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. Frances says:
    March 18, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    Hi all,

    I am arriving at Haneda at 8:30 pm on a weekday. I want to take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa station to transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen to travel to Nagoya. The last shinkansen leaves Shinagawa station at 10 pm.

    Will my ticket from Keikyu allow me to transfer through the Keikyu transfer gate to the JR side so that I can buy my shinkansen ticket at Shinagawa? There is no way for me to buy the shinkansen ticket at Haneda.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      March 19, 2018 at 12:20 am

      Hi Frances,

      If you arrive in Haneda by international flight, you may not be able to take Shinkansen to Nagoya. You will spend one hour to clear custom and immigration and takes another 30 minutes to get Shinagawa and purchasing ticket. You may be okay but it’s risky.

      If you arrive in Haneda by domestic flight, you may be okay. But you have to exit Shinagawa station and purchase Shinkansen ticket. If you go through transfer gate, you must have Shinkansen ticket in advance. But you cannot get it at Haneda.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Erinnn says:
    February 25, 2018 at 7:55 pm

    Hi,

    I will arrived in Narita Airport terminal 1 at 2.25pm on 12 April. Could you advise how long will it take to exchange JR pass and reserve shinkansen seat at Narita airport?

    I need to take Hikari shinkansen to Nagoya from Shinagawa on the same day, thus I’m a little concern on the time I need to buffer before I can board NEX to shinagawa. and whether I can get the tickets.

    thanks

  3. Yuli says:
    January 25, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    My name is Yuli.
    I will arrive at Haneda at 7.00 am, and have one night at Tokyo (near Tokyo Station) before leaving to Kawaguchiko on the next day.

    I have a plan to visit Asakusa, Tsukiji, Shibuya, Shinjuku (if there is enough time).

    What kind of Pass that should I buy to cover transfer from Haneda and my trip in Tokyo? I will travel with my parents (above 60 year-old and my kids (14 and 11 year old)

    Regards,
    Yuli

  4. Fernanda says:
    December 13, 2017 at 3:28 am

    Hello,

    I will be taking the Narita express to Tokyo or Shinagawa to connect to Kyoto, I’m traveling with two kids, so I’m trying to find out if, its easier to go to Shinagawa Station instead of Tokyo station. I have the Jr passes. Also how long does it take from Shinagawa station to Kyoto Station? and if you could help me with the train platform number ( via Shinkansen).

    Thanks a lot 🙂

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 13, 2017 at 6:14 am

      Hi Fernanda,

      Shinagawa is easier than Tokyo. The platforms for Narita Express and Shinkansen are much closer than Tokyo. Platform number and other info are shown in the post above.

      Trip time from Shinagawa to Kyoto is 2.5 to 3 hours. You can find the timetable in the link below.
      http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf

      Train which is shown by “H”, “K” and “S” are covered. “N” is faster and run more frequently. But it’s Nozomi and it’s not covered by JR Pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Aisling says:
    August 20, 2017 at 1:40 am

    Hello, I would like to get the local train to Narita Airport Terminal 2 from Shinagawa at about 3:30-4pm tomorrow. I don’t need to get the Narita Express because my flight is at 10pm so I will not be in a hurry. How much is the local train and how often, please?

  6. Ireine Loh says:
    June 25, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    I will transfer from Nozomi to Ltd Exp Narita Express at Shinagawa Station on 25 Oct. Could you please advise which platform do I head to to board the Ltd Exp Narita Express train to Shinjuku? I don’t see the platform or track number in Hyperdia.
    Regards, Ireine

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      June 25, 2017 at 9:21 pm

      Hi Ireine,

      Actually Narita Express to Shijuku does not stop at Shinagawa. Some of Narita Express stop at Shinagawa but it goes to Yokohama/Ofuna only, not Shinjuku. You need to take Yamanote line local train to Shinjuku.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JRPail.com

  7. kenny ong says:
    June 13, 2017 at 3:54 am

    Hi there!

    Would like to book a hotel overnight for transfer to Kyoto next day at Shinagawa Station.

    Can i confirm that these hotels are beside Shinagawa Station ( just in case i book the hotels at the wrong location )

    Shinagawa Prince Hotel
    4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, 108-8611 agoda

    The Strings by InterContinental, Tokyo
    Minato-ku, Konan 2-16-1 Shinagawa East One Tower 26-32 Floor, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, 108-8282 – agoda

  8. Blair B. says:
    May 14, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Hello. How do I transfer from the Keikyo station then Shinagawa to Ikebukoro station? Thank you so much for your help!

  9. Syazana says:
    May 10, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Can you advise how to go to Matsudo Station from Haneda Airport? My arrival time will be at 22:30pm, is it best if I buy Pasmo card?

  10. Robert Bringans says:
    April 18, 2017 at 1:37 am

    Hello Takeshi san,
    I will be taking the Hikari Express to Shizuoka in May (for the Shizuoka Hobby Show), could you please advise as to whether there is a Ekiben shop between the NEX and the Hikari platform. Ekiben is something I’ve never experienced, despite this being my 20th year coming to Japan!
    Best regards, Robert

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