Tokyo Transport Guide

Station Navigation

Complete guide to navigating Tokyo’s biggest stations — Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, Ikebukuro. Exits, transfers, coin lockers, and apps.

By Coverstories · Updated June 2026

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200+Exits at Shinjuku Station

3.5MDaily passengers at Shinjuku

5Most confusing stations

Shinjuku Station has 200+ exits and serves 3.5 million people per day. Even locals get lost. If you’ve ever emerged from an underground maze blinking in confusion, wondering how you ended up on the wrong side of a highway — welcome to Tokyo station navigation.

Best for: First-time visitors, anyone transferring at Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo, or Ikebukuro stations.

Tokyo’s maze stations

The Big 5 — Tokyo’s Most Confusing Stations

Station	Lines	Exits	Difficulty	Tip
Shinjuku	12 lines	200+	🔴 Extreme	Use “East Exit” or “West Exit” as anchor — ignore numbered exits at first
Shibuya	9 lines	15+ (spread across buildings)	🔴 Hard	Renovations until 2027 — follow temporary signs carefully
Tokyo	5 JR + 2 Metro	33	🟡 Moderate	Marunouchi side (west) = Imperial Palace. Yaesu side (east) = buses & shops
Ikebukuro	8 lines	40+	🟡 Moderate	East = Sunshine City. West = Tobu Dept Store. Remember “West is Tobu, East is Seibu” (they’re swapped!)
Ueno	7 lines	Many	🟢 Manageable	JR and Metro stations are separate buildings — plan which one you need

Follow color and number

How to Read Station Signs

The Color-Letter-Number System

Every station on every line has a unique code:

Color = the line (e.g., Ginza Line = orange)
Letter = line abbreviation (e.g., G = Ginza)
Number = station position (e.g., G-09 = Shibuya)

Example: M-25 = Marunouchi Line (red), station 25 (Ikebukuro)

This system is your best friend. Even if you can’t read Japanese, follow the color and number.

Platform Signs

Yellow signs = line name + direction + next stations
Floor stickers = door positions for each train (car 1, car 2, etc.)
Overhead screens = next train, train type (local/express), and real-time delays

Exit Signs

Exits are labeled with numbers or compass directions (North, South, East, West)
Major landmarks are listed next to exit numbers
Look for the landmark you need, not the exit number — “Exit for Tokyo Tower” is easier than “Exit A4”

Some take 10+ minutes

Transfer Survival Guide

Types of Transfers

Type	What it means	Time	Example
Same-platform	Cross to the other side	1 min	JR Chuo → JR Sobu at Tokyo
Same-gate	Walk inside the gate area	3–5 min	Ginza Line → Marunouchi Line at Akasaka-Mitsuke
Gate-to-gate	Exit one gate, walk, enter another	5–10 min	JR → Metro at Ikebukuro
Station-to-station	Walk to a different station entirely	5–15 min	JR Ochanomizu → Metro Shin-Ochanomizu (3 min walk)

Notorious Transfers

Transfers That Take Forever – Shinjuku: JR → Oedo Line — 10+ min underground walk with multiple staircases – Shibuya: JR → Ginza Line — Ginza Line is on the 3rd floor of a building, JR is underground – Tokyo: JR → Marunouchi Line — Straightforward but the walk is 500m+ – Otemachi ↔ Tokyo Station — Technically connected underground, but it’s a 10-min walk – JR ↔ Keio at Shinjuku — Exit JR South Gate, re-enter Keio across the street

Let the app guide you

Essential Apps & Tools

App	Best for	English?	Free?
Google Maps	Door-to-door routing including walking inside stations	✅	✅
Jorudan	Train timetables, fare calculation, transfer details	✅	✅
Navitime	Station maps + walking routes inside stations	✅	✅ (basic)
JR East App	Real-time crowding per car, JR station maps	✅	✅
Tokyo Metro App	Metro-specific station maps and real-time info	✅	✅

Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo

Station-by-Station Cheat Sheet

Shinjuku Station 🟥

Mental model: Think of it as 3 separate zones:

JR Zone (center) — Yamanote, Chuo, Sobu, Saikyo, Shonan-Shinjuku
Metro Zone (underground) — Marunouchi Line (B1F), Oedo Line (B7F, deep!)
Private Railway Zone (edges) — Odakyu & Keio (South-West), Seibu (East)

Key landmarks by exit:

East Exit → Kabukicho, entertainment
South Exit / New South Exit → Expressway Bus Terminal, Odakyu
West Exit → Metropolitan Government Building (free observation deck)

Shibuya Station 🟧

Warning: Under massive renovation until ~2027. Maps change frequently.

Hachiko Exit → Scramble Crossing, Center-gai
Miyamasuzaka Exit → Shibuya 109, Dogenzaka
Ginza Line is on the 3rd floor of Shibuya Hikarie building (not underground!)
JR / Tokyu / Metro Fukutoshin are all underground but on different levels

Tokyo Station 🟩

Simple rule: Marunouchi side = west, Yaesu side = east.

Marunouchi side → Imperial Palace, brick station building (photo spot)
Yaesu side → Highway buses, shops, restaurants
Shinkansen → Always on the Yaesu side
Keiyo Line (to Disneyland) → 500m underground walk from main concourse. Allow 15 min.

Screenshot before you go

Practical Tips

Pro Tips – Screenshot your route before entering the station — cell signal can be weak underground – Follow the line color on the floor or walls — colored strips lead you to the right platform – Station staff at the gate booth speak basic English and can point you in the right direction – “Which exit for ___?” — Ask this at the booth; they’ll point you to the right exit – Coin lockers are near ticket gates — look for signs saying “コインロッカー” – If you exit the wrong gate, you can re-enter within 30 min (IC card) or ask staff to let you back in (paper ticket) – Barrier-free routes: Most stations have elevator routes, but they can be hard to find. Ask staff or check the station map.

Common questions

FAQ

What if I exit the wrong gate with my Suica?

Your Suica may get “stuck” if you tap in but exit from a different station’s gate. Go to the fare adjustment machine (精算機) near the gates, or ask the staff at the booth. They’ll fix it.

Is there Wi-Fi in stations?

Yes — most JR, Metro, and Toei stations offer free Wi-Fi. Look for “Metro_Free_Wi-Fi” or “JR-EAST_FREE_Wi-Fi”. You usually need to register with an email address once.

How do I find the right exit for my hotel?

Google Maps shows you the exact exit number. Or, search your hotel’s website — most list the nearest station and exit number. When in doubt, take any exit and use GPS above ground.