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. Susan says:

    Hello, I’ll be travelling from Shinjuku to Kyoto, and still unsure about transferring from JR Yamanote Line to Tokaido Shinkansen at Shinagawa station.

    I will not be using JR Pass.

    Do I go to the JR ticket office at Shinjuku to purchase the shinkansen ticket (stating to travel from Shinjuku to Kyoto, and by the way, is it necessary or advisable to reserve seat?), and then just proceed to take JR Yamanote Line to Shinagawa station and transfer to Tokaido Shinkansen? Should I purchase the ticket in advance or it’s fine to get the ticket right before we step through the station gates?

    I was a little confused because on Hyperdia, it seems to suggest that I should be taking JR rapid lines to go back to Tokyo station from Shinjuku to take the Shinkansen, while the fares remain the same…

    • Hi Susan,

      You may purchase one ticket from Shinjuku to Kyoto via Shinagawa. You can purchase a ticket in advance at any major JR stations. You don’t need to purchase it at Shinjuku.
      As you think, you can take Yamanote line from Shinjuku to Shinagawa. You just need to change the train at Shinagawa. You don’t need to exit the station but you will go through Shinkansen transfer gate before you take Shinkansen.

      Reserved seat is recommended especially if you travel with someone. You may get a seat even if you take Shinkansen at Shinagawa. But it may be hard to find the seat side by side. But if you take a Shinkansen from Tokyo, it’s much easier to get a seat in non reserved car. Otherwise you may purchase a reserved seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Ying says:

    Hello,

    I plan to take the shinkansen from shinagawa station to Kobe on Wednesday 20 April. What is the schedule like and do I need to purchase the ticket in advance? Thanks in advance for helping.

  3. Stash says:

    Hi,

    I will be coming to Japan next month and was wondering is it possible and/or faster to take a metro from Shiodome Stagtion to Shinagawa to get the NEX or to go by taxi from Shiodome to Shinagawa?

  4. Silvio says:

    Hi JR Pass,
    Does the JR East Travel Center on Narita airport open on sunday? What is business hours of this center on Narita airport Terminal 1? Could I exchange my JR Pass voucher and make a seat reservation to Narita Express at this center?
    Thank you!

  5. Anne Kim says:

    Hi,
    I’m meeting my aunt who will be arriving in Shinagawa Station from Odawara, since it’s her first time in Japan do you have any idea what track/platform the Shinkansen will be from? And what is the nearest exit so I can meet her?

  6. Sally OConnor says:

    Arriving at Shinagawa Station on Shinkansen from Osaka. Need to get to Terminal 2 at Narita airport.

    1. How can I find Narita Express tracks at Shinagawa?
    2. Can I purchase Narita Express tickets when I purchase Shinkansen in Osaka?
    3. In Osaka, do I get on the Shinkkansen in Osaka or Shin-Osaka?

    Thank you for your help.

  7. Benny says:

    Hi,
    I’m taking Keihin Kyuko train from Haneda to Shinagawa. Then I will take Shinkansen to Kakegawa. Can I buy Shinkansen ticket + reserve seat at Haneda or I must buy at Shinagawa? If yes, please let me know is the place in Haneda International terminal. Thank you.

  8. Tyler says:

    Hi, I am travelling from Haneda Airport to Osaka, and am planning to use the Suica card to travel from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa station, then using the JR Rail pass to travel from Shinagawa station onwards to Osaka.

    How do I make the connection without incurring extra cost?

    Since from what I understand is that when using the JR pass, use enter through the manned gate, but what happens since I’m already in the station?

    • Hi Tyler,

      If you arrive in Haneda for day time, you can exchange the pass at Haneda.
      http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html

      If you exchange JR pass at Haneda, you don’t need to exit the station. However you will use Suica to Shinagawa and start using JR pass from Shinagawa. When you go through the transfer gate, you have to explain to use Suica and JR pass. If you just tap your suica at transfer gate, JR fare will be charged to your Suica.

      If you cannot exchange JR pass at Haneda, you need to exit at Shinagawa station to exchange your JR pass there anyway.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. tap says:

    i am thinking bout getting a morning shinkansen to kyoto from shibuya for day trip, whats the best way to do so ? especially in the morning rush hours ? whats the best time to go ?

    i was thinking bout taking NEX from shibuya to shinagawa station and taking shinkansen from there to avoid morning rush, just wondering if that’s possible? btw i’ll using JRpass

  10. Grace X. says:

    Hello, thank you for your detailed description. I plan to buy the JR Rail Pass and take NEX to Shinagawa then Keikyu to Haneda. Do I need to purchase a Keikyu ticket at Shinagawa before taking Keikyu train? Thanks!

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