Tokyo Station Guide: Lockers, Shops and Tourist Services Inside the Station

Learn how Tokyo Station is organized, where the Marunouchi and Yaesu sides differ, and which lockers, information counters and food areas help most.

Published October 19, 2026 at 11:20 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Tokyo Station is Japan's main rail hub, opened in 1914, with a historic red-brick Marunouchi side on the west and a Shinkansen-focused Yaesu side on the east. The official guide lists about 5,000 coin lockers and a JR East travel service center for foreign visitors, and the station also has information counters, shopping streets and food areas inside and outside the ticket gates.

How the station is laid out

Tokyo Station is built around a long north-south line of raised platforms, with a wide concourse running east to west underneath. The official station guide counts 28 platforms in total and describes a floor area of roughly 182,000 square meters, which explains why first-time visitors often feel lost. The station has two sides: Marunouchi to the west and Yaesu to the east. Each side has its own North, Central and South exits, so a meeting point such as the Yaesu Central Exit is far more precise than saying simply that two people will meet at the station.

A useful habit is to learn which side your train uses before you arrive. Shinkansen platforms and the highway bus terminal sit on the Yaesu side, while the grand brick building people photograph faces Marunouchi. With so many platforms and lines, reading the sign above the platform matters more than remembering a platform number alone.

The Marunouchi side

The Marunouchi side is the face most people picture. Its red-brick station building opened in 1914, was damaged in the Second World War, and was restored in a five-year project finished in 2012. The restoration recreated the two domes to their original design. The building also houses a hotel and Tokyo Station Gallery, an art museum in the North Dome.

In front of the building lies a plaza leading toward the Imperial Palace East Gardens, a short walk from the Marunouchi Central Exit. This side suits sightseeing on foot, photos of the facade in the evening, and a stroll toward Ginza. It also has a cluster of shops and restaurants in the surrounding towers. Photographers often like the facade at dusk. Evenings are especially pleasant here, because the old building is lit up and the plaza is wide and open.

The Yaesu side

The Yaesu side faces east toward Nihonbashi and is the practical side for long-distance travel. The Shinkansen lines run here, and so does a large bus terminal. A glass-and-steel canopy called GranRoof, completed in 2013, links the station to the twin GranTokyo towers, and newer towers are still being added to the area, so signs and shop locations change over time.

Yaesu is also where the Tokyo Station / Yaesu Tourist Information Center operates, on the bus terminal floor of a tower beside the station. According to the Tokyo tourism board, it offers sightseeing, route and transportation information with materials in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. Opening hours can change, so check the official page on the day.

Lockers and left luggage

The official Tokyo Station City guide lists about 5,000 coin lockers and notes that they fill up on weekends and in busy seasons, so arriving early in the morning improves the odds of finding one. Lockers are scattered both outside and inside the ticket gates, and the guide includes a locker and baggage storage map and a way to check availability online.

When lockers are full, staffed storage is the alternative. The station guide lists baggage storage points such as a Shinkansen parcel and baggage counter outside the Yaesu South Gate and a cloak service in the underground GranSta area inside the gates. Some services for foreign visitors may also include luggage handling, but this changes, so ask or check the official pages. Sizes, fees and hours differ, so confirm them on the official page.

Tourist services and everyday needs

The official guide describes a JR East Travel Service Center that offers hospitality for visitors from abroad, and the station complex also has ticket offices, restrooms, information counters and other everyday facilities. The exact services and the location of the center can change with redevelopment, so the station map and the operator's official page are the safest references.

Visitors who hold a Japan Rail Pass exchange voucher can use the exchange counters near the Marunouchi North and Yaesu North exits, according to the national tourism organization. Reserved seats and Narita Express tickets are usually handled at ticket offices or machines. Staff at information counters can often point out the right gate for a given line, and the national tourism organization says the direct express train to Narita Airport takes around one hour.

Food and shopping areas

Food is a major reason people linger in Tokyo Station. Inside the ticket gates, an area called Ekinaka holds souvenir shops, bento counters and convenience stores. The national tourism organization notes that hundreds of boxed meals are sold near the Shinkansen gates, which is handy before a long ride.

Outside the gates, underground streets hold clusters of restaurants, including a ramen street and a kitchen street, and a character goods street with licensed items. Souvenirs and sweets cover a wide range of budgets, so there is a gift for most shoppers. Lines for popular stalls build up at midday, so early or late visits are calmer. Many food areas are open to anyone, not only train passengers, which makes the station a convenient meal stop even on a day without a train ride.

Tips for not getting lost

Start by choosing a landmark. The Marunouchi brick building and the Yaesu towers are visible from many points, and the underground passages link toward Otemachi and other subway stations. Follow signs by line color and by exit name, since a wrong side can mean a long walk around the building.

Station maps are posted at many points, and the official station guide also publishes maps online for planning ahead. Allow extra time on the first visit, especially with luggage, and give a transfer at least 15 to 20 minutes to be comfortable. A map from the station website or a tourist information counter helps, and larger bags are easier to manage if they are stored first, and a paper copy avoids any dependence on a phone battery or signal underground. If a plan involves a Shinkansen, find the Yaesu side first and then the ticket gate. This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can bags be left at Tokyo Station?

The official guide lists about 5,000 coin lockers outside and inside the ticket gates, and the station guide also lists staffed baggage storage points. Lockers fill up on busy days, so go early. Sizes, fees and hours vary, so check the official page.

Which side of Tokyo Station is Marunouchi and which is Yaesu?

Marunouchi is the west side, with the historic red-brick building restored in 2012. Yaesu is the east side, where the Shinkansen lines, the highway bus terminal and newer office and shopping towers are. Each side has North, Central and South exits.

Is there an information center for foreign visitors?

Yes. The official guide lists a JR East Travel Service Center for visitors from abroad, and the Tokyo tourism board lists an information center on the Yaesu side with materials in several languages. Both can help with sightseeing and route questions. Hours and locations can change, so check the official pages first.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Tokyo Info Guide is available on Amazon.

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