Shinagawa Station is an increasingly important transportation nexus in central Tokyo, offering rail services to Tokyo’s two international airports as well as bullet trains to Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. It’s also a hub for traveling within Tokyo, being a stop on the JR Yamanote loop line, Keikyu line to Haneda airport, and several important commuter lines linking Tokyo with neighboring prefectures.
The central passageway by the Central Gate at JR Shinagawa Station
To find your way around Shinagawa Station and understand its layout, check out our article Shinagawa Station Map – Finding Your Way. This article will introduce some of the facilities at Shinagawa Station.
Table of Contents
General Orientation
JR staff at this booth on the Central Gate can help with ticket queries
Shinagawa Station straddles several north-south-running railways, including the JR Yamanote Line, the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train as well as lines for the Narita Express and Haneda Airport services. The main complex run by East Japan Railway (JR East) has a central passageway that connects the two main entrances on the east and west sides. The Keikyu Main Line stops at a separate train station run by Keikyu on the west side.
Unlike other rail hubs in Tokyo, Shinagawa does not have underground arcades. Shinagawa is built on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay, and the subway doesn’t extend here; however, some Keikyu Main Line trains here join the Toei Asakusa subway line at nearby Sengakuji Station.
A train-style mailbox inside the Central Gate
Hotels are located on both sides of the station, with the Shinagawa Prince Hotel complex on the west side across Daiichi-Keihin Street being the largest and most well known in the area.
The hub has several shopping malls and arcades, including the two-story Ecute mall within the ticket gate area at JR Shinagawa Station, the Atre Shinagawa mall on the east side, and the west side’s Wing Takanawa, which stands on both sides of Daiichi-Keihin Street.
Information
Aside from station maps and overhead signs, there’s one information desk at Shinagawa Station.
JR East Information Center
The JR East Information Center by the Central Gate
This small center is located just to the left of the Central Gate inside JR Shinagawa Station. Staff can exchange JR Rail Passes and JR East Passes and provide information about traveling on JR lines, as well as point the way to nearby facilities. Look for the “information” sign and two circled question marks, but don’t confuse it with the adjacent JR information booth straddling the Central Gate itself.
Open: 9:00 – 19:00
JR Reservation Ticket Offices
A JR Reservation Ticket Office at Shinagawa Station
To buy tickets for Shinkansen bullet trains and other intercity services, there are three JR Reservation Ticket Offices (aka Midori-no-Madoguchi) at JR Shinagawa Station; they can also issue Japan Rail Passes. One is opposite the Central Gate and the other two are at the north and south sides of the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train station, near the east side of the JR complex (open: 6:00 – 23:00). There’s also a Travel Service Center (View Plaza) across from the Central Gate (open: 10:00-20:00 on weekdays, 10:00-18:00 weekdays and holidays).
Coin Lockers
Coin lockers near the Ecute restaurant area in Shinagawa Station
Coin lockers at Shinagawa Station can be found both on the south end of the Ecute mall inside the Central Gate, by the stairs at the west or Takanawa entrance, as well as along the north wall inside the North Gate. Most operate with coins or prepaid transport cards. For detailed information about how to use coin lockers in Tokyo, see our article at ShinjukuStation.com.
Lost and Found
The nursery and lost and found inside the Central Gate
There’s a lost and found office inside and to the east the Central Gate at JR Shinagawa Station.
Open: 8:00 – 20:00
Nursery
There’s a nursery right by the Lost and Found Office, just inside and to the east the Central Gate at JR Shinagawa Station.
Open: 6:00 – 22:00
Currency Exchange
Travelex: This moneychanger is right by the Central Gate inside JR Shinagawa Station. There’s another branch on the west or Takanawa side of the station. It’s right next to the entrance to Keikyu Shinagawa Station.
Moneychanger Travelex can be found by the Central Gate
Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank Shinagawa Branch: On the first and second floors of the Taiyo Life Shinagawa Building, located on the east side of JR Shinagawa Station. Take the elevated walkway south from the Konan entrance.
SMBC Trust Bank Shinagawa Branch: This bank is located on the east side of Shinagawa Station. From the Konan entrance, turn south and take the elevated walkway to the Shinagawa East One Tower and it’s on the second floor.
ATM Cash Machines at Shinagawa Station
There are many ATMs in and around Shinagawa Station but travelers should remember that most ATMs in Japan do not accept credit, debit and cash cards issued outside Japan. You can, however, use such cards at ATMs in Japan Post offices, 7-Eleven convenience stores and SMBC Trust Bank branches, which are also under the Prestia brand. ATM locations at Shinagawa Station that take overseas cards include:
Minatokonan Post Office: About 200 meters east of of Shinagawa Station’s Konan entrance.
SMBC Trust Bank Shinagawa Branch: This bank is located on the east side of Shinagawa Station. From the Konan entrance, turn south and take the elevated walkway to the Shinagawa East One Tower and it’s on the second floor.
7-Eleven Shinagawa Prince Hotel Branch: This convenience store is located on the west side of Shinagawa Station in the Takanawa Wing mall.
Police Box (koban)
Taxis and a police box can be found on the west or Takanawa side of the station
There are police boxes (koban) near both the west or Takanawa entrance and the east or Konan entrance to JR Shinagawa Station. Officers can help with simple directions. Both are outside the station and on the north side of the plaza.
Plazas & Walkways
Shinagawa Station doesn’t have much in terms of open spaces, but there are a few spots where you can take a break and do some people-watching.
The central passageway leading to JR Shinagawa Station
JR Shinagawa Central Passageway: This east-west passageway running through the heart of the station throngs with office workers at rush hour. The scene becomes somewhat surreal as they pass under large video screens showing the same image. The second-floor Starbucks in the middle of the passageway (by the Shinkansen entrance) is a convenient place to take a break.
Konan entrance plaza: This is a good spot to get a look at the east side of Shinagawa Station. The elevated walkways running south from here under high-rise office complexes are also good for people-watching.
Article by Tim Hornyak. All rights reserved.
