Taking the Tokyo Metro from Tokyo Station: How to Transfer to Otemachi Station

Tokyo Station → Otemachi Station Transfers: Take the Shortest Route

Otemachi Station, used by many people for business purposes, is located near Tokyo Station in Marunouchi, one of Japan's prominent office districts.

Otemachi is also famous for being the station in Japan where most subways intersect. A total of five subway lines pass through this station: Tokyo Metro's Marunouchi Line, Tozai Line, Chiyoda Line, and Hanzomon Line, and also the Toei Mita Subway Line.

In contrast, Tokyo Station is served by only one subway line: the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. This means that in order to transfer to the subway at Tokyo Station, you need to walk over to Otemachi Station.

Otemachi Station also offers convenient access to various sightseeing spots because of the many lines passing through it. For example, it offers direct access to Shibakoen Station, the closest station to Tokyo Tower, and Oshiage Station, the nearest to Tokyo Skytree.

Photo by Pixta

However, Otemachi Station doesn't have an above-ground station building like JR Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station. All of the train platforms are underground. As a result, many first-time transfer passengers going from Tokyo Station to Otemachi Station often get lost in the maze of underground passageways.

This article introduces how to get to Otemachi Station from Tokyo Station when making a transfer. Please use the photos to help guide you.

We'll explain in detail how to navigate the underground passageways connecting the two stations and the approximate time required to reach Otemachi Station.

How to Get from Tokyo Station to Each Subway Line

- Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line: For Ikebukuro and Ogikubo
- Tokyo Metro Tozai Line: For Nakano and Kagurazaka
- Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line: For Harajuku and Akasaka
- Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line: For Shibuya and Tokyo Skytree
- Toei Subway Mita Line: For Meguro and Shiba-koen (Tokyo Tower)

Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (10 Minutes)

In addition to Tokyo Station and Otemachi Station, the Marunouchi Line serves Ikebukuro Station, Ochanomizu Station (the nearest to Kanda Shrine), Korakuen Station (near Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Tokyo Dome), Yotsuya Station, and others.

On signboards, the Marunouchi Line is marked with a red circle with an M at the center.

To transfer to Tokyo Metro's Marunouchi Line at Otemachi Station, head for Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Underground North Gate. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the Marunouchi Line ticket gates.

The Marunouchi Underground North Gate is not located in the direction of the Yaesu Exit (Highway Bus Terminal) but rather near the Marunouchi Exit (near the Imperial Palace).

After disembarking from any of the numerous JR lines, head for Marunouchi (B1F).

After passing through the ticket gates, go straight along the passageway stretching from the right-hand side.

When you see the T-junction, follow the Tozai Line sign (blue circle) and go directly ahead to the left.

Then, you'll see a sign directly in front saying "for Otemachi-Tozai Line." Pass through the black-colored gate and go straight along this passageway.

Walk along this straight passage for about two to three minutes.

After walking for a while, you'll see a set of stairs and escalators. Follow the sign and go down.

When you reach the bottom, a sign saying Tozai Line-Otemachi Station East Gate will appear in front of you. Do not pass through the ticket gates. Instead, go to the left, and then follow the passageway with the Marunouchi Line signage (red circle).

Turn right at the wall in front. A straight passage will appear if you follow the path shown in the photo above.

After going straight along here for some distance, you'll see the Tozai Line Central Gate on your left-hand side. Pass through the ticket gates and continue straight ahead.

After passing through the gates and walking for about one minute, you'll be greeted by a set of stairs going down partway.

If you go down the stairs on the left, a sign indicating the Marunouchi Line will appear in front of you. Let's follow this sign and go along the passage that's diagonally in front and to the right.

After walking a few dozen steps, you'll see the entrance to a commercial zone called OOTEMORI on the right. This zone is directly connected to the station.

There are escalators on either side and stairs in the middle, so we'll follow the sign and walk to the entrance of OOTEMORI.

You'll see an open passageway when you reach the top of the stairs. If you follow the sign and go straight, there's a set of stairs and an escalator going up. Let's proceed along this route.

After you reach the top, several more stairs will appear, so go up these steps. When you go straight past the drug store on your left, the "Otemachi 2-Chome Gate" will appear on your right.

It takes about 10 minutes to get from Marunouchi Underground Central Gate to Otemachi 2-Chome Gate (Marunouchi Line).

Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (4 Minutes)

The Tozai Line crosses the Tokyo metropolitan area from east to west, connecting major areas like Nakano, Kagurazaka, Takebashi (near the Tokyo Imperial Palace and Chidorigafuchi), Nihonbashi, and Nishifunabashi in Chiba.

On signboards, the Tozai Line is marked with a blue circle with a T at the center.

To transfer to Tokyo Metro's Tozai Line at Otemachi Station, first let's go to Marunouchi Underground North Gate at Tokyo Station. From here, it takes about four minutes to reach the Tozai Line ticket gates.

The Marunouchi Underground North Gate is not located in the direction of the Yaesu Exit (Highway Bus Terminal) but rather Marunouchi (near the Imperial Palace). After disembarking from any of the numerous JR lines, let's head for Marunouchi (B1F).

After passing through the ticket gates, we'll go straight along the passageway stretching from the right-hand side.

When you see the T-junction, follow the Tozai Line sign (blue circle) and go directly ahead to the left.

Then, you'll see a sign directly in front saying "for Otemachi-Tozai Line." Let's pass through the black-colored gate and go straight along this passageway. From this point, it's about 180 meters to the Tozai Line.

Walk along this straight passage for about two to three minutes.

After walking for a while, you'll see a set of stairs and escalators. Follow the sign and go down.

When you reach the bottom, a sign saying Tozai Line-Otemachi Station East Gate will appear in front of you. Getting to the Tozai Line East Gate from Marunouchi Underground North Gate takes about four minutes.

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line (7 Minutes)

You'll be using the Chiyoda Line if you want to go directly to Harajuku (Meiji-jingumae Harajuku Station), Akasaka and Nogizaka (for the National Art Center, Tokyo), Nezu and Sendagi (near the famous Yanaka area), Kitasenju, and other stations. On signboards, the Chiyoda Line is marked with a green circle with a C at the center.

To transfer to Tokyo Metro's Chiyoda Line at Otemachi Station, first head for Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Underground North Gate. It takes about seven minutes to reach the Chiyoda Line ticket gates.

The Marunouchi Underground North Gate is not located in the direction of the Yaesu Exit (Highway Bus Terminal) but rather Marunouchi (near the Imperial Palace). After disembarking from any of the numerous JR lines, head for Marunouchi (B1F).

After passing through the ticket gates, we'll go straight along the passageway stretching from the right-hand side.

When you see the T-junction, follow the Tozai Line sign (blue circle) and go directly ahead to the left.

Then, you'll see a sign directly in front saying "for Otemachi-Tozai Line." Let's pass through the black-colored gate and go straight along this passageway. From this point, it's about 640 meters to the Chiyoda Line.

Walk along this straight passage for about two to three minutes.

After walking for a while, you'll see a set of stairs and escalators. Follow the sign and go down.

When you reach the bottom, a sign saying Tozai Line-Otemachi Station East Gate will appear in front of you. Do not pass through the ticket gates. Instead, go to the left and follow the passageway with the Chiyoda Line signage (green circle).

Turn right at the wall in front. A straight passage will appear if you follow the path shown in the photo above.

After going straight along here for some distance, you'll see the Tozai Line Central Gate on your left-hand side. Pass through the ticket gates and continue straight ahead.

After passing through the gates and walking for about one minute, you'll be greeted by a set of stairs going down partway.

If you go down the stairs on the left, a sign indicating the Chiyoda Line will appear in front of you. Follow this sign and go along the passage that's diagonally in front and to the right.

After walking a few dozen steps, you'll see the entrance to a commercial zone (connected to the station) called OOTEMORI on the right. You'll see the Tozai Line West Gate on the left.

With the West Gate on your left, keep going along this passageway, as indicated in the photo above.

If you follow the signage and keep going straight, you'll see a passage surrounded by walls on the left and right. When you walk for about one minute, there will be a set of stairs. Go up the stairs according to the sign.

When you reach the top of the stairs, the Chiyoda Line-Otemachi Gate comes into view.

It takes about seven minutes to reach the Chiyoda Line (Otemachi Gate) from the Marunouchi Underground North Gate.

Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line (10 Minutes)

If you want to go to Shibuya, Tokyo Skytree (Oshiage Station), Kudanshita, Kinshicho, or Kitasenju, you'll need to take the Hanzomon Line (signage: a purple circle with an H at the center).

To transfer to Tokyo Metro's Hanzomon Line at Otemachi Station, let's first head for Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Underground North Gate. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the Hanzomon Line ticket gates.

The Marunouchi Underground North Gate is not located in the direction of the Yaesu Exit (Highway Bus Terminal) but rather Marunouchi (near the Imperial Palace). After disembarking from any of the numerous JR lines, head for Marunouchi (B1F).

After passing through the ticket gates, go straight along the passageway stretching from the right-hand side.

When you see the T-junction, follow the Tozai Line sign (blue circle) and go directly ahead to the left.

Then, you'll see a sign directly in front saying "for Otemachi-Tozai Line." Pass through the black-colored gate and go straight along this passageway. From this point, it's about 650 meters to the Hanzomon Line.

Walk along this straight passage for about two to three minutes.

After walking for a while, you'll see a set of stairs and escalators. Follow the sign and go down.

When you reach the bottom, a sign saying Tozai Line-Otemachi Station East Gate will appear in front of you. Do not pass through the ticket gates. Instead, go to the left and follow the passageway with the Hanzomon Line signage (purple circle).

Turn right at the wall in front. A straight passage will appear if you follow the path shown in the photo above.

After going straight along here for some distance, you'll see the Tozai Line Central Gate on your left-hand side. Pass through the ticket gates and continue straight ahead.

After passing through the gates and walking for about one minute, you'll be greeted by a set of stairs going down partway.

If you go down the stairs on the left, a sign indicating the Hanzomon Line will appear in front of you. Follow this sign and go along the passage that's diagonally in front and to the right.

After walking a few dozen steps, you'll see the entrance to a commercial zone called OOTEMORI on the right. This zone is directly connected to the station. There are escalators on either side and stairs in the middle, so we'll follow the sign and walk to the entrance of OOTEMORI.

When you reach the top of the stairs, you'll see an open passageway. If you follow the sign and go straight, there's a set of stairs and an escalator going up. Let's proceed along this route.

After you reach the top, several more stairs will appear, so go up there as well. When you go straight past the drug store on your left, the Hanzomon Line's "Otemachi 2-Chome Gate" will appear on your right.

It takes about 10 minutes to reach the Hanzomon Line (Otemachi 2-Chome Gate) from the Marunouchi Underground North Gate.

Toei Subway Mita Line (8 Minutes)

To transfer to the Toei Subway Mita Line at Otemachi Station, first head for Tokyo Station's Marunouchi Underground North Gate. It takes about eight minutes to reach the Mita Line ticket gates.

The Marunouchi Underground North Gate is not located in the direction of the Yaesu Exit (Highway Bus Terminal) but rather Marunouchi (near the Imperial Palace). After disembarking from any of the numerous JR lines, head for Marunouchi (B1F).

After passing through the ticket gates, go straight along the passageway, stretching out from the right-hand side.

When you see the T-junction, follow the Tozai Line sign (above you) and go directly ahead to the left.

Then, you'll see a sign directly in front saying "for Otemachi-Tozai Line." Let's pass through the black-colored gate and go straight along this passageway. From this point, it's about 680 meters to the Mita Line ticket gates.

Walk along this straight passage for about 2 to 3 minutes.

After walking for a while, you'll see a set of stairs and escalators. Follow the sign and go down.

When you reach the bottom, a sign saying Tozai Line-Otemachi Station East Gate will appear in front of you. Do not pass through the ticket gates. Instead, go to the left and follow the passageway with the Mita Line signage.

Turn right at the wall in front. A straight passage will appear if you follow the path shown in the photo above.

After going straight along here for some distance, you'll see the Tozai Line Central Gate on your left-hand side. Pass through the ticket gates and continue straight ahead.

After passing through the gates and walking for about one minute, you'll be greeted by a set of stairs going down partway.

If you go down the stairs on the left, a sign indicating the Mita Line will appear in front of you. Let's follow this sign and go along the passage that's diagonally in front and to the right.

After walking a few dozen steps, you'll see the entrance to a commercial zone (connected to the station) called OOTEMORI on the right. You'll also see the Tozai Line West Gate on the left.

With the West Gate on your left, keep going along this passageway, as indicated in the photo above.

If you follow the signage and keep going straight, you'll see a passage surrounded by walls on the left and right. When you walk for about one minute, there will be a set of stairs. Go up the stairs according to the sign.

When you reach the top of the stairs, the Chiyoda Line-Otemachi Gate comes into view.

When you proceed along the left-hand side with your back to the Chiyoda Line Gate, the Mita Line (Otemachi Gate) will appear.

It takes about eight minutes to reach the Mita Line (Otemachi 2-Chome Gate) from the Marunouchi Underground North Gate.

Transfers at Otemachi Station: Start From the Marunouchi Underground North Gate

This article introduces how to transfer to five different subway lines at Otemachi Station from JR Tokyo Station. To make a smooth transfer, exit the Tokyo Station ticket gates from the Marunouchi Underground North Gate.

If you use the wrong exit, you'll take the longer route and might get lost. So please carefully check the signs as you make your transfer.