Lost in Tokyo or Shinjuku Station? Read One Sign at a Time
You are looking for the Yaesu exit at Tokyo Station, but the signs point to Marunouchi, the Keiyo Line, the subway and another set of gates. Reading every sign can make a large station more confusing. Look for the one piece of information you need now.
Before boarding, find the line and direction
The name of the neighbourhood you want is not enough to choose a direction inside the station. Check the railway operator, line and direction in your journey planner, then find that line on the station signs. Colours and station numbers help, but read the line name too. You do not need the exit yet.
After the gates, check the platform and destination
The opposite platform can take you away from your destination even on the right line. Once you find the platform number, check the direction shown. If your stop is not listed, a major station in the same direction can help. Check the departure display again on the platform.
Look for the exit after reaching your station
Even at a station with many exits, you do not need to memorise an exit number before boarding. On arrival, use the map to find an exit near your destination. With a suitcase, an exit with a lift may be easier than the closest one. In rain, an exit reached through a longer underground passage may suit you better.
Keep the official Tokyo Station map or Shinjuku Station map open while matching your current gate to your destination. These JR maps are a starting point for JR platforms and gates; a numbered subway exit belongs to the relevant subway operator’s map. At Shinjuku, Tokyo Metro’s station guide lists nearby destinations by exit, which helps when your hotel gives a subway exit rather than a JR gate.
Go back to the last sign you understood
Following other people will lead to an exit, but not necessarily yours. Instead of continuing without a clear direction, return to the last sign you understood. A few minutes backtracking may be quicker than wandering through underground shopping streets.
With large bags, choose fewer transfers or an exit with a lift. You do not have to understand the whole station: first the line, then the platform, and the exit after arrival.
If you have missed the final train, see our late-night travel guide.
Photography: Mike Peel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), and Taufik / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
