JAPANLIFE GUIDE
SOS

Transport

How to Transfer Between Trains in Japan

Find the line symbols and transfer options for JR, subways, and private railways in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.

local trainIC cardtransfer

Start with this

For transfers, check whether the next line is the same company and whether you must exit the gate

Show this in Japanese

Official information checked: 2026-09-01

Transfer Between Local Trains

Find the main railway companies and line symbols used in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. When you change companies, you may need to pass through a separate gate.

The round badges on this page are simplified line-code guides. At the station, match the railway company, line code and colour, station number (for example, G09 or JY01), and destination together.

Choose an area

Local trains in Tokyo

The main networks are JR East, Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway. Match the operator and line symbol at the station.

Trains and railway companies

JRJR EastLook for the green JR mark and the line name. Common stations include Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ueno.
JY

Yamanote Line (JY)

Tokyo, Ueno, Akihabara, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shinagawa in a loop

Tokyo · Ueno · Akihabara · Shinjuku · Shibuya · Shinagawa

JC

Chuo Line (Rapid) (JC)

Tokyo, Ochanomizu, Shinjuku, Kichijoji, and Tachikawa

Tokyo · Ochanomizu · Shinjuku · Kichijoji

JK

Keihin-Tohoku Line (JK)

Omiya, Ueno, Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Yokohama

Ueno · Tokyo · Shinagawa · Yokohama

JS

Shonan-Shinjuku Line (JS)

Ohsaki, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Omiya, Yokohama, Utsunomiya, and Takasaki

Shibuya · Shinjuku · Ikebukuro · Yokohama

JA

Saikyo / Kawagoe Line (JA)

Ohsaki, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Omiya, and Kawagoe

Shibuya · Shinjuku · Ikebukuro · Omiya

JB

Chuo-Sobu Line (Local) (JB)

Mitaka, Nakano, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Kinshicho, and Nishi-Funabashi

Shinjuku · Ochanomizu · Akihabara · Kinshicho

JO

Sobu Rapid / Yokosuka Line (JO)

Tokyo, Shimbashi, Shinagawa, Kinshicho, Chiba, Yokohama, and Kamakura

Tokyo · Shimbashi · Shinagawa · Kinshicho

JE

Keiyo Line (JE)

Tokyo, Hatchobori, Shin-kiba, Maihama, and Soga

Tokyo · Shin-kiba · Maihama

JJ

Joban Line (Rapid) (JJ)

Ueno, Nippori, Kita-senju, Matsudo, and Kashiwa

Ueno · Nippori · Kita-senju

JL

Joban Line (Local) (JL)

Ayase, Kita-senju, Matsudo, Shin-Matsudo, and Toride

Kita-senju · Matsudo · Shin-Matsudo

JU

Utsunomiya / Takasaki / Ueno-Tokyo Line (JU)

Ueno and Tokyo to Omiya, Utsunomiya, Takasaki, and Kumagaya

Ueno · Tokyo · Omiya

JT

Tokaido Line (JT)

Tokyo, Shinagawa, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Odawara, and Atami

Tokyo · Shinagawa · Yokohama

MTokyo MetroLook for colored circular line symbols and station numbers. Transfers may require a walk to another platform even within the same network.
G

Ginza Line (G)

Shibuya, Omote-sando, Ginza, Ueno, and Asakusa

Shibuya · Ginza · Asakusa

M

Marunouchi Line (M)

Ogikubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Ginza, and Ikebukuro

Shinjuku · Tokyo · Ginza · Ikebukuro

H

Hibiya Line (H)

Naka-meguro, Roppongi, Ginza, Akihabara, and Ueno

Roppongi · Ginza · Akihabara · Ueno

T

Tozai Line (T)

Nakano, Takadanobaba, Otemachi, Nihombashi, Urayasu, and Nishi-Funabashi

Takadanobaba · Otemachi · Nihombashi · Urayasu

C

Chiyoda Line (C)

Yoyogi-uehara, Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku), Omote-sando, Otemachi, Kita-senju, and Ayase

Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku) · Omote-sando · Otemachi · Kita-senju

Y

Yurakucho Line (Y)

Wakoshi, Ikebukuro, Yurakucho, Toyosu, and Shin-kiba

Ikebukuro · Yurakucho · Toyosu · Shin-kiba

Z

Hanzomon Line (Z)

Shibuya, Omote-sando, Nagatacho, Otemachi, Kinshicho, and Oshiage

Shibuya · Omote-sando · Otemachi · Kinshicho · Oshiage

N

Namboku Line (N)

Meguro, Shirokane-takanawa, Roppongi-itchome, Iidabashi, Komagome, and Akabane-iwabuchi

Meguro · Roppongi-itchome · Iidabashi · Komagome

F

Fukutoshin Line (F)

Wakoshi, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku-sanchome, Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku), and Shibuya

Ikebukuro · Shinjuku-sanchome · Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku) · Shibuya

ToeiToei SubwayLook for the Toei mark and the symbol for each line. Asakusa Line is useful for Haneda and Narita areas; Oedo Line serves Roppongi and Tsukijishijo.
A

Asakusa Line (A)

Nishimagome, Shimbashi, Asakusa, and Oshiage

Shimbashi · Asakusa · Oshiage

E

Oedo Line (E)

Tochomae, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Tsukijishijo, and Ueno-okachimachi

Shinjuku · Roppongi · Tsukijishijo

I

Mita Line (I)

Meguro, Shirokane-takanawa, Mita, Hibiya, Sugamo, and Nishi-takashimadaira

Meguro · Mita · Hibiya · Sugamo

S

Shinjuku Line (S)

Shinjuku, Ichigaya, Jimbocho, Bakuro-yokoyama, Morishita, and Motoyawata

Shinjuku · Ichigaya · Jimbocho · Morishita

TOKYUTokyu RailwaysA private network from Shibuya, Meguro, and Gotanda toward Yokohama, Futako-tamagawa, and Jiyugaoka. Look for station codes such as TY and DT.
TY

Toyoko Line (TY)

Shibuya, Naka-meguro, Jiyugaoka, Musashi-kosugi, and Yokohama

Shibuya · Naka-meguro · Jiyugaoka · Yokohama

DT

Den-en-toshi Line (DT)

Shibuya, Sangen-jaya, Futako-tamagawa, Mizonokuchi, and Chuo-rinkan

Shibuya · Sangen-jaya · Futako-tamagawa

MG

Meguro Line (MG)

Meguro, Musashi-koyama, Ookayama, Musashi-kosugi, and Hiyoshi

Meguro · Ookayama · Musashi-kosugi

OM

Oimachi Line (OM)

Oimachi, Jiyugaoka, Futako-tamagawa, and Mizonokuchi

Oimachi · Jiyugaoka · Futako-tamagawa

IK

Ikegami Line (IK)

Gotanda, Hatanodai, Ikegami, and Kamata

Gotanda · Ikegami · Kamata

TM

Tokyu Tamagawa Line (TM)

Tamagawa, Musashi-nitta, and Kamata

Tamagawa · Kamata

SG

Setagaya Line (SG)

Sangen-jaya, Setagaya, and Shimo-takaido

Sangen-jaya · Setagaya · Shimo-takaido

SH

Tokyu Shin-yokohama Line (SH)

Shin-yokohama, Shin-tsunashima, and Hiyoshi

Shin-yokohama · Hiyoshi

ODAKYUOdakyu Electric RailwayA private network from Shinjuku toward Shimokitazawa, Machida, Enoshima, and Hakone. Romancecar limited express trains need an extra ticket.
OH

Odawara Line (OH)

Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, Noborito, Machida, and Odawara

Shinjuku · Shimokitazawa · Noborito · Machida

OE

Enoshima Line (OE)

Sagamiono, Yamato, Fujisawa, and Katase-enoshima

Sagamiono · Fujisawa · Katase-enoshima

OT

Tama Line (OT)

Shin-yurigaoka, Odakyu-tama-center, and Karakida

Shin-yurigaoka · Odakyu-tama-center

KEIOKeio CorporationA private network from Shinjuku and Shibuya toward Mt. Takao, Chofu, and Kichijoji. Look for KO and IN station numbers.
KO

Keio / Takao / Sagamihara Lines (KO)

Shinjuku, Meidaimae, Chofu, Takaosanguchi, and Hashimoto

Shinjuku · Meidaimae · Chofu · Takaosanguchi

IN

Inokashira Line (IN)

Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Meidaimae, and Kichijoji

Shibuya · Shimokitazawa · Kichijoji

AIRPORTKeisei and KeikyuKey private railways for Narita and Haneda airports. Always check that the destination display includes the correct airport.
KS

Keisei Main / Narita Sky Access Line (KS)

Keisei-Ueno, Nippori, Aoto, and Narita Airport

Nippori · Aoto · Narita Airport

KK

Keikyu Main / Airport Line (KK)

Shinagawa, Keikyu-kamata, and Haneda Airport Terminal 1·2

Shinagawa · Keikyu-kamata · Haneda Airport

PRIVATESeibu and Tobu RailwaysPrivate railways from Ikebukuro, Asakusa, and Shinjuku toward Kawagoe, Chichibu, and Nikko. Check the operator for your destination.
SI

Seibu Ikebukuro Line (SI)

Ikebukuro, Nerima, Tokorozawa, and Hanno

Ikebukuro · Nerima · Tokorozawa

SS

Seibu Shinjuku Line (SS)

Seibu-shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Tokorozawa, and Hon-kawagoe

Seibu-shinjuku · Takadanobaba · Tokorozawa

TS

Tobu Skytree Line (TS)

Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Kita-senju, and Kasukabe

Asakusa · Tokyo Skytree · Kita-senju

TJ

Tobu Tojo Line (TJ)

Ikebukuro, Wakoshi, Kawagoe, and Shinrinkoen

Ikebukuro · Wakoshi · Kawagoe

CITYOther Tokyo Urban RailFor Odaiba, Toyosu, Asakusa, and the Narita Airport area, you may use an urban railway other than JR or the subway. Check both the operator and destination.
R

Rinkai Line (R)

Osaki, Tennozu Isle, Tokyo Teleport, Kokusai-tenjijo, and Shin-kiba

Osaki · Tokyo Teleport · Kokusai-tenjijo · Shin-kiba

U

Yurikamome (U)

Shimbashi, Toyosu Market, Ariake, Odaiba-kaihinkoen, and Toyosu

Shimbashi · Toyosu Market · Ariake · Odaiba

TX

Tsukuba Express (TX)

Akihabara, Shin-okachimachi, Asakusa, Kita-senju, and Tsukuba

Akihabara · Asakusa · Kita-senju

MO

Tokyo Monorail (MO)

Hamamatsucho, Tennozu Isle, Haneda Airport Terminal 3, and Haneda Airport Terminal 1

Hamamatsucho · Haneda Airport

NT

Nippori-Toneri Liner (NT)

Nippori, Kumanomae, Toneri-koen, and Minumadai-shinsuikoen

Nippori · Kumanomae · Toneri-koen

SA

Tokyo Sakura Tram (SA)

Waseda, Kishibojin-mae, Otsuka-eki-mae, Oji-eki-mae, and Minowabashi

Waseda · Otsuka-eki-mae · Oji-eki-mae

Useful Japanese phrases

How to Transfer Between Trains in Japan

この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。

Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.

I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.

Station or facility

すみません、どこに行けばいいですか。

Sumimasen, doko ni ikeba ii desu ka.

Excuse me, where should I go?

Article updated:

Review status: Provisional translation

Editing and verification

Editorial responsibility: JAPAN LIFE GUIDE editorial team

We turn official information into practical next steps for travellers. Source-check dates are shown beside references and are separate from article updates.

Editorial policy and contact

Share this guide