As a foreigner who has moved to Tokyo, I’ve heard friends and family fawn over almost all of its aspects, as if it were a utopia. But, other than the sweetness of their rice and technology that seems like luxury back home yet is a norm in Tokyo, at least from what I hear, what leaves people sitting in a mix of awe and intimidation is their transportation system.
I think I’ve been sent almost all of the posts and memes about getting lost in Shinjuku station, taking the trains that go in the wrong direction, and cramping my toes in the attempt to stay balanced while not being able to grab onto any of the handles because it’s so crowded. Although for the latter, I’ve learned it’s more realistic to just have faith in the people you’re stuck to shoulder-to-shoulder as you move like set jello during rush hour.
Whether you are a tourist, someone who just moved here, or someone who just wants to understand it, I’m here to help you squeeze into Tokyo, a little at a time! Just as a lot of us have needed to experience the infamous rush hours needed to literally do. Here are some station navigation basics that would be good to know.
Knowing Your Lines: A Cheat Sheet
First and foremost, a very useful piece of information is that there are three distinctions to make for transport. The first are the JR lines, next are the subway lines, and lastly the private lines. Here’s some information for them:
JR Lines
- Major railway network, operated by the East Japan Railway Company
- Best for getting across the city and to major stations
- Some examples: Yamanote, Chūō, Chūō–Sōbu
- Complete list: https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/pdf/map_a4ol.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Subways
- Major underground network, serviced by the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway
- Best for central Tokyo and getting to places the JR lines (such as specific “chōme” (丁目))
- Complete list (Tokyo Metro’s 9 Lines): https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/index.html
- Complete list (Toei Subway’s 4 Lines): https://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/
Private Railways
- Railway networks connecting Tokyo to suburbs
- Operated by lines such as the Keio, Odakyu, Tokyu, Seibu, and Tobu lines
Navigating the Stations and Finding Your Train
A tip I’ve received that seems too good to be true is to just follow the signs. While it seems like a very “duh” statement, when you’re overwhelmed in a station and it seems harder to cross the crowds of people than to cross a busy street, the best thing to do is to take a breath, try to clear your mind, and to remember this advice. Of course, this is easier said than done, so let’s practice together with an example – getting from Shibuya to Shinjuku using the JR line.
Remember these things: the line, the platform and direction, and the destination.
- The Line
Imagine you’re trying to get to Shibuya station from Shinjuku. Google Maps tells you to ride the JR Yamanote line.
First of all, check that you’re in the correct area for the JR lines. Usually, there is a big sign for all of the JR lines since they’re all managed by JR East. Use your IC Card to scan into this part of the station.
Next step, and luckily for us, Google Maps also shows us that this line is represented by a bright green. The JR lines can also get confusing if you’re not used to them because there are many of them. Check for the signs with bright green on them.
- The Platform and Direction
Next step, check for the platform number and make sure that it corresponds to the color. In this case, we’d be looking for platform 14. Follow the signs for it. And while you’re already headed for the correct platform based on the color and the number, a helpful note is to check that you’re going in the right direction. In this case, check the sign for the route and make sure it’s for Shibuya/Shinagawa (Counter-Clockwise). This is important because platforms of other train lines go in opposite directions, and avoiding this mistake could save you a lot of time and panic.
- The Destination
For the last step: look at the display on the platform if you have time, or on the train itself if you don’t. Check that your destination is actually on the route, and that it will not be passed. (Note: some of the lines have rapid services that skip some stations on weekends or holidays, such as the Chūō line) Doing this as soon as you get on the train could save you time to correct your route if ever you did take the wrong train. Wait patiently for it to show, especially if you can’t read the Japanese text, because English usually follows.
Helpful note: Steps 1-2 are shown on the same sign inside the station before you enter the platform because each platform has its own sign for these descriptors. For step 3, you need to check it on the platform or the train itself.
Another note: these steps don’t go for only the JR lines. This is a formula for any of the lines. Even if you’re not in Tokyo right now, you can go on Google maps and see if you can give yourself a checklist of what things to look for for specific places that you want to go to.
Ready or not, here we go!
The truth is, it’s hard to feel completely ready to tackle Tokyo and its transport systems. This article is too short to give you the full rundown of how to be 100% prepared before going into the world’s best escape room, or even enough examples to help you practice. I, myself, have definitely had my own share of blunders at stations which I am cringing at the thought of as I am writing this. But, like I said, even if this advice seems too simple, the only way to get used to using it is practice by throwing yourself into the chaos and challenging yourself to do it with a clear mind and confidence in yourself.
If you have any requests, suggestions, or questions, I can try my best to help you out through my following posts! See you on Tokyo’s trains, unless I squeeze through the rush hour crowd faster. ;)