JR Yamanote Loop Line (Tokyo)

First time travellers to Tokyo could be overwhelmed by the complicated train system in the city.

There are not only many train lines, but there are also many different train companies operating those lines. 

For example...

Tokyo Subway Metro map. See larger version: here

Tokyo's JR map. See larger version: here

If things get too complicated for you, then the JR Yamanote Loop line is a good start for you to familiarize yourself with.  

JR Yamanote Loop line highlighted in light green.

This train line connects most of Tokyo's major stations and during peak hours, train frequency is about 1 train every 2 mins. The trains on this line runs in 2 direction...clockwise and counter clockwise.

Since this is 1 of the busiest train lines in Japan, so it is best to avoid taking this line with your luggage during peak hour since the trains would be PACKED.

Here is a closer look at the stations along JR Yamanote Loop line.

diagram borrowed from another blog

Stations along the JR Yamanote Loop line with direct train access to Narita Airport:

Tokyo station: via Narita Express train 

Shinagawa station: via Narita Express train 

Shibuya station: via Narita Express train

Shinjuku station: via Narita Express train

Ikebukuro station: via Narita Express train

Nippori station: via Keisei Skyliner train and Keisei Main Line train

Ueno station: via Keisei Skyliner train and Keisei Main Line train from nearby Keisei-Ueno station within 2mins walk from Ueno station.

Stations along the JR Yamanote Loop line with direct train access to Haneda Airport:

Shinagawa station: via Keikyu Airport line (about 13-20mins, 410yen)

Hamamatsucho station: via Tokyo monorail (about 20mins, 490yen)

More about each station:

Tokyo station:

JUMP shop selling One Piece, Naruto, Dragonball products at Tokyo station's basement character street

Pokemon shop at Tokyo station's basement character street

Connections: Tokaido Shinkansen, Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Nagano Shinkansen, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tōkaidō Main Line, Chūō Line, Yokosuka Line, Keiyō Line, Sōbu Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line.

What's here: 

- Character street at the basement of Tokyo station (Calbee store, Miffy store, Rilakkuma store, Hello Kitty store, Jump store, NHK Character shop, Snoopy store, Rascal shop, Moomin/Totoro store, TV Tokyo shop, Kyurutto shop, Ultraman shop, Lego shop, Pla Rail shop, Tomica shop...)

- Ramen street at the basement of Tokyo station

- Daimaru department store 

- Tokyu Hands Tokyo store (8th to 10th Floor of Daimaru dept store)

- Imperial Palace (about 10mins walk from Tokyo station)

- Cheap direct bus to Narita Airport

- Transfer at this station to take either JR Keiyo line or JR Musashino line to go to Maihama station (gateway to Disneyland/Disneysea) 

- Access to all Shinkansen lines within Tokyo. 

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Tokaido line or JR Yokosuka line to go Yokohama.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

- Access to Narita Airport via Narita Express train

- Takashimaya department store (about 10mins walk)

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line to Korakuen for Koishikawa Korakuen and Tokyo Dome City.

Yurakucho station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Toei Mita Line. 

What's here:

- Ginza (about 10mins walk)

- BIC Camera store 

- Tokyo International Forum (venue for various conventions, events, concerts, exhibitions)

- Tokyu Hands Ginza store (about 5mins walk)

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Shimbashi station

Transfer to Yurikamome monorail at Shimbashi to go to Odaiba

Connections: Tōkaidō Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Yurikamome.

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Yurikamome monorail across rainbow bridge to Odaiba.

- Shiodome City Center

- Hama Rikyu Gardens (about 10mins walk)

- Nippon TV Tower (ATV goods shop and Anpanman cafe also located here)

- Pokemon centre 

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Tokaido line or JR Yokosuka line to go Yokohama.

- Transfer at this station to take the Toei Asakusa line to go Sensoji Shrine (Asakusa), and Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage)

- Tsukiji market (walk about 20mins)

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Hamamatsucho station

View from World Trade Center Observatory

Zojo-ji temple and Tokyo Tower during Sakura season.

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tokyo Monorail, Toei Asakusa Line, Toei Ōedo Line

What's here:

- Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden

- Zojo-ji (about 10mins walk)

- Tokyo Tower (about 15mins walk)

- World Trade Center observatory  (nice view of Tokyo Tower)

- Walk about 2mins to nearby Daimon station and take Toei Subway Oedo line to Tsukiji-shijo station for Tsukiji market.

- Walk about 2mins to nearby Daimon station and take the Toei Asakusa line to go Sensoji Shrine (Asakusa), and Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage)

- Transfer at this station to take Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Keihin-Tohoku line to go Yokohama.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Tamachi station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Shinagawa station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tōkaidō Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Tokaido Shinkansen, Keikyū Main Line

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Tokaido line, JR Yokosuka line or JR Keihin-Tohoku line to go Yokohama.

- Transfer at this station to take Keikyu Airport line to Haneda Airport.

- Transfer at this station to take Narita Express train to Narita Airport

- For those taking Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) to stations like Odawara (Hakone), Atami (Izu Peninsula), Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka (Osaka), staying near this station might be a good choice since this is 1 of the 2 stations with access to Tokaido Shinkansen within Tokyo (the other station is Tokyo station, but hotels near Tokyo station are usually more expensive). 

- Epson Aqua Stadium (located at Shinagawa Prince hotel)

 - Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Osaki station

Connections: Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Saikyō Line, Rinkai Line

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Rinkai Line to go Odaiba.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Yokohama

Gotanda station

Connections: Tōkyū Ikegami Line, Toei Asakusa Line 

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Toei Asakusa line to go Sensoji Shrine (Asakusa), and Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage)

Meguro station

Connections: Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Toei Mita Line 

What's here:

- Meguro Parasite museum (about 15mins walk)

Ebisu station

Connections: Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Saikyō Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line 

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Saikyo Line to go Odaiba.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Yokohama

- Yebisu Garden Place (where Beer Garden Yebisu is also located at)

Shibuya station

Shibuya's famous traffic crossing, just outside JR Shibuya station's Hachiko exit.

One Piece's official Mugiwara store located at Parco about 5-7 mins walk from Shibuya station.

Connections: Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Saikyō Line, Keiō Inokashira Line, Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line, Tōkyū Tōyoko Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

What's here:

- Tokyu Hands store (about 15mins walk)

- Tokyu dept store

- Shibuya 109

- Seibu dept store

- Loft

- Parco dept store 

- Hachiko dog statue

- Famous Shibuya traffic junction (opposite JR Shibuya's Hachiko exit)

- Love hotel hill

- Transfer at this station to take the Saikyo Line to go Odaiba.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Yokohama

- Transfer at this station to take Narita Express train to Narita Airport

- One Piece Mugiwara store (located at Parco)

Harajuku station

Takeshita Dori, located just opposite JR Harajuku station.

Connections: Chiyoda Line

What's here:

- Takeshita dori

- Omotesando

- Kiddyland (about 10mins walk)

- Daiso (100yen store, along Takeshita dori)

- Meiji shrine 

- Yoyogi Park

- NHK Studio Park (about 15mins walk)

Yoyogi station

Connections: Chūō-Sōbu Line, Toei Ōedo Line 

What's here:

- Meiji shrine 

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Iidabashi station for Koishikawa Korakuen.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Suidobashi station for Tokyo Dome City.

Shinjuku station

1 of the shopping streets near JR Shinjuku station

Connections: Chūō Main Line, Chūō Line, Chūō-Sōbu Line,Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Saikyō Line, Keiō Line, Keio New Line, Odakyū Odawara Line, Seibu Shinjuku Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Toei Shinjuku Line, Ōedo Line

What's here:

- Takayama dept store 

- Tokyu Hands store (located inside Takayama dept store)

- Shinjuku Gyoen (about 10mins walk from "New South Exit" of Shinjuku station)

- Kabukicho (red light district)

- Free observatory at Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Office

- Isetan dept store (about 5mins walk)

- Odakyu dept store

- Keio dept store

- Yodobashi Camera store 

- Bic Camera store

- Yamada Denki

- Transfer at this station to take the Saikyo Line to go Odaiba.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Yokohama

- Transfer at this station to take the Odakyu Odawara Ltd Exp train to Hakone (Hakone-Yumoto).

- Transfer at this station to take Narita Express train to Narita Airport

- Transfer at this station to take Keio line to Sanrio Puroland (Keio Tama Center station)

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Iidabashi station for Koishikawa Korakuen.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Suidobashi station for Tokyo Dome City.

- Bus to Mt Fuji, Kawaguchiko, Takayama, Hakuba

- Bus pickup point for Willer Express bus

Shin-Okubo station

What's here:

- Korean town

Takadanobaba station

Connections: Seibu Shinjuku Line, Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line 

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Tozai line to Iidabashi for Koishikawa Korakuen

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Tozai line to Nakano station for Nakano Broadway

Mejiro station

Ikebukuro station

Near Ikebukura station, while walking towards Sunshine City

J-World (One Piece, Naruto, Dragonball..etc) inside Sunshine City, about 7mins walk from Ikebukuro station.

Connections: Saikyō Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Tōbu Tōjō Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line 

What's here: 

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line to Korakuen for Koishikawa Korakuen and Tokyo Dome City.

- Transfer at this station to take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Yokohama

- Transfer at this station to take the Saikyo Line to go Odaiba.

- Transfer at this station to take the Tobu Tojo line to Kawagoe

- Tokyu Hands

- Tobu dept store

- Seibu dept store

- Marui dept store

- Sunshine City (observation deck, Namja Town, J-World One Piece/Naruto/DragonBall, Sunshine Aquarium)

- Bic Camera

- Yamada Denki

Otsuka station

Connections: Toden Arakawa Line (tram)

Sugamo station

Connections: Toei Mita Line 

What's here:

- Jizu dori (also known as old ladies' shopping street)

Komagome station

Rikugien, during sakura season.

Connections: Tokyo Metro Namboku Line 

What's here:

- Rikugien

Tabata station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line

Nishi-Nippori station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Nippori-Toneri Liner

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Nippori station

Sakura trees at Yanaka Cemetary, located opposite Nippori station.

Connections: Jōban Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Keisei Main Line, Nippori-Toneri Liner

What's here:

- Yanaka

- Transfer at this station to take Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Uguisudani station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Ueno station

Ueno Park located opposite Ueno station, during sakura season.

Ameyoko, near Ueno station.

Connections: Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Nagano Shinkansen,Jōban Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Utsunomiya Line(Tōhoku Main Line), Takasaki Line, Keisei Main Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.

What's here:

- Ameyoko (between Ueno station and Okachimachi station) 

- Ueno park

- National Science Museum

- Tokyo National Museum

- Ueno Zoo

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Asakusa (Sensoji shrine)

- Transfer at this station and walk to nearby Keisei-Ueno station to take Keisei Skyliner to Narita Airport

- Transfer at this station for Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen and Nagano Shinkansen. *not the Shinkansen that goes to Kyoto/Osaka.

- Yodobashi Camera

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Okachimachi station

Connections: Keihin-Tōhoku Line

What's here:

- Ameyoko (between Ueno station and Okachimachi station) 

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Akihabara station

The large Yodobashi Camera store located just opposite JR Akihabara station.

Connections: Chūō-Sōbu Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tsukuba Express, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line

What's here:

- Akihabara

- Yodobashi store

- Gundam cafe

- AKB48 cafe

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Iidabashi station for Koishikawa Korakuen.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Chuo-Sobu line local train to Suidobashi station for Tokyo Dome City.

- Transfer at this station to take JR Sobu line to Ryogoku station for Edo-Tokyo Museum and Kokugikan (Sumo wrestling)

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)

Kanda station

Connections: Chūō Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line

What's here:

- Transfer at this station to take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Asakusa (Sensoji shrine)

- Transfer at this station to take JR Keihin-Tohoku line to Kawasaki, Yokohama, Yokohama's Chinatown (Ishikawacho)