Anyone spending even the smallest amount of time in Tokyo would know the rail system here is extensive to say the least. For me, living in Yoyogi, the JR Yamanote Line, is the easiest and the line i use most when getting out and about on the weekends. I haven’t fallen asleep on the train for quite a while but if you were to fall asleep and miss your station this is the one to do it on, it’s a continuous loop.
The Yamanote Line (山手線 Yamanote-sen) of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is one of Tokyo’s busiest and most important commuter lines. Running as a circle, it connects most of Tokyo’s major stations and urban centres including the Yūrakuchō area, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro with all but two of its 29 stations connecting with other railway or underground (subway) lines.
Having said it’s my most frequently used i neglected to say it’s the same places visited each time, Shibuya, Harajuku and occasionally Akihabara. So in an effort to see more of the 29 suburbs the live services i’ve decided to visit each one over the course of the next 12 months, hopefully 1 each weekend.
I had originally thought of doing it in a clockwise direction however i’ve re jigged my plan t do it alphabetically …. so the first cab off the rank is Akihabara.
I had a false start with Akihabara today having made my way out there only to realise my Canon Camera was almost flat, i’ll try again next week. What you can expect when i head back out there with a charged camera is hopefully a few idol sightings, bikes with big handle bars and a television built in to the back of it, lots of technology and youths in cosplay entertaining the passers by.
OK, so now i’ve revised the post on the 5th of March to include the order in which i’ll visit the stations, here it is;
Akihabara, Ebisu, Gotanda, Hamamatsucho, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Kanda, Komagome, Meguro, Mejiro, Nippori, Nishi-Nippori, Okachimachi, Osaki, Otsuka, Shibuya, Shimbashi, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Shin-Okubo, Sugamo, Tabata, Takadanobaba, Tamachi, Tokyo, Ueno, Uguisudani, Yoyogi, Yurakucho
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Great idea Neil! I’ll look forward to your posts and the accompanying photos.
Sounds like a smashing plan! If you could make your Ikebukuro visit on a Thursday / Friday I could meet you.
Actually, I could meet you at ANY of the stations if it was a Thursday / Friday (my regular days off). What do you say?
Thursday and Fridays i’m hard at work unfortunately … well physically at work at least … so it’s Saturdays or Sundays only for me, if i do get the chance tpo go mid week i’ll let you know though.
Sure, keep it in mind,let me know a week before hand and I’ll be there.
Some of my family who ever been to Japan told me about the sophisticated Japan’s technology, including the tranportation system. I want to be there and see it myself. Please tell to us about your experience visiting the suburbs…
It will be my pleasure.
If you really wanna see all the stations on the yamanote line, then do the walk with us in June. Last year, myself and Mari from Watashi to Tokyo blog walked the Yamanote loop in 12 hours on a saturday. Watch her blog or mine and you can join us this year!
Thanks Gabuchan …. that’s a fair effort walking that far! I might even be up for it you never know …. it certainly would be a good way to see it, a little more strenuous than taking the train though!
Hi Neil,
what a great idea to visit all yamanote stations!
I might do that to when i’m back in japan this year, this way i gotta know a bit more places in tokyo.
Looking forward to hear from your visits.
jya
In only 128 more sleeps i see.
LOL, yeah! I don’t know if it was a good idea to place a countdown on my blog… kind of reminds me every day “how long” i have to wait till i’m back in tokyo.
Ahh the Yamanote line. One time I was trying to get to Shibuya and I was two stops away. I made a mistake and got on the wrong train. I ended up taking 30 minutes to get there. And I thought I knew Japanese plus I am from NYC…..I look forward to getting back out there though.