Tokyo Station isn't just a transportation hub; it's a must-visit attraction in Tokyo. Read on to find out why.
Intro
Few places showcase Tokyo’s contrasts like Tokyo Station - and if you’re visiting the city with your Japan Rail Pass, it’s very likely you’ll pass through this historic complex. Though it may not be the busiest in terms of daily passengers, the station is a part of the city’s identity—a cultural relic sitting proudly in Chiyoda Ward. Opened in 1914 and rebuilt following the devastation of World War II, its western red brick Marunouchi facade faces the Imperial Palace, while the sleek glass eastern facing Yaesu side (pictured below) looks to Ginza. Together, the two sides form a dialogue between Tokyo’s past and future, telling the story of what has been preserved and what the city has become today. In our latest post here at JRPass, we’ll delve into that fascinating history so you can plan your own visit to this unique station. 
From Blueprint to Landmark
The idea for Tokyo Station dates back to the Meiji era (1868-1912), when Tokyo’s rapid expansion necessitated a new terminal between its northern and southwestern lines as part of a unified rail network. Originally called “Central Station,” early designs by German engineers Franz Baltzer and Hermann Rumschottel were heavily inspired by traditional Japanese architectural style. However, responsibility for designing the station ultimately fell to Kingo Tatsuno, a man later called the “father of modern Japanese architecture.” Taking his cue from the emperor, who wasn’t exactly happy with Baltzer’s design, Tatsuno insisted on a more Western-style red brick structure with a white stone trim. He submitted his first draft in 1904, but construction was delayed by the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War. When it finally began in 1908, Tatsuno was given a larger budget (somewhere around 2.8 million yen), as part of a campaign to improve the country’s national standing, and his final draft submitted in 1910 featured a much larger, three-story station with ornate domed towers.
Six years later, Tokyo Station officially opened on December 20, 1914, with four platforms—two serving newer electric trains and two for steam engines. Its opening also marked an end to passenger service at Shinbashi Station, which had served as Tokyo’s first railway terminal since 1872. Tokyo Station’s opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, the Mayor of Tokyo, Minister of Railways, and Mitsuomi Kamio, a war hero who had overseen the Japanese capture of the German port of Tsingtao just a month prior.
The Station’s Grand Hotel
Opened in November 1915, just months after the station’s debut, the elegant Tokyo Station Hotel (on the Marunouchi side) was designed by Tatsuno’s apprentice, Manji Kasai. The hotel’s European interior—which featured high ceilings, arched windows, and parquet flooring—was unlike anything Tokyo had seen before and it quickly became a gathering place for Japan’s elite.
Though it suffered heavy damage during the air raids of 1945 and temporarily closed from 2006 to 2012, the 56-room hotel has since been restored to its original grandeur. And, a single night will set you back around 40,000 yen.
Forgotten Tragedies
Tokyo Station’s role in Japanese history didn’t end with its opening to the public. Rather, in the years that followed, the station bore silent witness to several historical events, including the 1921 assassination of Prime Minister Takashi Hara, who was fatally stabbed when he arrived to board a train for Kyoto. Hara was Japan’s first common-born and Christian prime minister, and his death marked a sobering moment in the nation’s early experiment with democratic government.
A few years later, in 1930, another assassin shot Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi as he was walking towards the Tsubame express train in Tokyo Station. Although, he survived the attack, Hamaguchi later died of his wounds the following year.
Today, a bronze plaque near the ticket vending machines outside the station’s Marunouchi South Entrance marks the site of Hara’s assassination. It’s easy to miss, but there’s also a single white tile, distinct from the surrounding floor pattern, marking the exact spot where he was stabbed. 
Moving into the station itself, a similar bronze plaque and shuriken-like floor marking close to the gates for the Shinkansen indicate the spot where Hamaguchi was attacked.
Resilience Amid Ruin
When the Great Kanto Earthquake struck in 1923, nearly half of Tokyo was reduced to ash as fire consumed much of the city. Worse still, across the Kanto Region, more than 140,000 people were killed, about 2.5 million were left homeless, and nearly the entirety of Yokohama lay in ruins. Yet, remarkably, Tokyo Station’s red brick walls endured, meaning it was quite literally one of only a few symbols of modern Japan left standing and would go on to provide shelter to thousands of evacuees.
Unfortunately, much of the station was then heavily damaged in the bombing of Tokyo during World War II, which destroyed its iconic rooftop domes and most of the third floor. Reconstruction of building was complete by 1947, but only two of the original three floors were restored and the original domes were replaced with simple, angular roofs. These post-war alterations are commonly blamed for creating an impression that Tokyo Station’s design was based off Amsterdam Central Station.
Although there was a suggestion to demolish the Marunouchi side of the building in the 1980s, the station was eventually designated an important cultural property in 2003 and fully restored in 2012.
Birthplace of the Shinkansen
Just a day before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, Japan’s first Shinkansen (or bullet train), the Tokaido Line, which connects Tokyo to Osaka, pulled out from Tokyo Station on October 1, 1964. Cutting travel time from nearly seven hours to around four, the Shinkansen was the world’s first high-speed rail service and Tokyo Station, in many ways, became its launchpad.
What’s more, being within walking distance of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station is also where a number of “royal trains” have operated. Known as “Omeshi Ressha,” these trains are reserved for exclusive use by the Emperor, Empress, and other members of the Japanese royal family. Tokyo Station was even partially built with this purpose in mind, having special waiting rooms and platforms to accommodate their discreet passage.
Over time, however, use of Omeshi Ressha became less frequent, with air travel being seen as more convenient and secure. That being said, the first use of Omeshi Ressha in the Reiwa era occurred in 2019, when the Emperor Naruhito departed Tokyo Station for an event in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Hidden Art Gallery
Tokyo Station also has an art gallery, which first opened in 1988. Temporarily closed in 2006 and reopened following renovations in 2012, Tokyo Station Gallery has no permanent collection, but instead hosts four or five rotating exhibitions. It is also the only place you can see both the original red-brick walls and steel framework of the station’s interior.
Dining Below the Tracks
Within Tokyo Station there’s essentially a mini city: from Tokyo Ramen Street to Kitchen Street, Japan Gourmet Street, Yaesu Shopping Mall, and the sprawling Gransta complex, you can find pretty much anything you want. On Ramen Street (Yaesu side, B1 level), you can try traditional shoyu (soy sauce) or shio (salt) ramen, or maybe something more contemporary, like three-cheese maze soba? Kitchen Street has everything from old-school izakayas and modern sushi houses, to dessert places featuring some of Japan’s top confectioners. Meanwhile, Japan Gourmet Street (also known as “Nippon, Gourmet Highway”) sells regional foods from all over Japan. Yaesu Shopping Mall is one of the largest underground shopping malls in Japan, while Gransta boasts nearly 180 different shops, luggage storage, currency exchanges, and other services.
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So, the next time you’re at Tokyo Station, consider stopping for a bit to explore. This station is so much more than just a transit hub. It really is a destination in its own right.
Bonus Recommendations
For more on visiting Tokyo and getting around by train, check out the further reading below:
- Tokyo makes a great base for day trips to other destinations in Japan using the Japan Rail Pass thanks to its incredible transport connections. Find out more in our guide to The Best Day Trips from Tokyo.
- For more on IC cards, check out our Top 30 Tips for Using Japan’s Metros for advice and guidance on using the city’s subway network.
- Tokyo is BIG!! As such, it’s a smart idea to invest in PocketWifi to stay connected and avoid any unwanted data charges if you happen to need directions or language advice while you’re on the move.
- Need a helping hand on arrival? Our dedicated Meet and Greet Service is like having a personal assistant for your holiday who happens to be an expert on Japan. We’ll take care of you from the moment you arrive in Japan.
- If you’re exploring a huge city like Tokyo during your first time in Japan, it could feel a little daunting. That’s why we’ve put together our Top Ten Tips for First Time Visitors in Japan.
