Shibuya Station: The Complete Navigation Guide

Shibuya Station stands next to the famous Scramble Crossing. It is also known for its maze-like structure, and its difficulty when it comes to switching trains.

There are ten lines going through this station. The station building itself is three floors above ground and five floors underground. Passageways overlap each other, making it confusing for users. In this article, a MATCHA editor who has been switching trains at Shibuya Station every day will show you how to go through the maze.

Rule No. 1: Clarify All the Lines

First of all, users must be familiar with the structure of Shibuya Station.

Ten lines, operated by four railway companies, run through this station. Each company has a distinctive logo, so keep those in mind, as well.

1. Tokyo Metro
Fukutoshin Line: (Logo) A coffee-colored ring with the letter "F" in the middle.
Hanzomon Line: (Logo) A purple ring with the letter "Z" in the middle.
Ginza Line: (Logo) A yellow ring with the letter "G" in the middle.

2. Tokyu Corporation
Tokyu Toyoko Line: (Logo) A red square with the letters "TY" in the middle.
Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line: (Logo) A green square with the letters "DT" in the middle.

3. JR East
Yamanote Line
Saikyo Line
Shonan-Shinjuku Line
Narita Express

4. Keio Railway
Inokashira Line

Rule No.2: Use Hachiko Square as a Reference Point

Shibuya Station covers a vast area, spread out on both above and under the ground. So its users can easily get lost.

If you don't know where you are, head for the Hachiko Square. You will be able to see where all the lines are located.

JR Lines: Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Narita Express

Those heading for Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Utsunomiya or Narita Airport should use the JR lines.

The entrance of JR Shibuya Station is easy to find. With the Scramble Crossing on your back, the entrance is on the left side of Hachiko Square, across from the Hachiko statue.

Go through the Hachiko Entrance to the platforms. There are four lines: Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line and Narita Express. The JR Shibuya Station consists of three floors above ground, and all the platforms are on the second floor.

The Tamagawa Entrance on the second floor is connected to the Tokyu Department Toyoko Store. From here, users can switch to the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or the Keio Inokashira Line.

Tokyo Metro and Tokyu Lines

Two of the Tokyo Metro lines and the two Tokyu lines are located in the underground floors. Those who want to go to Yokohama, Jiyugaoka or Nakameguro should take the Tokyu Toyoko Line. If your destination is Wakoshi, Shinjuku-sanchome or Ikebukuro, take the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line. If you're headed for Sangen-jaya or Futako-tamagawa, take the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, and those who want to go to Kiyosumi-shirakawa, Jimbocho or Oshiage, take the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.

The Hachiko statue faces the green railroad car, which is a tourist information center. The entrance to the Tokyo Metro and Tokyu lines is located beyond the green car.

Go down the stairs to the second basement floor, and you will see the logos for the four lines.

The ticket gates are all on this floor, but the platforms for the four lines are located on other floors. The Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line platforms are on the third basement floor; the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line platforms are on the fifth basement floor.

Shibuya 109 can be reached from the second basement floor passageway.

Exit 15 on the third basement floor is connected to Shibuya Hikarie.

Tokyo Metro Ginza Line

The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is located away from the other two Tokyo Metro lines. This line goes to Ginza, Ueno and Asakusa.

From Hachiko Square, climb the stairs located between the JR Shibuya Station and the Tokyu Department Toyoko Store.

The Ginza Line ticket gate is located on the third floor. From the JR Tamagawa Entrance on the second floor, turn right and climb the stairs to the third floor.

Please note that the Ginza Line ticket gate on the third floor, facing the JR Central Entrance is used only as an exit for the train passengers arriving at Shibuya. From the JR Central Entrance, turn left and go down to the second floor. Turn right, and another stairway will lead you back to the third floor.

The Ginza Line ticket gate is at the top of the stairs, and the JR Tamagawa Entrance will be at the right side.

Keio Inokashira Line

Keio Railway extends to the western regions of Tokyo. If you want to go to Shimokitazawa, Chofu, Kichijoji or Takao, use this line. The Inokashira Line platform is located away from all the other lines.

From Hachiko Square, climb the stairs located between JR Shibuya Station and Tokyu Department Toyoko Store to the second floor. Walk straight past the Kiehl's store and climb a short stairway.

The stairway leads to a spacious area, with a large mural on the left side. This is the skywalk that connects Shibuya Mark City (Inokashira Line) and Tokyu Department Toyoko Store (Ginza Line and JR Lines).

Follow the signs to the Inokashira Line gate.

Rule No. 3: Use the Department Stores as a Reference Point

There are four department stores in Shibuya, and all of them are connected to at least one line. So if you are leaving from Shibuya, these stores can be used as a reference point.

Shibuya Hikarie

The tall building on the left side of the photograph is the Shibuya Hikarie. Although it is located away from the Hachiko Square, Hikarie is connected to Tokyo Metro and Tokyu Lines at the third basement floor level.

The second floor of Hikarie is also connected to the JR Shibuya Station, near the Ginza Line and Inokashira Line. At the end of the skywalk in the photograph, there is a stairway leading to the Ginza Line gate and the JR Central Entrance.

Tokyu Department Toyoko Store

This building is located next to Hachiko Square and JR Shibuya Station, and the JR Tamagawa Entrance is located inside on its second floor. The Toyoko Store is also connected to Shibuya Mark City, and the skywalk leads to the Inokashira Line gate.

Shibuya Mark City

This high-rise building, on the right side of the top photograph, is located across the street from the Hachiko Square and Toyoko Store. The Inokashira Line gate is inside this building.

The long escalator in the bottom photograph leads to the Inokashira Line.

Shibuya 109

This building is a landmark of Shibuya, and the second basement floor is connected to the Tokyo Metro and Tokyu lines.

In Conclusion

We hope that this article will help the readers to understand the structure of Shibuya Station. With the tips mentioned above, you should be able to walk through Shibuya. Use them as a key to navigate the maze.

This English article was translated from the Japanese version of the article originally written in Traditional Chinese.