JR Yamanote Line: Stations, Fares & Travel Tips
Complete guide to the JR Yamanote Line — all 30 stations, inner vs outer loop, fares, passes, and practical tips for visitors.
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If Tokyo had a heartbeat, it would be the Yamanote Line. This 34.5 km loop connects 30 stations and virtually every major neighborhood you’ll want to visit — Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Tokyo, Akihabara, Shinagawa. One loop takes about 60 minutes. Jump on, ride to your stop, jump off. No transfers needed.
Best for: Getting the big picture of Tokyo’s geography and moving between major hubs without touching the subway.
The Yamanote Loop — All 30 Stations
The Yamanote Line is a JR service, so Tokyo Subway Tickets do not cover it.
The 30 stations below follow the outer loop from Tokyo toward Yurakucho, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku, then back via Ueno and Kanda. This is the order around the loop, not a shortest-journey or travel-time table. Compare both directions for your trip; Tokyo to Ueno or Akihabara does not require a ride around the loop via Shinagawa. Actual journey times vary with the departure, waiting time and service conditions.
On small screens, swipe left or right inside the table to see all columns, including station codes.
| Station | Why Visitors Go Here | Station code |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Shinkansen hub, Marunouchi, Imperial Palace | JY01 |
| Yurakucho | Ginza shopping (2 min walk), izakaya under the tracks | JY30 |
| Shinbashi | Salaryman bars, Yurikamome to Odaiba | JY29 |
| Hamamatsucho | Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport | JY28 |
| Tamachi | Business district | JY27 |
| Takanawa Gateway | New station (2020), modern architecture | JY26 |
| Shinagawa | Shinkansen stop, Keikyu to Haneda | JY25 |
| Osaki | Rinkai Line transfer (Tokyo Big Sight) | JY24 |
| Gotanda | Local restaurants | JY23 |
| Meguro | Meguro River (cherry blossoms), Namboku/Mita lines | JY22 |
| Ebisu | Yebisu Garden Place, trendy dining | JY21 |
| Shibuya | Scramble crossing, Hachiko, shopping | JY20 |
| Harajuku | Takeshita Street, Meiji Shrine | JY19 |
| Yoyogi | Yoyogi Park | JY18 |
| Shinjuku | Large, busy interchange with several operators and exits; Kabukicho and shopping | JY17 |
| Shin-Okubo | Koreatown, diverse food | JY16 |
| Takadanobaba | Student area, cheap eats | JY15 |
| Mejiro | Quiet residential | JY14 |
| Ikebukuro | Sunshine City, anime, department stores | JY13 |
| Otsuka | Local neighborhood | JY12 |
| Sugamo | “Grandma’s Harajuku” shopping street | JY11 |
| Komagome | Rikugien Garden | JY10 |
| Tabata | Shinkansen viewing spot | JY09 |
| Nishi-Nippori | Yanaka ginza (old-town shopping) | JY08 |
| Nippori | Skyliner/Keisei to Narita Airport, textile town | JY07 |
| Uguisudani | Local neighborhood north of Ueno | JY06 |
| Ueno | Museums, Ameyoko market, zoo, park | JY05 |
| Okachimachi | Ameyoko south end, jewelry district | JY04 |
| Akihabara | Electronics, anime, manga, gaming | JY03 |
| Kanda | Used bookshops (Jimbocho nearby) | JY02 |
Station order: JR East Yamanote guide. Station codes: JR East station-numbering map.
Inner vs Outer Loop
The Yamanote Line runs in both directions simultaneously:
- Inner loop (内回り / uchi-mawari): Counterclockwise — Tokyo → Ueno → Ikebukuro → Shinjuku → Shibuya → Shinagawa → Tokyo
- Outer loop (外回り / soto-mawari): Clockwise — the reverse direction
From Shibuya: The outer loop runs toward Harajuku, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro; the inner loop runs toward Ebisu and Shinagawa. Match these destinations to the platform signs, then compare the next departures and arrival times for your destination. The shorter direction depends on where you are going.
Direction names checked against JR East’s inner/outer-loop guide.
Fares & Passes
| Distance band | Adult IC fare |
|---|---|
| 1–3 km | ¥155 |
| 4–6 km | ¥199 |
| 7–10 km | ¥209 |
| 11–15 km | ¥253 |
| 16–20 km | ¥341 |
JR Pass holders: Yamanote Line is fully covered — ride free all day.
Tokunai Pass (都区内パス): ¥870/day unlimited JR rides within Tokyo 23 wards (including Yamanote). Compare it with your planned JR journeys before buying.
JR East ordinary fares and the Tokunai Pass changed on March 14, 2026. JR East 2026 fare revision Adult ordinary fares checked October 4, 2026: ¥155 IC / ¥160 paper ticket for 1–3 km. Longer journeys cost more; use the official distance-band fare table for your journey.
Practical Tips
Pro Tips
- Platform doors : Every Yamanote station has platform screen doors — safe and orderly
- Frequency: Intervals vary by station, direction, time of day and weekday versus Saturday/holiday timetable. In the October 2026 Shibuya outer-loop Saturday/holiday timetable, the 10 AM departures include 10:03, 10:08 and 10:13 — five minutes apart. Check the timetable for your actual travel date and allow for delays.
- First and last trains: Check your departure station, direction and destination for the travel day. Early and late services have longer gaps, and some trains terminate before completing the loop.
- Crowding can be high on parts of the Yamanote Line. Check your route, direction and departure time, and allow room for a later train if traveling with luggage.
- The ride itself is sightseeing : You can see Tokyo Tower, Sky Tree, old neighborhoods, and modern skyline all from the train window
- Numbering: The 30 stations use JY01–JY30. Tokyo is JY01, Kanda is JY02 and Yurakucho is JY30; the numbers increase in the inner-loop direction from Tokyo. Use the code alongside the station name when reading signs.
Timetable example checked October 4, 2026; the linked page is for Shibuya toward Shinjuku/Ikebukuro (outer loop), Saturdays and holidays. Other days and directions have separate timetables.
For transfers outside the loop, use our station navigation guide and Tokyo Metro vs Toei guide.
FAQ
Can I ride the full loop without getting off?
A circuit takes about an hour, but the right ticket depends on the journey. For an ordinary paper ticket used entirely within the Tokyo suburban area, JR East allows a non-repeating route to be priced by the cheapest route between the origin and destination, with no stopover. Taking the longer side of the loop does not automatically mean paying a longer-route fare.
Do not assume that rule covers a full circuit back to your starting station, repeated circuits, or passing your stop and riding back. Ask JR station staff which ticket or pass covers your plan before boarding, and check the train’s destination: some services terminate partway around the loop. See JR East’s suburban-area fare rules.
Is Yamanote Line covered by the Tokyo Subway Ticket?
No. Yamanote is a JR line, not a subway. Pay separately with an IC card or ordinary ticket, or use a valid JR pass.
What’s the best way to use Yamanote with a subway pass?
Use the Tokyo Subway Ticket for subway rides and pay separately (via Suica) for the occasional Yamanote ride when it’s the fastest option. Many destinations have both Yamanote and subway access.
Is there a Yamanote Line app?
No dedicated app, but JR East App shows real-time Yamanote train positions, delays, and crowding levels per car.
Choose a Hotel Base for Your Yamanote Trips
If your sightseeing uses the Yamanote Line, compare Shibuya hotels for shopping and nightlife with Shinjuku hotels for a larger rail hub. Include the walk from your hotel to the station in your choice. Asakusa is off the Yamanote loop; its guide suits travelers who want Senso-ji nearby and are happy to use the subway to connect.
Shibuya
Compare hotel locations around Shibuya Station for shopping, nightlife and Yamanote trips.
Shibuya hotel base guide
Shinjuku
Compare hotel locations and station approaches at this major rail hub.
Shinjuku hotel base guideAsakusa
Choose a base near Senso-ji; plan a subway connection for Yamanote journeys.
Asakusa hotel base guide