Shinagawa Station

Shinagawa does not get much attention, which is a shame, because for a lot of visitors it is the more sensible place to catch a Shinkansen than Tokyo Station.

It is the first stop out of Tokyo on the Tokaido line, about seven minutes down the track. Every service that leaves Tokyo Station calls here a few minutes later, which means if you are staying anywhere in the south or west of the city you can skip the biggest station in Japan entirely.

What runs from Shinagawa

• Tokaido Shinkansen west to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. Note that the northern Shinkansen lines do not stop here, only the Tokaido.
• Keikyu line direct to Haneda Airport, around fifteen minutes.
• Narita Express to Narita Airport.
• Yamanote line, the loop that connects Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno and Tokyo Station.
• Tokaido, Yokosuka and Keihin-Tohoku lines for Yokohama, Kamakura and the south.

The Haneda advantage

This is the real argument for Shinagawa. The Keikyu line runs from here to Haneda Airport in about fifteen minutes for a few hundred yen. If you are flying into or out of Haneda, which most Australian carriers now use, Shinagawa is the most efficient place in Tokyo to be.

One catch worth knowing: the Keikyu is a private railway, so your rail pass does not cover it. The Tokyo Monorail from Hamamatsucho is the JR alternative and is covered, but it is a less direct route from most hotels.

Using a rail pass here

Your Japan Rail Pass covers the Shinkansen, the Narita Express, the Yamanote line and the JR lines to Yokohama and Kamakura. It does not cover the Keikyu to Haneda or the subway.

There is a Shinkansen ticket office at the station and the queues are usually shorter than at Tokyo Station, which is another quiet argument for starting here.

Why it is easier than Tokyo Station

Shinagawa is laid out as a single long concourse above the platforms, with everything hanging off it. You come in, you walk along, you go down to your platform. Compared with the multi level sprawl of Tokyo Station it is a relief, particularly with luggage.

Allow ten minutes from the main entrance to a Shinkansen seat and you will be comfortable.

Day trips from here

Shinagawa is well placed for the south. Yokohama is about twelve minutes, Kamakura with its big bronze Buddha around an hour, and Odawara, the gateway to Hakone, is twenty five minutes on the Shinkansen. All are covered by the pass.

Eating

The Ecute shopping concourse inside the gates has a solid run of food shops and ekiben counters. It is a better selection than it looks from the platform level and is open early for morning departures.

Tickets and guides from Shinagawa

If you are booking individual journeys rather than using a pass, these are the routes that start here.

• Tokyo To Kyoto tickets
• Tokyo To Osaka tickets
• Tokyo To Nagoya tickets
• Tokyo To Hiroshima tickets

And the longer route guides, with times, seat tips and what to see when you arrive:

• Tokyo Kyoto route guide
• Tokyo Osaka route guide
• Tokyo To Nagoya route guide

Common questions

Can I catch a northbound Shinkansen from Shinagawa?

No. The Tohoku, Hokkaido, Joetsu and Hokuriku lines run from Tokyo Station and Ueno only. Shinagawa is Tokaido line only.

Is it a good area to stay?

It is practical rather than exciting, with a lot of business hotels and good transport in every direction. Useful for a first or last night, less so for a whole trip.

Does the Narita Express stop here?

Yes, and it is covered by the rail pass. Shinagawa is one of its regular stops in both directions.

More in Japan’s Major Train Stations

View all Japan’s Major Train Stations →

Hakata StationHiroshima StationKanazawa StationKyoto StationNagano StationNagoya Station