If you’re traveling in Tokyo, you might find yourself passing through Hamamatsucho Station. It’s located in the Hamamatsucho business and commercial district of Tokyo’s Minato special ward and provides access to top attractions in the Tokyo Bay area.
This station is over 100 years old, having first opened in 1909. Today, it serves around 150,000 travelers daily, including commuters and tourists alike. This guide explains how to navigate Hamamatsucho Station with your JR Pass for smooth and easy travel.
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Hamamatsucho Station’s lines
Hamamatsucho is home to two JR East train lines. It’s also the starting point of the Tokyo Monorail line to Haneda Airport. All this lines are covered by JR Pass:
- Circular Yamanote Line: Links to major stations including Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno.
- Keihin-Tohoku Line: Connects to Tokyo and Ueno Stations to the north and Shinagawa, Kawasaki, and Yokohama to the south
- Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport Line: Direct access to Terminals 1 and 2 for domestic flights, and Terminal 3 for international flights
Within the station, two platforms host four tracks. The Keihin-Tohoku Line can be found on tracks 1 and 4, and the Yamanote Line on tracks 2 and 3. The monorail operates from a separate area, connected by as walkway.
Other lines and connections
You can also reach the Toei Oedo and Toei Asakusa lines through the nearby Daimon Station. It’s a very short walk, northwest of Hamamatsucho Station.
Hamamatsucho Station itself has various amenities that are convenient for travelers making connections or exploring the local area, including storage lockers (operated with coins). You’ll also find restrooms and ticket booths if you need more information about your journey.
Hamamatsucho Station map
Hamamatsucho Station to Tokyo Station
You can take either of the 2 JR lines at Hamamatsucho Station, Keihin-Tohoku or Yamanote, to reach Tokyo station. Whichever you choose, the total journey takes around 8 minutes. Before getting to Tokyo Station, you’ll first stop at:
- Shimbashi Station
- Yurakucho Station
This journey is covered by your JR Pass, and trains depart around every 3 minutes.
Hamamatsucho station to Shibuya station
Hamamatsucho station and Shibuya station are both served by the Yamanote Line. To reach Shibuya Station, take a Yamanote line train toward Shinagawa and Shibuya. The trip takes approximately 45 minutes and stops at the following stations:
- Tamachi station
- Takanawa Gateway station
- Shinagawa station
- Osaki station
- Gotanda station
- Meguro station
- Ebisu station
Departures to Shibuya Station leave Hamamatsucho Station every 2 to 3 minutes. This trip is covered by your JR Pass.
Hamamatsucho station to Haneda Airport
Hamamatsucho Station provides direct access to Haneda Airport via the Tokyo Monorail. The trip takes approximately 13 minutes.
Hamamatsucho Station serves as the terminus, or end, of the Tokyo Monorail. This monorail serves as a direct connection to Haneda Airport and is covered by the JR Pass.
Platforms for the monorail are to the west of the main station in a separate elevated building. Two platforms serve the single track. Additionally, you can check-in for flights on the Skymark, Air Do, JAL, and ANA domestic airlines near the monorail entrance.
Surrounding area
There’s plenty to do in the area around Hamamatsucho Station. As you leave the building, you’ll come across various restaurants, cafés, and shops.
The Acty Shiodome, Tokyo’s fourth-tallest building, is a three-minute walk from the station and features shops on the first two floors. The Shiodome City Center Shopping Mall is a ten-minute walk away.
You can also find two elegant gardens within walking distance of the station. Hamarikyu Gardens consists of over 250,000 square meters of landscaped gardens surrounding a Shioiri Pond. Interestingly, the park itself is encapsulated by a seawater moat, on which you can spot boats of all shapes and sizes. It’s around 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the station.
The Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden is only around a 10 minute walk east of the station. Formerly an imperial garden, this public garden is one of only two Edo period clan gardens that survive in Tokyo to this day.
From Hinode Pier, you can board a water taxi to tour the Bay, or visit the historic Tsukiji Fish Market. It was formerly the largest fish market in the world. But wholesale distribution has now been relocated. However, you can still purchase produce, kitchen wares, and ready-to-eat foods from stands in the Outer Market.
Hamamatsucho also provides access to the entire Tokyo Bay area. Book a hotel, hail a taxi, and let your Tokyo adventure begin!