Shinjuku Station, Japan

Shinjuku Station is located at 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, in the heart of Shinjuku Ward. The East Exit leads to Kabukicho, Shinjuku-sanchome and the main shopping streets, the West Exit to the skyscrapers, hotels and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, and the South and New South Exits to Shinjuku Gyoen and the Busta Shinjuku bus terminal. Since 2020, an East-West Free Passage has made it much easier to cross between the east and west sides inside the station.

Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's main business and commercial centers, home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, major corporate headquarters, department stores, electronics shops and one of Asia's largest entertainment districts. West Shinjuku's skyscraper district holds offices and international hotels, while East Shinjuku is packed with shops, restaurants and bars. Because the station links central Tokyo with the western suburbs, Kanagawa and the mountains, it plays a central role in moving the commuters, shoppers and visitors this economy depends on.

The JR Yamanote Line loops around central Tokyo, linking Shinjuku with Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Ueno and Ikebukuro, while the Chuo Line runs east to Tokyo Station and west to Mitaka, Tachikawa and Takao. The Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines connect Shinjuku with Saitama, Yokohama and Kamakura. Limited express trains such as the Azusa and Kaiji run to Kofu and Matsumoto, the Fuji Excursion runs to Kawaguchiko near Mount Fuji, and the Narita Express connects Shinjuku with Narita Airport.

The Odakyu Line runs from Shinjuku to Odawara, Enoshima and Hakone-Yumoto, including Romancecar limited express trains to Hakone, while the Keio Line serves Chofu, Hachioji and Mount Takao. The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and the Toei Shinjuku and Oedo lines connect the station with Ginza, Tokyo Station, Roppongi and other parts of the city. Seibu Shinjuku Station, a short walk north of the East Exit, is the starting point for trains to Kawagoe and western Saitama.

The Narita Express runs directly from Shinjuku to Narita Airport in about 80–90 minutes, and Airport Limousine Buses from Busta Shinjuku and major hotels reach Narita in about 1 hour 30 minutes. For Haneda Airport, Airport Limousine Buses take about 35–60 minutes depending on traffic, or you can take the JR Yamanote Line to Shinagawa and change to the Keikyu Line. A taxi to Haneda typically takes 30–45 minutes.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, famous for its cherry blossoms and autumn colors, is about 10 minutes' walk from the South and East Exits. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, with free observation decks offering views as far as Mount Fuji on clear days, is about 10 minutes from the West Exit. On the east side, Kabukicho's neon streets, the tiny bars of Golden Gai and the yakitori alleys of Omoide Yokocho are all within a short walk.

Busta Shinjuku is Japan's largest highway bus terminal, located above the New South Exit and directly connected to the station. Buses depart from here to destinations across Japan, including Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and the airports, as well as overnight buses that are a budget alternative to the Shinkansen. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket counters inside the terminal.

Shinjuku Station opened on 1 March 1885 as a small stop on a railway line around the edge of Tokyo, when the area was still largely rural. After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, many residents and businesses moved west, and private railways such as Odakyu and Keio made Shinjuku their Tokyo terminus. In the following decades, subway lines, department stores and skyscrapers grew around the station, and major redevelopment projects are now reshaping the west exit area for the decades ahead.

Tokyo lies on the Kanto Plain on Japan's Pacific coast, with Shinjuku on the western side of the city center, about 7 kilometers west of the Imperial Palace. From Shinjuku, railways run west into the suburbs and toward the mountains of Yamanashi and Nagano, southwest to Hakone and the Izu Peninsula, and across the city to the Shinkansen terminals at Tokyo and Shinagawa stations. This makes Shinjuku a natural starting point for trips to Mount Fuji, Hakone and the Japanese Alps.

You can pay for most local trains with an IC card such as Suica or PASMO, which you can top up at ticket machines and use on JR, private railways, subways and buses. Limited express and reserved seat tickets are sold at ticket machines and at staffed ticket offices for each operator, and JR tickets can also be booked online. To save money, consider the Japan Rail Pass or regional passes such as the JR East Pass, or the Hakone Freepass for trips on the Odakyu Line.

Step one is choosing your travel date: reserved seats on limited express trains such as the Azusa, Fuji Excursion and Romancecar fill up fast on weekends and during Golden Week, the Obon holidays and the New Year period, so it pays to book early. Once you pay online, your reservation is saved in your account and you can pick up tickets at a machine or use a QR code or IC card at the gates. Check the train name, car and seat number before you travel.

There is no airport-style security screening at Shinjuku Station; you simply pass through the ticket gates. Because the station is so large, it is best to arrive 15–20 minutes before a limited express departure, giving you time to find the right gate and platform. During the morning and evening rush hours, crowds can be intense, so allow extra time if you are travelling with luggage.

Shinjuku Station has elevators and escalators linking the concourses, ticket gates and platforms for each operator, as well as accessible toilets. Station staff at the ticket gates can help passengers who need assistance boarding, and they can contact staff at your destination so someone meets you on arrival.

Inside and around the station you'll find department stores and shopping malls such as Lumine, NEWoMan and Takashimaya Times Square, along with restaurants, cafés, convenience stores and coin lockers. Tourist information centers near the exits provide maps and travel advice in English and other languages, and free Wi-Fi is available in many parts of the station. Staff at the ticket gates can help with platforms, delays and connections, and this FAQ aims to add practical tips to the official timetables, so you can plan your journey through Shinjuku Station with confidence.

Shinjuku Station has 178 exits, the most in the world, and some counts that include all underground passages put the number above 200. Across JR East, Odakyu, Keio and the subway lines, Shinjuku Station has 52 platforms, which is why first-time visitors often find it a maze. By floor area, Shinjuku Station is often described as the second-largest station after Nagoya.

Nishi-Shinjuku, the skyscraper district on the west side of the station, is reached through the West Exit, about a 5–10-minute walk from the platforms. Underground shopping areas and corridors connect Shinjuku Station to nearby complexes, so you can walk to many Nishi-Shinjuku office towers, hotels and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building without going outside. The Toei Oedo Line also stops at Tochomae and Nishi-Shinjuku stations for quicker access to the area.

Shinjuku became famous for staff known as oshiya, or pushers, who gently push passengers onto packed trains during the morning rush hour so the doors can close. Today, more frequent trains and longer platforms mean pushing is much rarer, but platform staff still help manage crowds at the busiest times. If you want to avoid the crush, travel before 7:30 or after 9:30 on weekday mornings.

This article is a practical guide to Shinjuku Station, covering exits, lines, platforms, tickets and nearby attractions in one place. Use it alongside the official timetables and station maps from JR East, Odakyu, Keio and the subway operators, which are updated more often. With the right exit and line in mind before you arrive, finding your way through the world's busiest station becomes much easier.

JR East operates the largest part of Shinjuku Station, with the Yamanote Line looping around central Tokyo, the Chuo Line running east to Tokyo Station and west to Tachikawa and Takao, and the Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines linking Shinjuku with Saitama, Yokohama and Kamakura. JR East limited express trains also depart from here, including the Azusa and Kaiji to Kofu and Matsumoto, the Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko and the Narita Express to Narita Airport. The Japan Rail Pass and the JR East Pass can be used on these services.

The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line stops at Shinjuku Station, connecting it with Shinjuku-sanchome, Ginza, Tokyo Station and Ikebukuro, and Tokyo Metro's Fukutoshin Line can be reached at nearby Shinjuku-sanchome. The Toei Shinjuku Line runs east to Kudanshita and Chiba Prefecture, and the Toei Oedo Line loops around the city, stopping at Roppongi, Tsukiji and Ryogoku. Suica and PASMO cards work on both Tokyo Metro and Toei subway lines, and a Tokyo Subway Ticket offers unlimited rides for 24, 48 or 72 hours.