Category: Getting Around

Tokyo’s train stations have multiple exits, from just a few, to as many as 200 at Shinjuku station for example! The fact that many of them are underground can also make it difficult to get your bearings when you arrive at a destination and may leave you wondering which way to go to get to where you’re going. Thankfully the train companies have found a way to make it easier for you.

When you arrive at your destination station, you just need to find a yellow sign with black writing, either on the platform or just outside the ticket gates, that lists the exits and the key attractions and places in English. Simply find the attraction or place you are looking for on the list, match it to the corresponding exit letter and/or number and head for that one, following the black and yellow exit signs to the one you need. This way you can be sure when you pop up on ground level that you will be the closest to the attraction or place you’re looking for. You’ll find while doing this that it is not only tourists referring to these signs – many of the locals rely on them as well.

Travelling in Tokyo involves A LOT of walking. Even if you’re moving between areas by train, you’ll be surprised at how high your step count will go in a single day. So do like the locals and wear trainers or other comfortable options for your daytime forays and save less practical footwear for going out at night. 

If you purchase a Japan Rail Pass to use for side trips out of Tokyo and know where you want to go and when, it’s worth putting together a list of the train details in advance. This way, when you go to a JR customer service office at a train station to validate your rail pass, you can hand over the list of the trains and times you’d like to book and the customer service agent can generate all of your tickets in one go. To find out the details of the trains you  would like to take, use the hyperdia.com website which will give you the details of the trains available on the dates you want to travel, the total travel time for each journey and the number of connections you need to make for each. To help the customer service staff generate your tickets quickly, include in your list the date, time, departure from and arrival to stations and the train names. And don’t worry if your plans change – you can simply exchange your tickets at a station ticket office free of charge.

If you’re planning to travel anywhere else via train during your stay, plan to  start and end your trip at a Tokyo hotel. This way you can leave your large luggage at the hotel and do your train travel using small rollaway bags or packs. Train travel is much easier without large luggage as you don’t have the inconvenience of lugging your suitcases to and from stations or up and down onto platforms. The Shinkansen trains don’t have much dedicated space for large luggage either, so it is much easier with small bags that you can stow above your seat like in a  plane. This way you can travel light, safe in the knowledge that your larger bags are being securely stored at your Tokyo hotel, free of charge, awaiting your return.

Be aware that the entire Tokyo train network closes down for several hours overnight and factor that into getting back to your accommodation. You can check the last train times for each line via the Hyperdia train timetable app or website, however it is best to avoid getting the very last train as these tend to be packed with people in peak-hour volumes as it’s the last chance for everyone to get home.