JR Tokyo Station

3.5 stars
We took the JR Yamanote line from our hotel to this station for the Shinkansen Nozomi bullet train to Kyoto. ‘Bullet’ is actually a pretty accurate description since it takes you to Kyoto in less than 2.5 hours compared to the 6 hours of driving.
As clean and orderly as the station looks, especially for a station with this many transportation lines, we still ran into a few complications that took a few minutes to resolve. (But they were resolved quickly so I’m keeping that in mind.)
(1) It’s a long walk from the JR exit to the Shinkansen turnstile and we found ourselves going around in circles at one point because one of the «up» arrows actually meant going up the stairs instead of walking ahead. Not fun when you are carrying a lot of luggage.
(2) Anyways, we arrived early and were able to switch the tickets we bought the previous night at a JR Station to an earlier train. The first guy said he needed all of our Suica cards in order to process the ticket exchange so I got off the line to collect all of our Suica cards. I got on the line again only to be told by the second guy that he didn’t need our Suica cards, only our original tickets.
(3) You need to insert your bullet train ticket into the slot AND tap your Suica card at the same turnstile in order to get in. For a few seconds I thought I lost my train ticket due to a malfunctioned turnstile.
But despite all these little problems, we were able to find assistance by the station staff. Coupled with the frequent departures of the train (they even sanitize and clean the trains after every arrival), I must say that I remain impressed with the train system here.

It is a huge station and can be VERY crowded during rush hours. All can be a bit overwhelming for foreigners.
The building is beautiful and worth to look at.

I love Tokyo station! I wish we chose a hotel closer here. There so many shops and food choices that you can literally spend a whole day here! My favorite part was the character street and ramen street. As long as you know which train you’re taking or which exit you’re looking for, you won’t get lost. English signs everywhere.

There isn’t one company in Tokyo running all of the train stations in this metropolis, so there isn’t really a «Central Station». But if you have to give that label to one train station in Tokyo, it would have to be Tokyo Station. If you are traveling by train in Tokyo, it is highly likely that you will visit this station at least once.
Tokyo Station is mainly occupied by Japan Railways (JR), but Tokyo Metro also operates at this station as the Marunouchi Line stops here. But JR is pretty much the main operator here as they offer intercity bullet train, Shinkansen service to parts all over Japan from this station. Other train services include the Yamanote Line which is one of the busiest train lines in Tokyo and the Narita Express which travels from this station straight to Narita Airport.
This train station is one of the biggest that I have visited and hands down the most confusing. Finding your way in this station is like a labyrinth or maze. The number of people passing through this station along with signs everywhere makes figuring out the layout of this station challenging.
In spite of the confusing layout, what I like most about Tokyo Station is that there are plentiful shopping and eating options here. It is reminiscent of Tenjin Chikagai in Fukuoka which is an underground shopping mall in Tenjin that is connected to the Fukuoka Subway station there. Like Tenjin Chikagai, it is possible to walk numerous blocks through the underground passageways of Tokyo Station to get to other parts of Tokyo. In fact when I was looking for the Tokyo Station platform for Tokyo Metro, I ended up walking to the next station over.
Even though this station can be frustrating to navigate, I do have fond memories of this place. It was the start off point of my traveling on the Shinkansen on my first international trip to Japan in 2011 traveling six hours from Tokyo Station all the way to Hakata Station in Fukuoka. An experience that has inspired me to continue traveling internationally yearly since that first trip.
If you are visiting Tokyo Station first time, try to figure out directions of how to get around as best as you can beforehand. If you do get lost here, ask for help from station staff. That strategy has worked for me while I traveled around Japan.

I have a love hate relationship with this station. It’s not too big l, crowded or complicated to navigate. It’s not even that it’s busy.
IDK, it just feels so antiquated and it’s always under some form of construction that never appears complete. The pace was all up in scaffolding eight years ago and I see no improvement.
Maybe I’m getting too old for the all the bullshit of dealing with this station daily. Or maybe I’m simply annoyed with the constant construction that never seem to end; like the Pennsylvania turnpike except with less swearing and nard scratching.

JR Tokyo Station is where Shinkansen runs. You could take it to south to Osaka, Kobe, or Kyoto and you could take it north to Sendai. I’m a huge fan of the Shinkansen and the relative ease of it. However, there are different trains with different speeds. I was kicked off the Nozomi train (i.e., fastest train) cause my rail pass could only be used for the Hikari. I didn’t go without putting up a fight and yelling «Godzilla ain’t got sh*t on me, son! Who’s coming with me?!?»
But…no one came with me and my cousin acted like he didn’t know me as he put his hand over his face then slowly slipped deeper into his seat.
Anyway, the JR Tokyo station is fairly easy to navigate. The signs are in English, Japanese and Chinese. I know this is a hard concept for some but you have to look at the platform number on your ticket then match it with the signs. I know. It’s totally hard to comprehend.
Furthermore, the Tokyo stations pretty much have everything you could want. There are restaurants, shops, trains, and buses. The ticket staff are all nice and they speak English. I didn’t get any of the «stupid» American vibe. Don’t blame me. Blame Obama!
Lastly, Tokyo station is pretty much like other Japanese stations. It’s clean, efficient, and easy to use. I highly recommend taking the Shinkansen for day trips up north or down south.

We came in from the Yaesu (I believe this was the name) entrance and it was so beautiful! Much cleaner than some of the other entrances for major train stations that I’ve seen. Still busy and still has some parts under construction.

What can I this place is one of my favorite places in Tokyo and definitely come here alot. However, for some reason I always forget to check in laugh out loud! This station is the best place if you want travel and get to a lot of locations in Japan. Their service is excellent and very efficient, not mention their food court. Whenever you visit Tokyo this station is a most, add to your list of places to go to. If you want to really want to experience the realness of Japan culture under ground. Plus you will eat well!

As one can imagine, this is a super big train station, with lots of people, stores, trains, gates, and so on. And it’s all true! Everything from Shinkansen to Yamanote and subways can be accessed here.
Getting around requires a lot of walking. The directions are marked, for the most part, but it’s still not too difficult to get lost. There are also a lot of stairs. People with difficulties with stairs will have a hard time. It’s possible to go places, but be prepared to use plenty on extra time.
Walking around with lots of people can be tricky. But it’s amazing how everyone just keeps moving, and people get to their destinations in good time. Remember that they drive on the left here, so dodging people by going to the left seems to work better. It’s always the foreigners who are dodging the wrong way, or just standing in the middle of the way blocking.

I’m a bit surprised that I have never reviewed Tokyo station… This station is massive and is essentially a hub throughout Japan. You can pretty much spend the entire day in the station and not quite see it all. There are a plethora of dining options, a ton of things to see, a bunch of places to shop and trains that go pretty much everywhere. Tokyo station is absolutely gorgeous but it is extremely crowded, no joke, like REALLY crowded. Regardless, it is an experience that you will likely not regret and a must see if your transit takes you through Tokyo.
Pros–
Massive
Lots of shopping
Restaurants
Old meets new
Connections
Train schedules
Cons–
SO CROWDED
Confusing to navigate

If you thought Grand Central Station was grand in size you clearly haven’t been to Japan. The train stations here are unlike anything you’ve seen before. Describing it as massive is an understatement. You could literally get lost walking from one side to the other, as in the shops probably occupy and stretch out a few miles in radius.
There’s just so much to see and experience here. Ramen Street for instance is located within the station, along with department stores, markets, boutiques, restaurants and cafes, Kawaii knick-​knack shops, and more. It’s awesome how you could crack open a can of beer and drink within the station from shop to shop which is what I did with a cheesy croissant in one hand and beer in the other. :P
People watching at its best.

This maybe the biggest Train Station I have been too. JR Tokyo Station.
Which Entrance or Exit? North /​West/​South/​East to my hotel when I got off my Airport Express Train?!
Next I tried to find Ramen Street, which I heard it is inside the Station somewhere? Where? Where is Ramen?!
Standing in front of directory, I still a little puzzled and cannot figured out where I was and where I want to go?!
Lost in Tokyo Station might be a typical Tourist experience but with so many to see down here and a huge Daimaru Store. It is not too bad after all.
Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get lost and find your way around to whatever line, train, subway, bus or Ramen Street and you will be fine.

All things public transit seems to intersect here. Im still trying to grasp the different train systems and who theyre run by. The all convene in this location though. Even Taxis swarm here to take citizens of the city in and out after the rail has ended. Like Grand Central in NYC it’s a maze of connections but also a huge swath of retail and eating below. You could probably live in this space indefinitely if you were in need of shelter!

I think I could have spent an entire day exploring this train station. I didn’t visit for any transportation purposes. I was there on a sightseeing mission. The architecture is spectacular. I felt like I had landed in the middle of an old European city when I was looking at the exterior of the building. Inside, there are shops and food vendors everywhere. I got sidetracked by the soft serve ice cream stand and handkerchief shop located in one of the food courts. If I didn’t have prior dinner plans, I definitely would have grabbed dinner here.
I loved all of the electricity that the commuter crowd generated. I felt like I was finally getting a feel for the frenetic energy that comes to mind when I think of Tokyo. I would definitely come back if I find myself in Tokyo again and maybe even take a train out of here.

The central station of Tokyo to connect to local trains and Shinkansen. Signs are half in Japanese and English so we could halfway decipher which direction to go for our various trains and Shinkansen. If you’re lost, ask someone at the information desks/​stations. Other train riders are very focused on getting to their destination so take a deep breath, try to figure it out yourself, if not, ask.
Get a Pasco train pass card to use and swipe at the various local stops instead of buying individual tickets everywhere you go. If you don’t use all your Pasco money before you depart home, you can use the remaining balance like a debit card at the shops at the airport. Hello Kitty?
Schedules for Shinkansen are on time and are very organized. Your ticket will let you know which section of the platform to stand in conjunction with the section of the train where you are sitting. Passengers depart and you get on, all on time. Oh buy bento (food!) at the train station before you get on the train, plus a drink and snacks!

Die Tokyo Station fand ich im Vergleich zu Shinjuku Station einfach. Schön übersichtlich und ich konnte meine Bahnsteige schnell finden.
Ausserdem gibt es unten eine Shoppingmeile mit verschiedenen Shops wie z.B. dem Pokémon Shop, Nameko Shop, Animé Charaktere Shops, etc. natürlich auch verschiedene Restaurants. Ich war hier bestimmt 7 Mal zu unterschiedlichen Anlässen und habe mich immer gefreut wieder an dieser Station vorbei zu kommen.

Traveling via Shinkansen (or bullet train) is a must when visiting Japan. It’s very convenient and the fastest way to travel. We took the train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto and purchased our tickets on the day of travel. Here is some useful info to make your travel easier:
1. There are 3 classes of Shinkansen (Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama). The difference between each is the number of stops the train makes. The Nozomi Shinkansen makes the fewest stops, and travel between Tokyo and Kyoto is around 2 hr 20 min.
2. A JR rail pass is not valid on the Nozomi Shinkansen. This type of pass is usually bought in the US for longer visits (ex. 7, 14, 21 day passes).
3. You can buy your ticket from a JR ticket machine at Tokyo Station; there are English instructions. However, if in doubt, there is a ticket counter where the staff knows enough English to help get you where you want to go. :)
4. When buying from the JR ticket machine, a regular swipe & sign credit card does not work. You need a chip & PIN credit card, like those used in Europe. However, a regular debit card will work, since this requires you to enter a PIN. (We used our debit card.)
5. Pricing is split into 2 costs, a basic fare plus a seat fare. Everyone pays the basic fare; then you either purchase a Reserved seat or an Unreserved seat. The price difference between a Reserved and Unreserved seat is minimal (830 JPY), so I’d suggest getting a Reserved seat for peace of mind (you’ll have an assigned seat). My Nozomi ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto was 13,910 JPY (8,210 JPY basic fare + 5,700 JPY reserved seat).
Travel on the Shinkansen was smooth and super fast. It’s a great way to visit other parts of Japan from Tokyo. Enjoy the adventure! :)

Tokyo station has everything, including confusion!
Sometimes it is tough to navigate because the size is immense. Otherwise, it has everything imaginable — shops, food, gifts… and people. Lots of them !
The architecture of the original station has been restored and looks amazing.

Tokyo Station is the center of everything public transport in Tokyo. It is where any form of transportation needed will connect, including; buses, Narita Express, shinkansen, JR metro, and long distance trains.
In Japan, as I have noted in other reviews, some of the best restaurants in the business will open a branch of their shop in the train station. Tokyo Station is no different. You will find a representation set in miniature versions of some of the best eateries in Tokyo; ramen, soba, bakeries, bookstores, department stores, and even a Mexican restaurant.
The only issue I have is that there is often nowhere to sit and rest, and not many places to each the delicious food that you find. The good thing is that eating on the longer distance trains is acceptable for public eating. So you can always take what you find on the go.
When looking for lockers to store you luggage— walk around a bit and check all of the prices for different sizes first. Each set of lockers is run by different companies, all with different prices, sizes of lockers, and payment functions. Almost all take credit cards.
Navigating larger stations can be difficult and flustering at times. So, make sure to ask the customer service office for directions or a map, if needed. If you are a traveling foreigner, like myself, the JR Rail offices are most helpful since you will probably have a JR Pass. If you become lost, there are many maps around the station.
Japanese transportation always leaves exactly on time, especially the shinkansen trains. Never be late if you have a ticket, because the trains arrive and leave immediately and you will miss it. There are typically no refunds.

One of the busiest stations in Japan, because it’s a metro station, long distance rail, bullet train (shankansen) station, and the narita express stop.
Because of this, you can get to anywhere in Tokyo, or Japan from this stop. If the trains don’t do so, there are also highway buses here too.
This isn’t like the train stations you find in other non-​Asian countries though. It’s also a hub where you can find many restaurants, retail shops here, nearby hotels, or a place to store your bags (don’t forget which locker you left your stuff in though — seriously).

For all your long distance travel, Shinkansen is the way to go. Purchase a JR pass and enjoy a week of unlimited use throughout the system. Seats are first-​come-​first-​served, so be prepared for the worst. Some days are better than others. You can change cars and/​or seats as they free up. Hopefully you won’t have to stand for the entire ride. That would be the ultimate punishment.
There are plenty of stores, shops, and vendors within the station, like a mini mall. Impressive! Try to arrive early and enjoy. Proceed to your platform/​departure point ahead of time. JR is strictly punctual and trains stop for about a minute, two at most. This blew me away. Never late, always on time as scheduled.