Rail is the main mode of transportation in Tokyo, which has the best urban railway network in the world and the city’s Shinjuku Station is the world’s busiest station, with over 3.6 million passengers passing through daily.
The station, which was opened in 1885, has 36 different platforms, more than 200 exits and several hallways. Despite it being so big, it used to be one of the lesser-used stations in Japan.
It was only when the Keio and Odayku Lines opened in 1915 and 1923 that the traffic through the station increased.
The Keio Line is a 37.9 km railway line in western Tokyo, it connects Shinjuku with Hachioji, a suburban city.
The Odayku line is an 82.5km line from Shinjuku to the City of Odawara in the southwest suburbs.
Shinjuku Station is the main connecting hub for rail services between central/eastern Tokyo and Western Tokyo on the inter-city rail, suburban rail, and underground lines.
It is served by five different railway systems: JR East, Keio Corporation, Odakyu, Electric Railway, Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro. Multiple bus operators also connect at the station.
It also has multiple restaurants, shopping centres, and department stores, including Keio Department Store Shinjuku, which sells cosmetics, clothing, kids’ toys, homeware, and traditional Japanese goods.
There is also a Sky Garden, foreign currency exchange counters and the department store offers hotel and airport delivery services.