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
2014.05.28
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
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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. Apple ragadio says:
    September 23, 2016 at 5:38 am

    Hi takeshi

    Is there a wifi in the shinkasen or in the jprails?thank you

  2. Jacqueline says:
    September 17, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I arrive at Osanbashi pier (end of cruise) and my son arrives at Haneda airport the same mornng. We are going to meet at Shinagawa station to take the train to Kyoto. Do you have any suggestions where we could meet at Shinagawa station before we purchase our tickets for Kyoto? He will be arriving by the Keikyu-Kuko Line and I will be arriving by the Tokaido Line.

    Thank you
    Jacqueline

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      September 17, 2016 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Jacqueline,

      You can meet at Shinkansen ticket gate. (not transfer gate)
      You or your son or both of you need to purchase a ticket for Shinknasen to Kyoto. One of you can purchase tickets for both of you. Both of you need to be there when you purchase a ticket. However both of you need to have tickets when you enter Shinkansen platform. And also you cannot get the seats side by side unless you purchase tickets at same time. So both of you need to go outside ticket gate and purchase/book tickets for Shinkansen.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Ardnian says:
    September 9, 2016 at 1:53 am

    Dear Takeshi,

    My plane is scheduled to arrive at Haneda International Terminal at 7 AM.
    1. Is it possible to catch Nozomi Shinkansen to Kyoto at 08:17 from Shinagawa Station? ( Keikyu Airport Line’s Rapid Limited Express to Shinagawa)
    2. Is the SUICA card valid for Keikyu trains?
    3. Where can I buy the Shinkansen non-reserved ticket at Shinagawa Station if we arrive there by Keikyu train?

    Thank you. Ard.

  4. Shufen says:
    August 2, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am planning to take Yamanote line from Shimbashi to Shinagawa and from Shinagawa change to Shinkansen to Odawara. From the map, does it mean that i will alight at shinagawa at platform 1 or 2 and I have to walk to platform 23 or 24 for the shinkansen? Do I buy the Shinkasen ticket in advance or can i charge to the Pasmo card? I see from Hyperdia that there is reserved seat. How do i reserve in advance?
    Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 2, 2016 at 9:46 pm

      Hi Shufen san,

      All you have to do is following the signage of Shinkansen. You will get Shinkansen transfer gate.
      You cannot use Pasmo to take Shinkansen. You can purchase a ticket at Shinkansen transfer gate in Shinagawa station. But I recommend you to book in advance. You can book and purchase a ticket at “Midori no Madoguchi” (reservation window) in most of JR stations in Tokyo.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Eddy says:
    July 30, 2016 at 12:39 am

    Hello Takeshi,

    I want to know what should I think when entering the train station to use the train. I will use Shinagawa station to go to Ueno station. I will use a pass (JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass) with me, but I prefer not to use the reserved seat train.

    From your article I found that I have so many choice of tracks to Ueno station from Shinagawa station. I can use track 1 (Yamanote line), track 3 (Keihin Tohoku line), track 5 and 8? (Tokaido line), track 10 and 11? (Ueno Tokyo line), track 13 (Yokosuka line). Right?

    I will enter the station from west side (Takanawa exit). So I just need to go up to walk along the pedestrian walkway and look for those tracks above? I don’t need to go to ticket counter to buy train ticket, do I? Where can I know which track the train to Ueno station will arrive first? Do all those trains will go to Ueno station without transferring or changing train, like in Tokyo station perhaps? and how can I know?

    What should I think and search when entering the train stations, if I don’t know the train track number and the line beforehand, If I just know the name of my arrival station? (I can’t read Japanese)

    Thanks in advance,
    Eddy

  6. Mary Walsh says:
    July 9, 2016 at 11:27 pm

    Hello Takeshi
    I am travelling to Kyoto with my family (6 adults and 2 children) in August. We fly into Haneda early in the morning and intend catching the bullet train to Kyoto. Is it best for us to catch the Keikyu Airport Line’s Rapid Limited Express train to Shinagawa Station and then transfer to JR Central’s Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto? Can I purchase the ticket for the whole journey from Haneda to Kyoto at the airport or do I need to buy each section separately? I will be returning alone by train 10 days later, so would a return ticket be better for me?
    Thank you so much for your guidance.
    Mary

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      July 9, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Hi Mary,

      You have to purchase Keikyu and Shinkansen ticket separately. But you can purchase Shinkansen ticket at Haneda too. Please see the link below:
      http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center_haneda.html

      It opens at 7:45. If you arrive there after 7:45, you can purchase Shinkansen ticket there and purchase Keikyu ticket to Shinagawa. But if JR travel service is busy when you get there, take Keikyu to Shinagawa and exit there to purchase Shinkansen ticket at Shinagawa station. That may be faster because Shinagawa station has many more windows and lots of staffs.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. philip says:
    July 2, 2016 at 2:11 am

    Hello Takeshi,
    Myself, my wife and our 7 months old daughter will travel to Japan this October. We will fly into Haneda Airport. Plan to spend the night in Tokyo and head to Kyoto the next day, then Nagoya and back to Tokyo. All by Shinkansen. I need your advice. Would you recommend me purchasing the JR Pass?

  8. Oh Beng Chuan says:
    June 27, 2016 at 11:17 pm

    Takeshi san,
    Can I use my JR Pass traveling from Shin Osaka station to Shinagawa station and to Narita Airport via the NEX?

    Thanks BC

  9. joshua wong says:
    June 14, 2016 at 10:18 am

    Thank You very Much Takeshi , you’re the best !

  10. joshua wong says:
    June 13, 2016 at 9:28 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    Please accept our apology for long enquiry.

    We‘ll be arriving at Haneda Airport on weekday,10 AM and validate our JR pass there then plan to catch Shinkansen to shin Osaka, without needing to buy another suica or passmo card what would the best way that cover by JR pass please ?

    (i). From Haneda Airport catch Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho station then catch Yamanote line to Tokyo then catch shinkansen from Tokyo station to shin Osaka station ?
    or
    (ii). From Hamamatsucho station to shinagawa station instead going to Tokyo station?

    Additionally please find below is our itinerary we’ll be based at Shin-Osaka for 3 days:

    Day 1 – Shin Osaka headed to Dontonburi and Namba – Would Osaka Loopline cover by JR pass or do we need to purchase suica or pasmo card?

    Day 2 – Kyoto, (AM): Central Kyoto attractions, (PM): Fushimi Inari Shrine back to Shin Osaka.

    Day 3 – Kyoto, (AM): Arashiyama Bamboo Grove , Tenryu-ji Temple (Arashiyama) then (PM): Nara Deer Park.

    For Kyoto day 2 and ½ day of day 3 we’ll probably buying the Kyoto day pass (not sure if JR pass cover here).

    Can you please advise what would be the efficient and cheapest way to go to Nara from either Kyoto or Osaka for those ½ day on days 3 please.

    Day 4: Shin-Osaka (AM) back to Ebisu Station (near Shibuya) by shinkansen then headed to Shinjuku, Harajuku until (PM), Does JR pass cover this?

    Day 5: Ebisu Station (AM) to Odawara castle or station (just hoping to catches glimpse of Mt Fuji).
    Without having enough time to visit Hakone would you recommended this or any suggestion where we could just disembark to take few pictures then embark shinkansen back to Tokyo.

    Day 5: Odawara Station (PM) to Asakusa station then to see Gundam robot – DiverCity Tokyo Plaza.
    Would this required me to buy Tokyo days pass or either Suica / Passmo card will be sufficient.
    Day 6: Ebisu – Disneyland (whole day)

    Day 7: Ebisu – Haneda airport plane depart 11.45 AM Japan times – To avoid rush hour 7 – 9 AM, Would route (i) or (ii) above possible ?

    Thanking you in advance.
    Cheers
    Joshua wong

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