Tokyo Station is less a single building than a small underground city, with more than 200 exits and two very different faces above ground. For a first-time visitor arriving with a suitcase and a Shinkansen ticket, the scale can be daunting — but the layout follows a logic once you know it. Here's what to expect, from finding the right gate to storing your bags before a day of sightseeing.
Marunouchi side vs Yaesu side
Tokyo Station has two distinct sides, and knowing which one you need saves a long walk. The Marunouchi side, to the west, is the historic one: a red-brick, early-20th-century building with a domed roof, facing the Imperial Palace grounds across a wide plaza. It's the more photogenic exit and the one most tour itineraries point you toward, but it's mainly an office and hotel district — good for a photo, not for shopping or food on arrival.
The Yaesu side, to the east, is the modern, commercial face: glass towers, department stores, bus terminals and the Grand Roof canopy over the plaza. Most of the practical stuff a traveller needs — luggage lockers, convenience stores, the Shinkansen ticket gates for several lines — sits closer to the Yaesu side or in the underground concourse connecting the two. If you're just passing through to catch a bullet train, you'll rarely need to go outside at all.
Finding your Shinkansen platform
Tokyo Station is a major terminus for the Tokaido, Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines, and each has its own set of ticket gates and platforms rather than one shared concourse. The Tokaido Shinkansen (for Kyoto, Osaka and points south-west) uses gates and platforms on the south side of the station; the Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen (heading north, including toward Sendai, Niigata and Kanazawa) use a separate set on the north side. Overhead signage in English clearly marks which direction to walk from the main concourse, and staff at the gates will point you the right way if you show your ticket.
If you're travelling with a Japan Rail Pass, you'll need to route through a manned gate rather than the automatic ticket barriers, since the pass itself isn't a magnetic-stripe ticket that the machines can read at every gate. Reserved-seat tickets show your car and seat number; platform floor markings correspond to where each numbered car will stop, which is worth finding before the train pulls in, particularly if you're booked into a car near either end of a very long train. Tokyo Station is the starting point for many of the classic day trips out of the capital, including Tokyo to Hakone and Tokyo to Nikko, though those two in particular usually depart from Shinjuku or Asakusa on private railways rather than from Tokyo Station itself — worth double-checking before you arrive.
Character Street and the underground concourse
Beneath the station, particularly around the Yaesu side, is a sprawling underground shopping concourse. The best-known stretch for visitors is unofficially called Character Street (Tokyo Character Street), a corridor of small shops selling merchandise from Japanese anime, manga and games — Pokémon, Ghibli, Rilakkuma and dozens of others cluster here, alongside a parallel "Ramen Street" of well-regarded noodle shops and a similar lane for Tokyo Station-branded souvenirs and bento boxes. It's a genuinely pleasant way to fill a layover of an hour or two rather than just standing on a platform, though it does get crowded at peak times.
Luggage storage
Coin-operated lockers are plentiful throughout the station, in sizes from small to large enough for a full suitcase, though the larger sizes sell out first, especially in the morning during peak travel season. Payment is usually by IC card (Suica or Pasmo) or cash, and increasingly some lockers accept card payment directly. If lockers are full, staffed baggage services and delivery counters can also hold bags for a few hours or arrange same-day forward shipping to your hotel — a popular option for travellers who want to sightsee in central Tokyo before a later Shinkansen departure. See our general guide to left luggage at train stations for how this typically works. If you're carrying genuinely oversized luggage for a Shinkansen journey, check the rules in advance — some lines require a reservation, covered in our guide to Shinkansen luggage rules.
Food and shopping
Beyond Character Street and Ramen Street, Tokyo Station has an extensive basement food hall (depachika-style) with bento boxes, pastries and regional specialities good for eating on the train, plus a wide range of sit-down restaurants on the upper floors of the Yaesu-side buildings. Ekiben — boxed meals designed for train travel — are sold from dedicated shops near the Shinkansen gates, and picking one up before boarding is a normal, unhurried part of the Japanese travel routine rather than something to rush.
Changing trains and connecting to the subway
Tokyo Station connects directly to the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and is a short walk (partly underground, partly via connecting passages) from several other subway and JR lines, including the JR Yamanote loop line that circles central Tokyo. If your onward journey is by subway rather than JR, allow extra walking time — the transfer isn't as immediate as at some smaller stations, and signage, while good, requires a bit of attention at busy times. For getting to and from the airports, see our guide to Tokyo airport transfers, since Tokyo Station itself is not directly served by airport express trains — those generally terminate at Tokyo, Shinjuku or other hub stations depending on the line.
Accessibility
Tokyo Station has step-free routes between the main concourses and platforms, with lifts clearly signed, though the sheer size of the complex means routes for wheelchair users can be longer than the direct path able-bodied travellers might take. Station staff are generally happy to guide travellers who ask, and it's common practice in Japan to request assistance at the ticket gate in advance of a journey, which staff will often arrange to meet you at your arrival platform as well.
A few quirks worth knowing
- Announcements and signage are in Japanese and English throughout the JR sections, though some connecting subway lines have less English signage.
- The Tokaido Shinkansen's non-reserved cars (usually the first few carriages) can be a sensible option if you're flexible on timing and want to avoid booking ahead, but queue at the marked non-reserved waiting lines on the platform rather than wherever looks convenient.
- Trains in Japan run to the minute, and doors close promptly — if you're not on the platform in good time, treat the departure as final rather than expecting any grace period.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of Tokyo Station should I use — Marunouchi or Yaesu?
Marunouchi is the historic red-brick side, good for photos but mostly offices. Yaesu is the modern commercial side with most shops, luggage lockers and Shinkansen gate access. Most practical needs are met on or near the Yaesu side.
How much time should I allow to change trains at Tokyo Station?
Budget 20–30 minutes for a Shinkansen connection, more with luggage or during busy periods. The station is large and the Tokaido Shinkansen gates are separate from the Tohoku/Joetsu/Hokuriku gates.
Can I store luggage at Tokyo Station for the day?
Yes, coin lockers in various sizes are widely available, plus staffed baggage services for larger items or same-day delivery to your hotel. Larger lockers can sell out on busy mornings.
Is Tokyo Station connected to the airport by direct train?
Not directly by the main airport express services — those typically run to Tokyo via connecting lines rather than a single through-train from Narita or Haneda. Check the specific route for your airport before travelling.
Sources and further reading:
- Station layout and Shinkansen gate information: JR East and JR Central.
- Practical navigation tips: The Man in Seat 61.