Shinagawa (品川駅; -eki) is the first major station south of Tokyo Station and is a major interchange between the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, several JR commuter and regional lines as well as the private Keihin Kyūkō (京浜急行) line. Despite its name it is not located in Shinagawa Ward but just to the north in Minato Ward.

Lines

Shinagawa is served by the following lines:

• Keihin Kyūkō Keihin Kyūkō Main Line
• JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line
• JR Tōkaidō Main Line
• JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen
• JR Yamanote Line
• JR Yokosuka Line

The Keihin Kyūkō line platforms are on the western side of the station at a higher level than the JR platforms. Some Keihin Kyūkō trains terminate at Shinagawa while others continue on to join the Toei Asakusa underground (subway) line (都営地下鉄浅草線) at Sengakuji (泉岳寺駅).

The main JR station concourse is situated above the platfoms running east-west across the breadth of the station. A freely traversable walkway, providing a valuable pedestrian link between divides the restricted station areas into two sections. The southerly section contains a number of shops and market-style stalls.

JR platforms:

• 1, 2: Yamanote Line
• 3, 4: Keihin-Tōhoku Line
• 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12: Tōkaidō Main Line
• 13, 14: Yokosuka Line

Note that cross-platform interchange between the Yamanote and Keihin-Tōhoku lines is only available from the next station, Tamachi. Only two of the Tōkaidō Main Line platforms are in regular use, the others are only used occasionally by special services.

The Shinkansen platforms were opened on October 1, 2003, to relieve congestion at the Tokyo terminus. Platforms are on the east side of the station and are raised somewhat above the other platforms.

History

Shinagawa is one of Japan's oldest stations, opened in June 1872, four months before Shinbashi Station. Nothing remains of the original structure. Recently, in connection with the construction of the Shinkansen platforms, and also to improve access to the new commercial development "Shinagawa Intercity" (品川インターシティ, Link) on the eastern side of the station the station concourse (located above the platforms) has been extensively redeveloped.

Adjacent Stations