izumo, Limited Express Super View Odoriko / Odoriko, Rapid Moonlight Nagara, Other rapid trains
*Some trains depart from track #7, #8.

There are 4 tracks / 2 platforms for Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen and another 6 tracks / 3 platforms for Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen.

Akita Shinkansen and Tokaido Shinkansen at Tokyo station (C) James Chuang
Track#Name of lineDestination
14-19Tokaido ShinkansenNagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata
20-23Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku (Nagano), Akita, Yamagata ShinkansenSendai, Shin-Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano

There is a lot of tracks. But it is not complicated to transfer the trains on ground floor. I think 10 minutes is enough to transfer any trains on ground floor.

I have several movies in regards to the transfer between Shinkansen and other trains in my YouTube channel:

From Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen to Narita Express and other JR line

From Narita Express to the Shinkansen

Underground Sobu (地下総武) – Narita Express, Rapid Airport Narita

Narita Express at Sobu underground platform

There are 4 tracks / 2 platforms that are located at deep underground, basement fifth floor. If you take the trains to/from Narita airport, you will use these underground tracks.

Track#Name of lineDestination
1,2■Yokosuka lineRapid train to Yokohama, Ofuna, Yokosuka, Narita Express from Narita airport to Shinagawa, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Omiya,Limited Express Shiosai/Ayame from Choshi, Kashima-Jingu
3,4■Sobu lineRapid Airport Narita to Chiba, Narita airport, Narita Express from Shinagawa, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Omiya to Narita airport, Limited Express Shiosai/Ayame to Choshi, Kashima-Jingu
At Marunouchi Central Exit. Don’t exit here. Take the way to right and follow the sign Marunouchi Underground Central Exit. (C) JP Rail

These underground platforms can be accessed beside Marunouchi central exit. There are many signs that say “Narita Express” or “Sobu line” or “Yokosuka line”. When you transfer to other trains from Narita Express or Airport Narita, you just take escalator or stairs to go up. But if you transfer to Narita Express or Airport Narita, you should remember to follow the sign that says Marunouchi Central or Marunouchi Underground Central. You may be able to get there faster.

I recommend you to have 15 minutes to transfer between this underground platform and other platforms on ground floor. Especially Shinkansen’s platform is located at other side. However if you transfer from Narita Express or Airport Narita to Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen (to Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima or Hakata), you can transfer at Shinagawa. Shinagawa station is a big station too. But it is smaller than Tokyo station and all platforms are located at ground floor. It is much easier and faster to transfer. Please see the map of Shinagawa station at JR East website.

Underground Keiyo (地下京葉) – local train to Maihama, Soga, Matsudo

There are some moving sidewalks and escalators on the way to Keiyo line tracks. Keiyo line platforms are far away from other platforms. (C) JP Rail

There are 4 tracks / 2 platforms that are located at deep underground, basement fourth floor. If you take the trains to/from Maihama (the nearest station of Tokyo Disney Land), you will use these underground tracks.

Track#Name of lineDestination
1,2■Keiyo lineLocal train to Shin-Kiba, Maihama, Soga, Matsudo, Limited Express Wakashio to Katsuura, Awakamogawa, Limited Express Sazanami to Tateyama
1-4■Keiyo lineLocal train to Shin-Kiba, Maihama, Soga, Matsudo
Signs are shown in both Japanese and English. (C) JP Rail

These underground platforms can be accessed beside Yaesu South exit. There are many signs that say “Keiyo line”. But this platform is very far. It is 600 m away from Yaesu South. So I recommend you to have 15 minutes to transfer between this underground platform and other platforms on ground floor. Especially most of local lines, such as Chuo line, Yamanote line and Keihin-Tohoku line, are located at other side. Please remember to go to Yaesu South and find the way to Keiyo line tracks.

If you transfer from Sobu line, such as Narita Express or Rapid Airport Narita, it takes at least 20 minutes. If you can find Underground south exit at Underground Sobu, exit Tokyo station and go through Marunouchi Jiyu Tsuro (丸の内自由通路). This way is a bit faster than going through Tokyo station.

I have two movies which shows you the transfer to/from Keiyo line.

Transfer from the Tokaido Shinkansen to Keiyo line

Transfer from Keiyo line to Narita Express

Minimum connecting time

Tokyo station is the biggest station. When you change trains in Tokyo station, you must have some extra time. I will show you the minimum connecting times in Tokyo station. This is set for the first time traveler who has never been to Tokyo station. You may be able to change trains a bit quicker. However if you have this connection time, you can change trains with no stresses:

 Tokaido Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
Hokkaido Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen		10 minutes
Yamanote line
Keihin-Tohoku line
Chuo line		15 minutes
Ueno Tokyo line
Limited Express Odoriko
Limited Express Hitachi/Tokiwa		10 minutes
Narita Express
Sobu rapid train		20 minutes
Keiyo line20 minutes
 Tohoku Shinkansen
Hokkaido Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen
Tokaido Shinkansen10 minutes
Yamanote line
Keihin-Tohoku line
Chuo line		15 minutes
Ueno Tokyo line
Limited Express Odoriko
Limited Express Hitachi/Tokiwa		10 minutes
Narita Express
Sobu rapid train		20 minutes
Keiyo line20 minutes
 Narita Express
Sobu rapid train
Yamanote line
Keihin-Tohoku line
Chuo line		15 minutes
Ueno Tokyo line
Limited Express Odoriko
Limited Express Hitachi/Tokiwa		15 minutes
Keiyo line20 minutes
 Yamanote line
Keihin-Tohoku line
Chuo line
Ueno Tokyo line
Limited Express Odoriko
Limited Express Hitachi/Tokiwa		10 minutes
Keiyo line15 minutes
 Ueno Tokyo line
Limited Express Odoriko
Limited Express Hitachi/Tokiwa
Keiyo line15 minutes

Luggage storage facility and coin lockers

Coin lockers are available many many places in Tokyo station at both inside and outside the ticket gates.

Tokyo station has huge numbers of coin lockers. But in daytime, most of lockers are full in even week days. If you go to the station in late evening or early morning, you may find the space easier. And also there are several luggage storage spaces available in Tokyo station. Please see the links below to find the information about the luggage storage services and coin lockers.

Coin Lockers/Baggage Storage at Tokyo Station, Tokyo Station City official site
Sagawa Express Transportation, Tokyo Service Center
*Sagawa Express is one of major cargo transportation companies.

JR Pass and JR East Pass exchange office

There are four places where you can exchange JR pass in Tokyo station:

  • JR EAST Travel Service Center (near Marunouchi north ticket gate)
  • JR-CENTRAL Ticket Office (Yaesu Central)
  • JR-CENTRAL Ticket Office (Yaesu North)
  • JR Tokai Tours Tokyo Office (Yaesu North)

If you use JR East Pass Tohoku, JR East Pass Nagano Niigata, Tokyo Wide Pass, Hokuriku Arch Pass, JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can exchange/purchase it at JR East Travel Service Center only.

Comments

  1. Nicolas Angel II says:
    May 3, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    We’ll be arriving from Nagoya on the Shinkansen and need to transfer to the Marunouchi Line. Any hints on this? Do we change platforms? I’ll be guiding a group of 14, mostly seniors with baggage and I don’t want to wander looking for the right direction around the station as it will also be my first time. I already downloaded a map but would appreciate all the help can get.

    Thanks and regards,
    Nick

  2. Roberta Fernandez-Billano says:
    April 30, 2016 at 8:09 am

    Hi i’ll be traveling with my family this June, we will be staying in Ueno specifically Mitsui Garden Hotel. What exit should we take?

    Hope you can give me instructions as I’ll be with children.

    Also we plan to get a round trip ticket from Narita Airport.
    Hope you can help just to avoid getting lost.

  3. Sazz says:
    April 29, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    i will would like to ask what we can expect travelling by trains on golden week..
    we will be arriving kansai airport 2nd May at night and will exchange the JRPass next morning. We plan to go to iwakuni(Kintai bridge) and miyama island, stay one night at Hiroshima.
    Do we need to reserve seat? and which station can we do so? how to change train?

    Thank you for your help.

    Regards,
    Sazz

  4. Stephen says:
    April 26, 2016 at 6:06 am

    I have a JR pass & will be travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto (non peak hour) this Friday.
    Can you advise which Gate & platform to use at Tokyo Station to board the train for Kyoto.
    Regards

  5. Jimmy says:
    April 13, 2016 at 8:32 am

    What is the best/fastest way to get on Narita Express going to the airport from Iidabashi, using our JR East Pass? We have a 10:30am flight on Showa/Greenery Day, and also have luggage to bring with us, and worried about missing our flight. Or is it better/easier for us to use Keisei Skyliner at Ueno? Thanks for any advice!

  6. Joe Candelora says:
    April 12, 2016 at 5:42 pm

    Hi, I’m going to be traveling from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori via Tohoku Shinkansen. Our train leaves 2:20pm; how early should we get to Tokyo station in order to make the train (we will probably spend some time getting lost:).

    Also, we’ll be traveling on a JR East rail pass, and will need to exchange our reservation for the actual pass. I’m not sure if we will do the exchange at the airport when we arrive in Tokyo or at Tokyo Station as we’re leaving for Shin-Aomori. How much extra time should we add if we need to visit the JR East Travel Center before boarding the Shinkansen?

    Thanks and best regards,
    Joe

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 12, 2016 at 10:13 pm

      Hi Joe,

      If you worry about losing your way, go to the station 30 minutes earlier. It’s hard to say how much you will spend your time to exchange your pass at Tokyo station. It depends on how busy there are. But if I were you, I go there one hour earlier. It may be too early but if it’s busy, you may spend 30 minutes to exchange and booking.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Ap says:
    April 9, 2016 at 10:43 am

    Hi I will be arriving at Narita Tokyo airport at 3:30 pm and would like to go to Osaka universal city can you direct me?
    And approximately what time I will arrive at universal city?
    Regards

    Ap

  8. Vernon says:
    April 1, 2016 at 11:55 pm

    I am travelling from Nagoya to Shin-Hakodate with a 10 minute change at Tokyo Station. I have to transfer from Platform 17 to Platform 20 in that 10 minutes. Is it easy to transfer platforms? The Tokyo Station map doesn’t look clear but I would think I take escalator down from Platform 17, walk along a corridor and take an escalator up to Platform 20. Please confirm this is correct. Thank you!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 2, 2016 at 7:38 am

      Hi Vernon,

      Please see Youtube movie in the link below. It shows you how to tranfer from Tokaido Shinkansen (Nagoya-Tokyo) and Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo-Shin Aomori). Now Tohoku Shinkansen is extended to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. So this is that you need to do at Tokyo station:
      https://youtu.be/W_4pMEAJ_wQ

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Vernon says:
        April 2, 2016 at 4:36 pm

        Hi Takeshi, You are a thousand kinds of awesome! Many thanks for your quick and helpful reply. I am travelling today April 3 and am on the train, confident about how to change platforms and shinkansen when I get to Tokyo! Best regards

  9. Rudi says:
    March 31, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san

    Could you comment on how much time one has to allow to transfering between Narita Express and Tohoku Shinkansen (heading to Hokkaido). Our plan would be to exchange JR passes and book seats the night prior to travelling at the Airport.

  10. Stefanus says:
    March 31, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Hi I would like to go to Odawara using Shinkansen Kodama/Hikari from Tokyo sation, how to reach the platform?
    On which floor I should proceed? is this type of shinkansen covered by JR pass? Which track should I use from 14-19? because when I open Hyperdia I only got the time let say 7 am from tokyo, it didn’t mention which departure track that I should use (for example track no 14)

    Regards,
    Stefanus

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