Tokyo Station Area Guide

Contents

• Location
• Key Stats
• Orientation Around the Station
• Livability
• Useful Info at a Glance
• Tokyo Station Apartments

Location

Tokyo Station is found just east of the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. There’s almost no comparison to this centrally located, powerhouse of a business district. Everything else in Tokyo is merely located around Tokyo Station from a historical standpoint. Since Tokyo Station is positioned towards the eastern edge of Chiyoda Ward, much of the area blends seamlessly into neighboring Chuo Ward areas like Ginza and Nihombashi. Moving south, you’ll reach Minato Ward. North of Tokyo Station lies Taito Ward.

With the size of the station and the towering skyscrapers lining the streets, it can be a little overwhelming when arriving at Tokyo Station for your first time. There are plenty of Information Centers in the station with (usually) bilingual staff that can help point you in the right direction if you get lost.

Most of the area around the station is commercial, retail, or part of the Imperial Palace. But, there are options for those who must live close to Tokyo Station.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Tokyo

Apartments For Rent in Tokyo

Train Lines

Accessibility

Orientation Around the Station

There’s no getting around it, Tokyo Station is massive. In most basic terms: the Yaesu exits will point east towards Nihombashi and other business areas in Chuo Ward, and the Marunouchi exits will point you west towards the Imperial Palace.

Tokyo Station: Spanning the Eras of Modern Japanese History

The Tokyo Station that you see today might not be exactly how it was built back in 1914 (or the 3rd year of the Taisho period). We can safely assume that large LCD TVs, ticketless gates, and touchscreen maps weren’t part of the initial building plans. However, a lot of the character of the original building has stood the test of time and 4 periods of Japanese history (Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and now Reiwa).

The going hasn’t always been smooth for this mainstay, iconic Tokyo fixture. Much of the building was destroyed in bombing during World War II, and there was even talk of demolishing the building to rebuild a newer, more modern station in the 1980s.

In 2012, renovations completed on the Marunouchi side of the station. Over a five year renovation process, the building was restored to its former glory. If you head around the station to the Yaesu side, you’ll see a very side of Tokyo. This side is much more sleek and modern in comparison, the last renovations to the Yaesu side completed in 2015 and feature a massive canopy that covers a modern shopping plaza that includes the DAIMARU department store along with modern izakaya (Japanese bars) and restaurants.

Marunouchi: The Inner Circle

The Japanese name for the section of Tokyo that lies just outside the Imperial Palace’s moat is marunouchi (丸の内). Which, translated literally, means “inside the circle” and refers to the very central location of this section of Tokyo. It’s here where you’ll find the financial district which is home to the three largest banks in Japan (Sumitomo Mitsui, Mitsubishi UFJ Group, and Mizuho).

There is a level of prestige that comes with working in the Marunouchi area as it is certainly known by name by practically all Tokyoites. The cost to live nearby in Chiyoda Ward, and parts of Chuo Ward, can be quite high, but the number of train lines serviced by Tokyo Station make it quite easy to commute into.

Marunouchi Building and Shin-Marunouchi Building

If you step outside the Marunouchi exits of Tokyo Station, you’re going to be greeted with to the sight of the Marunouchi Building and the Shin-Marunouchi Building. Although originally built in 1923 and 1952 respectively, these building have been redesigned and rebuilt (renovations completed in 2002 and 2007, respectively). Connected via underground passage to Tokyo Station and other buildings in the area, these cornerstones of the Marunouchi area are home to offices, commercial space, restaurants, and more.

Torch Tower

On September 17, 2020, Mitsubishi Estate Co. announced that it plans to start construction in 2023 of what will become Japan’s tallest skyscraper, which is slated for completion in 2027.

The project is part of a large-scale development block called Tokyo Torch, which will be located at the north side of JR Tokyo Station. The new building will have 63 above-ground stories above ground, with total floor space of about 540,000 square meters.

The landmark’s lower floors will accommodate commercial facilities and a hall with a rooftop garden that measures some 2,500 square meters. A luxury hotel will take up the upper floors, with about 100 guest rooms. The middle floors will be occupied by offices.

The observation deck on the top area will be more than 350 meters high, making it taller than Tokyo Tower (which is about 332.9-meters).

Currently, the tallest skyscraper in Japan is the 300-meter-tall Abeno Harukas building, located in Osaka’s Abeno Ward

Accommodations

As a major hub for transportation, business, and entertainment, Tokyo Station offers a variety of hotels for those looking to stay in the area while visiting.

• Marunouchi Hotel
• Hotel Ryumeikan
• Palace Hotel Tokyo
• The Tokyo Station Hotel
• Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi

The above are examples of hotels very close to the station. This is barely scratching the surface of what you can find in the area, though.

Eating

The question around Tokyo Station becomes “What can’t I eat around here?” since there are just so many places to grab a bite. Many buildings have restaurants located in basement floors, and every department store will usually have at least one floor dedicated to eateries.

Livability

Tokyo Station offers extremely convenient transportation options – not only at Tokyo Station itself, but the nearby stations also give residents access to many subway lines. However this is a classic example of the urban convenience vs natural scenery and space debate.

The convenience factors are off the charts around Tokyo Station, and if you need to, you can take a train ride out to anywhere in Tokyo very easily. But for those thinking about raising a family, there are a lot of advantages to being located in the suburbs away from the fast-pace city life of downtown Tokyo. You might be interested in areas around Minato Ward and Setagaya Ward if you are looking to stay close to the city, but also in a residential neighborhood with family-friendly features.

Depending on your personal fitness program, living near the Imperial Palace can be a huge benefit. The distance of one lap around the Imperial Palace is roughly 5 km, which makes it quite popular with joggers, runners, and cyclists. Nearby Asics Run Tokyo Marunouchi is a running-oriented shoe store where you can rent shoes and use the shower facilities as well – very convenient for those looking to do a quick run around the palace.

Useful Info at a Glance

Supermarkets

*This is just a selection of supermarkets in the area.

Gyms

*These are just examples of gyms available in the area.

Ward Office, Police, Library

Clinics

*These are examples of clinics in the area.

Parks

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Tokyo Station Apartments

Apartments for rent near Tokyo Station:

• Tokyo Station apartments
• Yurakucho Station apartments
• Kanda Station apartments
• Shinbashi Station apartments
• Hatchobori Station apartments
• Kayabacho Station apartments

Tokyo Station and the area around it exist primarily as commercial and retail property. That’s just the way it is in this section of Chiyoda Ward. For those who live a very career-driven lifestyle, Tokyo Station is a powerful ally to have for getting around all the business districts in Tokyo. Even mentioning in passing that you live in Chiyoda Ward is often enough to pique curiosity of others. But, is this location the right fit for you? Browse the listings on our website to get an idea of what you can find in the area. 1K apartments near Tokyo Station start at around 100,000 per month, which might be worth it for those factoring in a much shorter commute.

Apartments For Rent in Tokyo

Where should you live in Tokyo? Check out all our Tokyo Area Guides to find the perfect place!

Lead photo: Tokyo Station and the many tracks leading to it – Scott Kouchi