Japan in Motion---Pro-web casting from across Japan.

TokyoStation

Not surprisingly, Tokyo Station is a main terminus for most (but not all) Shinkansen lines entering the city. It also handles a large number of local and regional Japan Rail lines and connects to the Tokyo Subway system. Like most large railway stations in Japan, it has an extensive underground network of small shops and restaurants, good for souvenirs and occasional bargains, but also easy to get lost in.

The Station is in the city’s Maunouchi district, not far from the Imperial Palace Grounds. Tokyo Station is a handsome old building with a brick facade done in a western style. It was designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo and finished in 1914. The persistent story that he modeled the building on Amsterdam’s main rail station, still repeated in some guidebooks, is probably false. The original building was a three story structure known for its impressive domed roof of glass. The dome was destroyed during World War II, and the newer angled roof was built afterward, with the number of stories reduced to two.

At present, extensive redevelopment of the Station is underway, with most work slated for completion in 2010.

>>Map
Central Tokyo & JR Yamanote line map>>Click here to view.

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JAPAN RAIL PASS (English, Korean, Chinese, French, German)

Travelers who will be using trains extensively in Japan should consider a JR Japan Rail Pass. The pass will save train travelers a great deal of money, but must be purchased from outside Japan via a travel agent.

-Matt Mangham