Takadanobaba: Astro Boy's Station Melody

Hear a famous cartoon theme on a busy Tokyo platform, then explore the student-friendly streets where Astro Boy is said to have been born.

Published October 22, 2026 at 12:48 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: At JR Takadanobaba Station on the Yamanote Line, the theme song of the Astro Boy anime plays as the departure melody before trains leave. It began in 2003 as a local tribute, because the story places Astro Boy's creation in Takadanobaba. Stand on Yamanote platforms 1 or 2 to hear it, then explore the murals, shops and student streets outside.

Takadanobaba is a lively station town in Shinjuku Ward, known for its universities, casual restaurants and an unexpected link to one of Japan's most beloved cartoon heroes. Many visitors come simply to hear the cheerful theme tune on the platform, and then discover that the neighborhood has far more character than they expected. This guide explains the melody, the Astro Boy connection, how to get there, and what to see once you step outside. It is an easy, low-cost stop for anime fans and for anyone curious about everyday Tokyo.

What the Astro Boy melody is

Takadanobaba Station on the JR Yamanote Line plays the theme song of the Astro Boy anime, known in Japan as Tetsuwan Atom, as the departure melody before trains pull out. A departure melody, called hassha melody in Japanese, is a short tune that signals that a train is about to leave, used instead of a bell or buzzer.

Wikipedia describes the melody as a tribute to the series being set in the Takadanobaba area. According to a Nippon.com article on station melodies, JR Takadanobaba became the first station to choose a melody reflecting its locality, in 2003. A local shopping association proposed the idea, and the tune is still played today.

The result is a small moment of fun in a busy commuter hub. Listen for it as trains depart, and you may see locals humming along without looking up from their phones.

Why Takadanobaba and Astro Boy go together

Astro Boy is the creation of Osamu Tezuka, often called the god of manga. The manga began serialization in 1952 in the magazine Shonen, and the 1963 anime premiered on Fuji TV on New Year's Day 1963 as the first domestically produced animated program on Japanese television, producing 193 episodes.

In the story, the robot boy is created by the head of a fictional Ministry of Science, and the manga gives his birthday as April 7. Takadanobaba adopted the story as a local legacy: the neighborhood is where Astro Boy is described as having been born, and Tezuka Productions, the studio Tezuka founded in 1968, has long been associated with the area.

Fans sometimes ask whether Astro Boy was really born here. He is a fictional character, so the answer is affectionate local storytelling rather than literal history, and that is part of the charm.

How to hear it at the station

The Yamanote Line platforms at Takadanobaba form an island platform with platforms 1 and 2. The Seibu Shinjuku Line uses platforms 3, 4 and 5, and the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line has its own platforms, so make sure you are on the JR side.

The easiest way to hear the melody is to enter the Yamanote Line gates, step onto the platform and wait for the next train. The tune plays shortly before departure, and it is brief, so be ready as soon as you hear the platform announcements. Chest-high platform edge doors were introduced on the Yamanote platform in December 2013, so you can wait safely behind them.

Please stay out of the way of commuters, avoid blocking stairs, and keep recording unobtrusive. A short, polite visit is all you need.

Getting there and what lines stop here

Takadanobaba is served by the Yamanote Line, the Seibu Shinjuku Line, and the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, where it is station T-03. The JR station opened in 1910. From Shinjuku, the Yamanote Line is a short ride in the direction of Ikebukuro, so it fits easily into a day of sightseeing.

Waseda University is the next stop on the Tozai Line, and the neighborhood has the busy, youthful energy that comes with students from several schools nearby. Rush hour is crowded, so a late morning or afternoon visit is more relaxed.

Fares and passes change, so check the operators' official sites before you travel.

Astro Boy murals and street details

Outside the station, Astro Boy murals have long welcomed visitors. Travel writers have described large murals near the station exit, and the lamp posts along Waseda Dori, the shopping street to the west, have featured portraits of Tezuka characters including Astro Boy, Princess Knight and Black Jack.

Details of street decorations can change with repairs and redevelopment, so treat these as things to look out for rather than guarantees. Even if a particular mural has changed, the neighborhood still carries Astro Boy references in its signs and shops.

The walk from the station to the shopping street takes only a few minutes, and it is a pleasant way to stretch your legs after the ride.

Sweets, shops and a snack stop

A local confectionery shop, Aoyagi, is listed on the Go Tokyo tourism site as a place that marked Astro Boy's story with manju, a type of Japanese sweet, shaped like Astro Boy and his sister. The shop is about a four-minute walk from the station and is described as accepting cash only, so bring some yen.

Opening hours and available sweets can change, so look at the official listing or call before you travel, especially if you want a specific item. It is also worth checking whether the shop is closed on Sundays, which the Go Tokyo listing indicates.

Near the station, the Big Box building holds a mix of shops, restaurants, an arcade and other conveniences, which makes it a handy place to rest between walks.

The older story behind the name

Takadanobaba has a history far older than its cartoon fame. The word baba means a horse-riding ground, and in 1636 the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu built one in this area. The name Takada was adopted partly to avoid confusion with another place name.

In 1694, Nakayama Yasubei, who later took the name Horibe Yasubei and became one of the celebrated forty-seven ronin, fought a well-known duel here. The event is remembered as the Takadanobaba duel and has appeared in Japanese stories and plays ever since.

So when you stand in the station plaza, you are on ground with layers of history, from samurai-era stories to a futuristic robot boy.

Student town vibes and an easy evening

The streets around the station are known for students from Waseda University and nearby colleges, so you will find inexpensive restaurants, izakaya (casual pubs) and cafes. Evenings are lively, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual.

It is a good place to see a different side of Tokyo from the big sightseeing districts. Choose a simple meal, enjoy the melody once more on your way back, and you will leave with a story to tell.

If you enjoy anime history, pair the visit with a look at other places linked to manga and anime, since many fans like to follow stories across the city.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japan Photo Book: Shinjuku, Akihabara, Shibuya is available on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What song plays at Takadanobaba Station?

The theme song of the Astro Boy anime, known in Japan as Tetsuwan Atom, plays as the departure melody on the JR Yamanote Line platform. It is a tribute to the character's connection to the area. It plays briefly before trains depart, so be ready when the platform announcements begin.

Why does Takadanobaba play the Astro Boy melody?

The Astro Boy story places the robot boy's creation in Takadanobaba, and the area has long been tied to creator Osamu Tezuka's studio. A local shopping association proposed the melody, and in 2003 the station became the first to pick a tune reflecting its locality, according to Nippon.com.

Which platform is best for hearing it?

Stand on Yamanote Line platforms 1 or 2, which form the island platform at JR Takadanobaba Station. The Seibu Shinjuku Line and the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line use separate platforms, so make sure you pass through the JR gates. Wait until a train is about to depart and listen for the short tune.

Further Reading

To explore further, see Takadanobaba Station, Takadanobaba neighborhood and Japan's fascination with train station melodies.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Train Announcements in Japan: Chimes and Melodies, The Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Loop Line and How to Ride It and Anime Pilgrimage: Visiting Real-Life Anime Locations.