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. Richard says:

    Hi Takeshi-san! Thanks for all the helpful information.

    I will be landing at Haneda International Airport on a Sunday morning, and I expect to clear security by about 8am. I plan to catch the Keikyu line to Shinagawa, and then a shinkansen from Shinagawa to Kyoto (at 8:40, 9:10, 9:40… depending on how quickly I get out of the airport!). So far so good.

    However, I will be using a JR Pass for the shinkansen journey, so I will need to exchange it before I can board the shinkansen. I know that I can do this at Haneda airport, as the small JR East office opens at 07:45. However, from past experience there is often a long queue. So I was wondering, if I go straight to Shinagawa, whether I can exchange my JR Pass at a Midori-no-Madoguchi (which opens at 06:00), or whether I would have to wait for the Shinagawa travel office to open (which looks like either 09:00 or 10:00 on a Sunday — I have seen different information)?

    If I have to wait for the office to open at Shinagawa, I think it’s better to queue at Haneda.

    Thank you,
    Richard

    • Hi Richard san,

      Basiaclly I agree with you. Shinagawa is better option because as you think, Haneda is very small counter. And also you will take Keikyu line that is not covered by JR pass. So you don’t need to do it at Haneda.

      However exchange offices in Shinagawa station open at 9:00. You cannot do it at Midori no madoguchi. Please see the link below:
      http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html

      So if you clear custom and immigration very quickly, you have to wait in Shinagawa. Haneda may be faster.

      Please check how busy the counter at Haneda when you get there. And also it depends on how quickly you clear custom.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Richard says:

        Hi Takeshi-san — thanks for the swift reply, helpful as always!

        I have a follow-up question. After my shinkansen from Shinagawa to Kyoto, I can catch an onward train (or trains) to Kinosaki-Onsen. One of the routes recommended by Hyperdia is the following:

        Hikari 507 – Shinagawa (09:40) to Kyoto (12:11)
        Hashidate 5 – Kyoto (12:25) to Fukuchiyama (13:49)
        Konotori 9 – Fukuchiyama (13:50) to Kinosaki Onsen (14:54)

        I have been to Japan many times, but Hyperdia has never recommended me such a tight connection before (1 minute!). Do you think it’s possible to make this connection? Do you know if the Konotori 9 waits for Hashidate 5 at Fukuchiyama?

        All the best,
        Richard

        • Hi Richard,

          Actually it’s on purpose. Both Konotori and Hashidate arrive at same platform at Fukuchiyama. And many passenger transfer each other. You can change trains in 15 seconds actually.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Richard says:

            Hi Takeshi-san, thanks again! That’s really helpful to know. I wouldn’t have tried that connection without that information.

            I have one last question… I don’t suppose you know if there are any conveniently-located convenience stores at either Shinagawa (when transferring from Keikyu to Shinkansen) or Kyoto (when transferring from Shinkansen to JR platform 31) with Yamamoto Kuroneko (takuhaibin) facilities? If time permits, we would like to use a baggage delivery service.

            Thanks again,
            Richard

          • Richard says:

            Thanks again Takeshi-san.

            All the best,
            Richard

  2. Nuj says:

    Hi Takeshi

    How are you? Though it’s a bit too early but I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very very very Happy New Year.

    I will be arriving Haneda Airport around 6.30 am. From there, I’ll go straigth to Shizuoka City.

    Questions are
    1. Can I buy a non-reserved ticket for JR Hikari 465 (Shinagawa-Shizuoka) at Haneda Airport?
    2. Where can I buy it, from JR East counter or a ticket machine? By the way, is there any ticket machine at the airport?
    3. JR Central office at Shinagawa open at 9.00 am. while Hikari465 is leaving at 9.10 am. If I have to buy the ticket at Shinagawa station, do you think I can get on the train in time?

    Regards,
    Nuj

  3. Gigi Sicat says:

    Hello! My friend and I will be in Japan next week. Is it ok to board the Hikari shinkansen from Shinagawa Station going to Kyoto or should we board at the Tokyo station? Thanks.

  4. Jen says:

    Hi, if my flight is to Haneda airport and back is from Narita Airport to Singapore. But I am going to Osaka when I reach Haneda airport, is purchasing JR pass cheaper or purchase tickets as and when cheaper?
    And appreciate that you could also advise how should I go to view Mount Fuji. Thanks

  5. Shufen says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    I plan to take shinkansen from Shinagawa to Odawara. Can i buy the shinkansen ticket and make reservation at Tokyo station? What is the operating hours for the reservation office ?
    Thanks

    • Hi Shufen,

      You can do it at Tokyo station or any other major JR stations. Actually in downtown Tokyo, you can do it at most of JR stations.
      Reservation window is open between 6:00 and 23:00. There are many windows in Tokyo station. The hours are different by the window. But most of those open from early morning to late night.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Nicole says:

    Hi there ,

    I am travelling from Shinjuku to Osaka , please advice should I take transfer to shinkansen at Shingawa station or Tokyo station?? Which one is a better choice with shortest travelling time?

  7. Siri says:

    Hi,
    Are there escalator/elevator all the way of the transfer keikyu to JR at Shinagawa station? I have a lugguage and will travel from Haneda airport to Tokyo station around 23:30pm, train seem to be a better option since the limousine bus leave 1am.

    I have watched the vidio clip a couple of time and saw a glimp of escalator at some points but it didn’t show clearly if that are up or down. And from JR gate to plate form, i didn’t see any escalator.

    It would be nice if the clip could show escalators/elevators along the transfer in the Shinagawa station for international travellers who have big lugguages and hauling them up/down stairs is quite a challenge.

  8. Maru says:

    Thank you so much for this information! It’s really helpful.
    Maybe this is a stupid question, but I’m wondering how easy it is to get a ticket at the station? I’m getting off the Keikyu Line, and need to get on the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen. Will there be ticket vending machines, or a counter?
    Thank you!

  9. JR Custodio says:

    Takeshi,

    Are there lockers for big baggage in Shinagawa station? Thank you!

    • Hi JR,

      Yes. But large size lockers are always busy. Those may be full. If it’s full, there is no other choices.
      If you really want to use it, try to get Shinagawa station in early morning.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Siti Nora says:

    Hi

    I have a trip to Japan next year in May 2017. My flight will land at Haneda International Airport at 10.30pm. Do you think I can catch the Train to Shibuya via the Keihin Kyuko train and transit at Shinagawa and take the Yamanote line to Shibuya?

    What is the operating hours for Shinagawa station?

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