Shinagawa station guide. Transfer among Shinkansen, Keihin Kyuko to Haneda, Narita Express

Station information
Pedestrian walkway connects both side of Takanawa and Kona exits. (C) JP Rail
Shinagawa station Takanawa Exit side (C) JP Rail
Shinagawa station Takanawa Exit side (C) JP Rail

Shinagawa is one of the terminal station in Tokyo. It is the transfer point of Tokaido Shinkansen (Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka), Keihin Kyuko (Haneda airport), Narita Express (Narita airport), Yamanote line (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo) and many more lines.

There are many railway lines and it seems to make you be overwhelmed. But this is not very complicated, actually. In this post, I will show you how to transfer among these trains in this station, Shinagawa.

Station structure, tracks and platforms

Taken at track #3 and #4 platform. All JR's platforms are on ground level. (C) JP Rail
Taken at track #3 and #4 platform. All JR’s platforms are on ground level. (C) JP Rail

Please see the map at JR East official website.

At Shinagawa station, there are three railway companies, JR Central (Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka), JR East (Yamanote line, Tokaido line, Yokosuka line, Narita Express) and Keihin Kyuko Railway (a.k.a Keikyu to Haneda airport, Yokohama).

On the ground floor, all JR companies’s platforms are located. Only Keihin Kyuko Railway’s platforms are located at overhead. All platforms are connected with overpass. All ticket gates and exits are located at overpass too. All ticket gates and exits are located on pedestrian walkway. You can access both west (Takanawa exit) and east (Konan exit). You can go through this walkway without ticket.

Pedestrian walkway connects both side of Takanawa and Kona exits.  (C) JP Rail
Pedestrian walkway connects both side of Takanawa and Kona exits. (C) JP Rail

All platforms and tracks of Shinagawa station are the following:

Keihin Kyuko Railway

Track#Lines/TrainsDestination
1Keihin Kyuko RailwayKeikyu-Kamata, Haneda Airport, Yokohama, Misakiguchi
2Keihin Kyuko RailwaySengakuji, Asakusa, Osiage, Aoto, Narita Airport
3Keihin Kyuko RailwayPeak hours trains only

All JR lines

Track#Lines/TrainsDestination
1Yamanote lineInner loop to Tokyo, Akihabara, Ueno
2Yamanote lineOuter loop to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro
4Keihin Tohoku lineTokyo, Ueno, Omiya
5Keihin Tohoku lineKamata, Yokohama, Ofuna
6,7Ueno Tokyo lineTokyo, Ueno, Omiya, Utsunomiya, Takasaki
6,7The limited express Odoriko, Super View OdorikoTokyo
8Seasonal operation or special train only
9Ueno Tokyo line (limited express to Joban line)
Limited Express Hitachi, Tokiwa
Tokyo, Ueno, Kashiwa, Tuchiura, Mito, Iwaki
10,11Ueno Tokyo line (to Joban line)Tokyo, Ueno, Matsudo, Kashiwa, Toride, Tuchiura, Mito, Takahagi
11,12Ueno Tokyo line Tokaido line
The limited express Odoriko, Super View Odoriko
Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Ito Izukyu-Shimoda, Shuzenji
13,14Sobu-Yokosuka line
Narita Express
Tokyo, Chiba, Narita Airport
14,15Sobu-Yokosuka lineYokohama, Kamakura, Zushi, Kurihama
21,22The Tokaido ShinkansenTokyo
23,24The Tokaido ShinkansenNagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata
Overpass inside of ticket gates. There are many signage. It is very easy to find the platforms. (C) JP Rail
Overpass inside of ticket gates. There are many signage. It is very easy to find the platforms. (C) JP Rail

So basically you can transfer any trains at same level. This is the biggest reason why I recommend you to transfer from Narita Express to Shinkansen. If you transfer at Tokyo station, Narita Express arrive at deep underground platform. And also it is located at the west side of Tokyo station. On the other hand, Shinkansen’s platform is located at the east end. So you have to take escalator to go up and go through Tokyo station from west end to east end. I think minimum transfer time is 15 minutes.

If you transfer at Shinagawa station, 5 minutes is enough as long as you have a ticket for Shinkansen. You can book Shinkansen ticket at Narita Airport station too.

Ticket gate/Exit

Central ticket gate/exitv (C) JP Rail
Central ticket gate/exitv (C) JP Rail

Now I explain you how to transfer among Shinkansen, other JR lines (Yamanote line, Narita Express, etc) and Keihin Kyuko Railway.

How to transfer between the Shinkansen and JR lines (Yamanote line, Narita Express, other than Shinkansen)

Tokaido Shinkansen south transfer gate (C) JP Rail
Tokaido Shinkansen south transfer gate (C) JP Rail

Please see the movie below to find how to transfer from Narita Express to the Shinkansen which is bound for Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.

Please see the movie below to find how to transfer from Yamanote line to the Shinkansen which is bound for Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.

There is the Shinkansen transfer gate between Tokaido Shinkansen and other JR lines. If you transfer between JR trains and the Shinkansen, you do not have to exit the ticket gate. Just go through Shinkansen transfer gate. The Tokaido Shinkansen (JR Central) and other JR trains (JR East) are strictly the different companies. But both companies are under JR group and you can use one same base fare ticket for both JR trains and the Shinkansen. If you use JR Pass, both trains are covered except Nozomi that is the fastest train of the Tokaido Shinkansen.

You can find Shinkansen transfer gate at the bottom of JR East Shinagawa station map. You will find two gates, “Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen South Transfer” and “Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen North Transfer”

How to transfer between JR trains and Keihin Kyuko Railway

There is a huge sign at Keihin Kyuko transfer gate. You cannot miss it.  (C) JP Rail
There is a huge sign at Keihin Kyuko transfer gate. You cannot miss it. (C) JP Rail

These are completely different companies. But you don’t need to exit. For example, if you take Keihin Kyuko train at Haneda airport station, you can purchase one ticket for both JR and Keihin Kyuko Railway.

There is a transfer gate. If you have a ticket for both JR and Keihin Kyuko Railway, you just go through the machine gate. You can find it at the top of JR East Shinagawa station map. It says “Keikyu transfer only” in the map.

The movie below shows you from Keihin Kyuko to the Shinkansen platform.

If you want to take the Shinkansen from Keihin Kyuko Railway, you can go through transfer gates twice, Keihin Kyuko gate and Shinkansen transfer gate.

JR Pass, JR East Pass and Tokyo Wide Pass sales and exchange place

JR Central's ticket office can handle JR Pass exchange. (C) JP Rail
JR Central’s ticket office can handle JR Pass exchange. (C) JP Rail

Please see JR East Shinagawa station map again. Both JR Pass and JR East Pass exchange place are shown by red star beside Central gate. There is one more place to exchange JR Pass. That is JR Central ticket office beside Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen north gate. It’s shown by green solid color at the bottom of the map. Both place are open from 9:00 to 19:00.

If you purchase JR East Pass or Tokyo Wide Pass on the spot, you have to go to JR East Travel Center that is called “びゅうプラザ” (View Plaza). It is located in front of Central gate and it is shown by blue star.

Minimum connection time

These times are minimum. That means you just need to transfer. If you need to purchase a ticket, you have to add some more time.

  • Keihin Kyuko Railway to/from Yamanote line or Keihin Tohoku line (to Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Akihabara) – 5 minutes
  • Narita Express to/from Shinkansen – 5 minutes
  • Keihin Kyuko Railway to/from Shinkansen – 10 minutes

Comments

  1. Siti says:

    Dear Takeshi/JPrail

    I’m staying at Shinagawa Prince Hotel which is just opposite Shinagawa station. We like to take the Shinkansen to Kanazawa in the morning. Should we board the Shinkansen from Tokyo station or Shinagawa station?

  2. Jennifer says:

    I will be travelling to Japan soon but am not sure if it is more money saving if i purchase JR pass or just buy tickets as and when I need it. I will be arriving at Narita airport around 8am in the morning and would like to travel to Nipponbashi at Osaka, will be staying there for 2 nights and travel back to Hamamatsucho in Tokyo, would like to seek your advice if to purchase JR Pass and would like to know the difference between ordinary class and green class, and both class will not need to pay extra for express and reserving seats, right? Appreciate to hear from you soon.

  3. Phuong says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I am traveling to Japan on August 7th 2015 and would like some advices. I have already bought Japan Rail Pass for 14 days.

    My flight will arrive Narita Internation Terminal 1 at 4.50pm and my next flight from Tokyo Haneda Domestic Airport to Osaka is 8.35pm . What should I do? Should I exchange the order at Narita, and book a reserved seat for Narita Express then arrive at Shinagawa station and run to Keikyu Line to Haneda? or book a limousine bus straight to Haneda Airport? I already bought JR pass and don’t want to spend extra money for limousine bus if I have enough time. Please advise.

    Thanks

    • Hi Phuong,

      I think Limousine bus is better because of schedule. Look at the timetable of Narita Express the link below:
      http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/e_nex_u/06.html

      If you arrive on time and custom/immigration will not very busy, you will spend one hour to exit. And then you have to exchange your JR Pass and book. There are line ups in front of JR booking counter in these days. I think you will spend at least 15 minutes. So you will take Narita Express #44 that departs at 18:15/18:19 at Ternminal #2. Even if you catch this, you will be Shinagawa around 19:30 and you will be Haneda around 20:00. You will get a ticket for domestic flight before reaching Haneda. But you will have baggage. Arrival at 20:00 is tight for 20:35 flight in my opinion.

      I understand you don’t want to spend extra. But if you catch limousine, you don’t spend any extra minutes to exchange the pass and book. That means you will get Haneda earlier. Limousine departs at 18:10 and arrive Haneda at 19:35. This is much more comfortable.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Vivi says:

    Hi JP Rail,
    I need your help here.
    I will be arriving at Narita Airport at 10.45 am on Sunday and will get the JR Kanto Area Pass at Narita Airport Terminal 2.
    How do I transfer the train to Karuizawa at Tokyo Station?
    How long do I need to walk from Narita express station to the platform for train to Karuizawa?
    Tokyo station is so big and I think I will get lost.
    I am afraid I will miss the connecting train.
    Thank you.

  5. Dickie says:

    Hi Takeshi! I’m planning to fly into Haneda Int’l Airport and from there travel by train or airport express to Shinagawa to catch the Tokaido Shinkasen(Nozomi?) to Nagoya. How much time should I give myself from arrival at Shinagawa to catch the Shinkasen? We are a party of two and will have two medium size suitcases and back packs.

    Can I purchase tickets on Hyperdia? And if I miss my ticketed/scheduled train, can I take a later train without paying any extra charges.

    Thanks!

  6. gladys says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am departing from Yoyogi station to take shinkansen Hikari to Osaka from Shinagawa station.

    At Shinagawa Station, how long it takes to walk / transfer from JR Yamanote platform to Tokaido -Shinkansen Line platform?

    Thank you

  7. Mia says:

    Hello! I just want to clarify a few things. =)

    We are planning to buy the N’ex Tokyo Direct Ticket to travel from Narita to either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. Then from Tokyo/Shinagawa, we plan to ride the Nozomi Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka.

    Upon arrival at Tokyo Station/Shinagawa Station, do we need to exit the station gates completely with our N’ex Tokyo Direct Tickets then re-enter for the Shinkansen line with the Shinkansen tickets? Or is a direct transfer inside the Tokyo Station/Shinagawa Station acceptable? I’m confused because I read somewhere that when you buy the N’ex Tokyo Direct Ticket, direct transfer to the Shinkansen line may not be possible. I’m worried because it would be difficult with our luggage.

    Thank you! =)

    • Hi Mia,

      I think you don’t need to exit at Shinagawa. You can purchase and book Shinkansen ticket when you buy N’ex Direct ticket at Narita. At Shinagawa, there is Shinkansen transfer gate between Narita express platform and Shinkansen platform. You can go though this gate if you show both ticket (N’ex direct and Shinkansen tickets) to the station officer.

      If you transfer at Tokyo, it’s same thing. But Shinagawa is much easier to transfer than Tokyo.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. connie says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning to take Nex train from Narita to Shinagawa station and from there I will take a JR train to Tamachi station. I will not be using the JR Pass, so in order for me to get my ticket to Tamachi JR station, I have to exit when i reach Shinagawa and purchase my ticket and re-enter the JR platform again, am I right?

    Please advise if I am not doing right.

    Thank you.
    Connie

  9. Sarah says:

    Hi,

    I’m travelling to Japan soon and wanted some advice.

    I arrive into Haneda airport around 10am and am going to Kobe and I have a JR Railpass.

    Currently I’m planning to get the Kyuko train from Haneda to Shinagawa (not covered by the rail pass but seems easier than monorail) and then get the train from Shinagawa to Shin-Kobe.

    Am I able to exchange my rail pass at Haneda and reserve a seat for the Kobe train there too? And if I do the seat reservation will it tell me which platform I need at Shinagawa? I’m travelling alone and a bit worried the station will be difficult to navigate.

    Also how much time will I need from Haneda to get the train at Shinagawa? The trains to Shin-Kobe are once every hour so should I aim for a later one to be sure or will I not need a reservation at that time of day?

    Thank you, Sarah.

  10. Franya says:

    Hello Again

    I am finalising my itinerary and would like some advice on whether the Japan rail pass will be the most economical way to travel.
    I am planning to spend my first five days in Tokyo arriving from Narita and then taking the train down to Kyoto for 4 days and then from Kyoto to Hiroshima for 2 days and then travel back to Tokyo from Hiroshima for my last 2 days in Tokyo before I depart.

    With this amount of travel is the Japan rail pass the most economical way to travel?

    I was thinking to get the 7 day pass to cover the long distance travel from Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima -Tokyo and then use a suica card for transport around Tokyo. Or should I just get the 14 day pass to cover me for my whole time I am in Tokyo? What’s the most economical way to go?

    Does the suica card cover the Metro and the Toei Lines and the JR lines around Tokyo?

    I am not sure how may lines in the JR group cover the Tokyo Metro area?

    I had a look at Hyperdia and was wondering , do I pay the seat reservation fee if I have the ordinary pass or does that fee only apply for the green pass where you have to reserve a seat?
    If I don’t reserve a seat and just get on the next train that comes along do I just pay the fare price and not the total as shown on Hyperdia?

    Hope you can help my confusion

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