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The Yamanote Line (山手線) 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 Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro
with all but six of its 29 stations connecting with other railway or underground
(subway) lines. It is operated by JR East.
Trains run from about 4:30 am to about 1:20 am at intervals of 2.5 minutes at
peak time. A complete loop takes 61 to 65 minutes. All trains stop at each station.
Trains are put into and taken out of service at Ōsaki (which for timetabling
purposes is the line's start and terminus) and sometimes Ikebukuro.
commuter lines. Running as a circle, it connects most of Tokyo's major stations
and urban centres including the Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro
with all but six of its 29 stations connecting with other railway or underground
(subway) lines. It is operated by JR East.
Trains run from about 4:30 am to about 1:20 am at intervals of 2.5 minutes at
peak time. A complete loop takes 61 to 65 minutes. All trains stop at each station.
Trains are put into and taken out of service at Ōsaki (which for timetabling
purposes is the line's start and terminus) and sometimes Ikebukuro.
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Trains which run clockwise are known as "soto-mawari" (外回り, outer circle) and
counter-clockwise as "uchi-mawari" (内回り, inner circle).
The Yamanote Line is the only major line in Tokyo which does not have any
through-running services to other lines.
The line also acts as a fare zone destination for JR tickets from locations outside
Tokyo, permitting travel to any JR station on or within the loop.
counter-clockwise as "uchi-mawari" (内回り, inner circle).
The Yamanote Line is the only major line in Tokyo which does not have any
through-running services to other lines.
The line also acts as a fare zone destination for JR tickets from locations outside
Tokyo, permitting travel to any JR station on or within the loop.
History
The Yamanote Line originated in 1885 with the construction of the Shinagawa
line between Shinagawa and Akabane, bypassing the then built up areas and
providing the first north-south rail link through Tokyo. The top part of the loop
between Ikebukuro and Tabata was completed in 1903 (known as the Toshima
line, 豊島線) and in 1909 following electrification both lines were merged to
become the Yamanote Line.
The complete loop was only completed in 1925 with the opening of the section of
track between Kanda and Ueno, providing a north-south link via Tokyo station
through the city's centre. The contemporary Yamanote Line came into being in
1956 when it was separated from the Keihin-Tōhoku Line and was given its own
set of tracks along the eastern side of the loop between Shinagawa and Tabata.
As of 2005, the Yamanote Line carries on average 3.55 million passengers a
day, or 1.3 billion a year.
Trivia
The New York City Subway carries 4.8 million passengers per day on 26 lines
serving 468 stations. In contrast, 3.5 million passengers ride every day on
Tokyo's Yamanote Line, which serves only 29 stations.
Stations
Below are more details about the stations of the Yamanote Line starting and
ending at Shinjuku in their actual, counter-clockwise order:
The Yamanote Line originated in 1885 with the construction of the Shinagawa
line between Shinagawa and Akabane, bypassing the then built up areas and
providing the first north-south rail link through Tokyo. The top part of the loop
between Ikebukuro and Tabata was completed in 1903 (known as the Toshima
line, 豊島線) and in 1909 following electrification both lines were merged to
become the Yamanote Line.
The complete loop was only completed in 1925 with the opening of the section of
track between Kanda and Ueno, providing a north-south link via Tokyo station
through the city's centre. The contemporary Yamanote Line came into being in
1956 when it was separated from the Keihin-Tōhoku Line and was given its own
set of tracks along the eastern side of the loop between Shinagawa and Tabata.
As of 2005, the Yamanote Line carries on average 3.55 million passengers a
day, or 1.3 billion a year.
Trivia
The New York City Subway carries 4.8 million passengers per day on 26 lines
serving 468 stations. In contrast, 3.5 million passengers ride every day on
Tokyo's Yamanote Line, which serves only 29 stations.
Stations
Below are more details about the stations of the Yamanote Line starting and
ending at Shinjuku in their actual, counter-clockwise order:
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