Shinjuku is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, and is home to a large shopping and entertainment district surrounding Shinjuku Station. The station itself is commonly considered the busiest rail station in the world, with more than 3 million passengers gracing its platforms each day.
The station’s long history began when it opened in 1885 on what is now the Yamanote line. Additional lines brought an influx of commuter traffic, making the station into the major transport hub it is today.
Shinjuku Station and its surrounding area featured in the 2003 film Lost in Translation, the Digimon Adventure childrens’ animation franchise, and in other popular media, making it an iconic part of Tokyo’s transport network. Here, we explain how to navigate the station during your trip.
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Shinjuku Station’s JR lines
The JR lines at Shinjuku Station include the following:
- Yamanote Line, a loop line serving Tokyo’s major train stations and attractions, including Ueno, Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Shinagawa and Ikebukuro
- Chuo Main Line, offering Limited Express trains to Kofu and Matsumoto
- Chuo Line Rapid to Ochanomizu, Nakano, Tachikawa, Takao, Hachioji, and Tokyo
- Chuo-Sobu Line trains to Suidobashi, Chiba, Nakano, Mitaka, and Akihabara
- Shonan-Shinjuku Line, trains that services the Tokaido Main Line, Takasaki Line, and Yokosuka Line, to Odawara, Kozu, Hiratsuka, Chigasaki, Fujisawa, Ofuna, Zushi, Kamakura, Takasaki, and Yokohama
- Saikyo Line services to Shin-Kiba, Osaki, Ikebukuro, Kawagoe, and Shibuya
- Narita Express which goes from Shinjuku Station to Narita Airport.
- Other Limited Express trains, including the Nikko/Kinugawa, Akagi, Azusa/Kaiji, and Shinjuku Wakashio.
Your JR Pass makes travel in and around Tokyo simple and affordable. The following trains are available at Shinjuku Station.
There are no Shinkansen terminals at Shinjuku Station. However, you may take the Yamanote Line to either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station to use the Shinkansen bullet train.
Non-JR Lines
Four non-JR railways pass through Shinjuku Station. These include:
- Odakyu Electric Railway’s Odakyu Odawara Line, serving the southwestern suburbs to Odawara and Hakone: Semi-express, rapid express, limited express, and local trains are available
- Keio Corporation’s Keio and Keio New lines, stretching west to Hachioji: Local trains, as well as various distinctions of express trains, are available
- Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi Line
- Toei Subway’s Toei Shinjuku and Toei Oedo lines
Access to Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Station has over 200 exits and dozens of platforms. The station’s JR lines are located on eight ground-level island platforms, which are connected by two underground and two overhead concourses.
In addition to being a busy train station, Shinjuku is home to a large bus terminal as well. The Busta Shinjuku serves long-distance highway buses and local buses. A JR Highway Bus Terminal can be found at the station’s New South Gates.
Coin-operated lockers for storing your luggage are located near most stairwells, escalators, and exits.
Shinjuku Station map
Things to do in and around Shinjuku Station
To the west of Shinjuku Station is the “Skyscraper District,” the location of many of the city’s tallest buildings. Many elite hotels can be found there, and the observation decks of the Metropolitan Government Office are open to the public.
Shopping malls and department stores surround the station on all sides, including the historic Isetan, the Takashimaya Times Square complex. Many stores, such as Lumine, Yodobashi Camera, and Bic Camera, are located immediately outside the station’s exits.
Kabukicho, an entertainment and nightlife district, lies to the north of the station. Here, th Golden Gai is home to more than 200 small restaurants and bars, and the Omoide Yokocho, translated “memory lane,” is a network of alleyways housing dozens of tiny ramen, sushi, and yakitori eateries.
A number of parks are within walking distance of Shinjuku Station, including the Skyscraper District’s Central Park, and the Shinjuku Gyoen to the south. The Shinjuku Gyoen was formerly a garden of the Imperial family, but since 1949 it has been a favorite public cherry blossom spot.