Yamanote: The Tokyo Loop Line
SNA Travel (Tokyo) — Looking at a Tokyo train map can make you dizzy with its seemingly endless spirals of colored lines. But visitors will soon discover that there is an anchor point from which perspective and orientation can be secured–the big green loop called the Yamanote Line.
The Yamanote Line connects the largest city centers in a single loop of thirty stations which takes about an hour to traverse the entire 360 degrees.
The Yamanote can be frightfully crowded at many hours of the day, though the northeastern corner between Ueno and Ikebukuro is certainly its quieter spot.
But among the city centers it provides convenient access to are Tokyo (Marunouchi), Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara.
Here are the basics to know about these centers:
Tokyo Station: This is a central connection point for several train lines, and of course the one given pride of place in terms of naming. Aside from the attractive red brick architecture of the station itself, it is set in the central banking and business districts of Marunouchi and Yaesu. Not far from the station is the Imperial Palace and its gardens.
Shibuya Station: Shibuya Crossing is one of the most iconic sights in Tokyo, and here is where you will find it. The area is a center for Japan’s youth culture. There are themed bars, dance clubs, and all types of shopping and food options.
Harajuku Station: Walking distance from Shibuya is Harajuku. This includes the famous Takeshita Street is where you can see J-Pop and Harajuku street fashion. On the other side is the massive Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park, where you can escape the city sights without ever leaving.
Shinjuku Station: This station is the largest of them all, full of businesses, shops, and entertainment options. The nearby Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has a great view of the city. Also, this is where you can find the famous (or infamous) Kabukicho, where you can find bars and all forms of adult entertainment.
Ikebukuro Station: Second in size only to Shinjuku, here is another business district. This is a primary connection point to the northern areas of the vast Kanto plain and beyond. Directly outside the station is Sunshine City, an extensive entertainment hub and shopping area.
Akihabara Station: Also referred to as Electric Town, this is the mecca for anime culture, cosplay, and memorabilia. Once a key symbol for Japan’s cutting-edge electronics, in its current state its probably better at nostalgia.
As always when traveling in Japan, please consider your etiquette. Many Yamanote train-goers will suffer in silence when people talk too loud, cackle with bursts of laughter, or eat and drink. They may not speak out, but they are definitely unhappy with the swarms of tourists (and sometimes Japanese young people or drunk company workers) who don’t “read the air” and understand that they should refrain from causing annoyance to other members of society.
