In our previous article, Tokyo Transportation Tips 01: The Overview, we explored various ways to navigate Tokyo’s extensive transit system. Our next article will dive into the specifics of each train type, covering stops, fares, transfers, and other practical details. This piece will spotlight some of the most frequently used JR lines in Tokyo. If you’re planning a future trip to Japan, be sure to bookmark this article for helpful insights on navigating Tokyo and choosing accommodations.
JR, or Japan Railways, is Japan’s largest railway network, including the famous Shinkansen bullet trains. Initially a state-owned entity, JR was privatized in 1987 to address management issues, resulting in the formation of the current JR Group. Today, the Group includes six regional companies—JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR West, JR Tokai, JR Shikoku, and JR Kyushu—as well as JR Freight, which handles national rail freight operations. The JR lines discussed in this article are all managed by JR East.
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JR Yamanote Line
The JR Yamanote Line is the only loop in Tokyo and is relevant to almost everyone’s travels in Tokyo. Here’s a map of the Yamanote Line.
The Yamanote Line boasts several renowned stations, including Ueno, Akihabara, and Tokyo to the east, and Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Shibuya to the west. For avid shoppers, the Yamanote Line serves as the primary route to Tokyo’s major shopping districts.
As you ride the Yamanote Line, you’ll notice two directions of travel: “outer” (外回り, soto-mawari) and “inner” (內回り, uchi-mawari).
The “outer” route follows a clockwise direction: Ikebukuro → Nippori → Ueno → Akihabara → Tokyo → Shinagawa → Shibuya → Shinjuku → Ikebukuro, while the “inner” route operates in the opposite direction.
If you’re unsure whether your train is “outer” or “inner,” consult the route map available at the station, which indicates the Yamanote Line’s direction.
Moreover, despite the Yamanote Line having 30 stations, it doesn’t offer limited express, express, or regular trains. Instead, all trains make stops at each station.
The newest addition to the Yamanote Line is the “Takanawa Gateway” station, which opened in 2020, becoming the first station with kana in its name.
JR Keihin Tohoku-Negishi Line
The JR Keihin Tohoku-Negishi Line , also known as the Keihin Tohoku Line, stretches from Saitama Prefecture in the north to Kanagawa Prefecture in the south. After entering Tokyo, it begins at Akabane Station and then runs alongside the Yamanote Line from Tabata Station to Shinagawa Station. Below is a map of the Keihin-Tohoku Line.
Kyohama-Tohoku Line Route Chart｜ジョルダン
If you’re traveling from Tokyo to destinations like Yokohama in Kanagawa or Omiya and Nishikawaguchi in Saitama, consider taking this train.
However, unlike the parallel Yamanote Line, there are differences between the Local and Rapid trains. During the daily peak period (from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), all trains operate as Rapids and do not make stops at Nishi-Nippori Station, Nippori Station, Uguisudani Station, Okachimachi Station, and Yurakucho Station within the parallel zone of the Yamanote Line.
If you need to transfer to the Keihin-Tohoku Line from these stations, it’s advisable to take the Yamanote Line to a nearby station for easier transfer options.
JR Saikyo Line
Both the JR Saikyo Line and the Keihin-Tohoku Line run through Tokyo’s 23 wards, except that the Keihin-Tohoku Line is on the east side and the Saikyo Line is on the west side. From Ikebukuro Station to Osaki Station, the Saikyo Line runs parallel to the Yamanote Line on the west side.
The following is a map of the JR Saikyo Line.
JR Saikyo Line Route Map｜ジョルダン
The JR Saikyo Line runs south of Osaki Station and connects to the Rinkai Line (the Rinkai Line is a private railroad, not a JR line) to the south. In other words, if you are on the “Rinkai Line Direct”, you can take it all the way to Shinkiba Station in the Edo district without changing trains.
If you want to get to Odaiba quickly from Ikebukuro or Shinjuku, you can consider taking this line.
Also, starting in late November 2019, the JR Saikyo Line and the Soutetsu Line start to provide direct transfers, allowing direct access to Yokohama.
JR Chuo Line (Rapid) & JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local)
JR Chuo Line (Rapid) & JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local) & JR Sobu Line (Rapid) Route map
JR Chuo Line (Rapid)
JR Chuo Line (Rapid) departs from Tokyo Station and runs parallel to the Yamanote Line till Kanda Station, and then runs to the west, basically crossing the Yamanote Line. If you want to go from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station, you can either take the Yamanote Line and go around, or you can use this line to get there quickly.
Below is a map of the JR Chuo Line (Rapid).
JR Chuo Line (Rapid) Route Chart｜ジョルダン
JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local)
The JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local) comprises two lines: the Chuo Main Line and the Sobu Main Line, merging at Ochanomizu Station. This line spans from Chiba Station in Chiba Prefecture to Mitaka Station in Tokyo.
The Sobu Line runs from Chiba Station to Ochanomizu Station, while the Chuo Line operates from Ochanomizu Station to Mitaka Station. Notably, the “(Local)” suffix indicates that this line does not include express or Rapid trains, making stops at every station along the route.
The Chuo Line (Rapid) operates from Tokyo Station to Mitaka Station, sharing a section of the route with the Chuo-Sobu Line (Local) from Ochanomizu Station to Mitaka Station. Conversely, the Sobu Line (Rapid), designated as JO, travels from Tokyo Station to Chiba Station, overlapping with the Chuo-Sobu Line (Local) from Kinkyukicho Station to Chiba Station.
Please refer to the route map below for the JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local).
JR Chuo-Sobu Line(Local) Roadmap
JR Joban Line (Rapid)
JR Joban Line (Rapid) is a train that runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Toride Station in Chiba Prefecture. Here is a map of the line (the green part on the left).
JR Joban Line (Rapid) Route Map｜Route Guide Book
The Joban Line is the same as the Chuo Line and the Sobu Line, which are mentioned above, and even has separate routes depending on the type of trains. The station numbers are also different between the Joban Line (Rapid) and the Joban Line (Local), which runs on a different line.
JR Keiyo Line
If you live in Tokyo and want to go to Disneyland, the JR Keiyo Line is the one you’ll take. It connects Tokyo Station with Soe Station in Chiba Prefecture, and here is the route map.
To get to Disneyland, you can get off at Maihama Station and follow the signs.
However, if you don’t live near Tokyo Station and will go to Tokyo Station for a transfer, make sure to allow about 20 minutes for the transfer (even half an hour for the first time).
Because the passageway to transfer from other lines to the Keiyo Line is particularly long and complicated at Tokyo Station, you may not be able to find your way there for the first time, and it will take you 10-15 minutes even if you are familiar with the transfer.
Ueno-Tokyo Line
The Ueno-Tokyo Line (JR Ueno Tokyo Raijin) is a railroad that connects Tokyo Station and Ueno Station, the main purpose of which is to enable direct connections between the Utsunomiya, Takasaki, and Joban lines, which start and end in Ueno, and the Tokaido Line, which starts and ends in Tokyo.
Ueno-Tokyo Line｜Route Guide Book
Unlike the Yamanote Line and the Keihin-Tohoku Line, which also pass through Ueno-Tokyo Station, the Ueno-Tokyo Line does not stop at other stations between Ueno and Tokyo Stations at the beginning and end, and therefore does not have a special route map.
The Ueno-Tokyo Line is not so much the name of a train as it is the name of the railroad track that connects Ueno Station and Tokyo Station.
If you want to go to Shinagawa from stations such as Nippori and Ueno, you can either take the Yamanote Line or the Keihin-Tohoku Line, or you can take a train on the Ueno-Tokyo Line, which is a quicker way to get there.
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