Shinagawa (品 川) is a district of the city of Tokyo.
To know
It is one of the 23 wards of central Tokyo and is also one of the main railway stations in the south-central of the capital.
Shinagawa is not a particular destination - rather a transit area, particularly when traveling to or from western Tokyo, or a place to live or stay, thanks to excellent transport links. However, there are a large number of services and some tourist attractions. It is a good place to stay, or stop for food or drink at the beginning or end of a trip, but otherwise there is no reason to come here.
Geographical notes
Although Shinagawa is a district of Tokyo, the Shinagawa station falls administratively in Minato: Shinagawa is located southwest of its station, in the area of Gotanda is Osaki on the Yamanote line, which surrounds Ōimachi on the Keihin-Tohoku line.
Background
Historically, parts of this department were known as Shimazuyama. Many feudal lords (daimyo) held property in this area during the Tokugawa shogunate. This area is the birthplace and former home of Sony.
Today, Shinagawa is a central rail hub for Tokyo, perhaps second only to Tokyo Station itself in the number of trains you can catch here. It is also a "European" style business and tourism center, so you will see more English than Japanese on the signs and more Italian and American restaurants than Japanese ones.
How to orient yourself
Shinagawa: full screen map.The two sides of Shinagawa station are quite different: the west side or "Takanawa" is mainly residential, with the exception of a sizable hotel zoning immediately around the station. The east side or "Konan" side varies from commercial to industrial, although many new modern residential apartments have been developed near the station and along its many water channels. Due to the numerous railway lines that cross it is difficult to move from one part of the station to the other without going through the station itself, it is always best to make sure you exit on the correct side of the station.
Neighborhoods
How to get
On the train
The journey between Shinagawa and Haneda Airport takes just 17 minutes and costs ¥ 400.
- 1 Shinagawa Station. Lines
, Narita express 
(75 min, ¥ 3,110), 
, Odoriko, 
Tōkaidō Shinkansen for Kyoto is Osaka. 
, Narita express 
(75 min, ¥ 3,110), 
, Odoriko, 
Tōkaidō Shinkansen for 
By bus
- 2 Shinagawa bus terminal, 3 Chome-24-3-24 Takanawa, Minato-ku (5 minutes walk from Takanawa Exit of JR Shinagawa Station), ☎ 81 3-3449-4890.
Ticket office: 09: 00-18: 00. Several hotels in Shinagawa, as well as the station, are connected to Narita Airport via the "Airport Limousine" bus (85 min, ¥ 3,000)
Ticket office: 09: 00-18: 00. Several hotels in Shinagawa, as well as the station, are connected to Narita Airport via the "Airport Limousine" bus (85 min, ¥ 3,000)- Tohoku - Hirosaki, Gosyogawara, Morioka, Miyako
- Kansai - Fukuchiyama, Ayabe, Maizuru
- Chugoku - Tsuyama, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago
- Shikoku - Tokushima, Anan, Yoshinogawa, Niihama, Saijo, Imabari
- Tohoku - Sendai
| Connections |
| Nagoya ← Shin-Yokohama ← | OR  IS | → Station of Tokyo, to Chiyoda → end |
| Yokohama ← Kawasaki ← | OR  IS | → Shimbashi → Tokyo Station |
| Chiba ← Kinshicho ← Tokyo ← | No.  S. | → Musashi Kosugi → Yokohama |
| Shibuya ← Ebisu ← Gotanda ← | OR  IS | → Hamamatsucho → Shinbashi → Tokyo |
| Ueno ← Tokyo ← Shinbashi ← | No.  S. | → Oimachi → Kamata → Kawasaki → Tsurumi |
| Sengakuji ← | No.  S. | → Yokohama → Zushi → Misakiguchi |
| Futako Tamagawa ← Jiyūgaoka → Oimachi ← | No.  S. | → end |
| Hamamatsucho ← | No.  S. | → Haneda Airport |
| Nishi-Ikebukuro ← Hatsudai-Minami ← | No.  S. | → end |
| Honmoku Wharf ← Haneda Airport ← | OR  OR | → Rinkai Fukutoshin → Urayasu → Chiba |
How to get around
- 3 Ōsaki Station. Lines
- 4 Gotanda Station. Lines
- 5 Ōimachi Station. Lines
- 6 Fudōmae Station. Line
- 7 Meguro station (目 黒 駅, Meguro-eki). Lines
What see
- 1 Hara Museum of Contemporary Art (原 美術館, hara-bijutsukan), 4-7-25 Kitashinagawa (15 minutes walk from JR Shinagawa Station, near Hotel La Foret), ☎ 81 3-3445-0651, fax: 81 3-3473-0104.
¥ 1000 adults, ¥ 700 students. Tue, Thu-Sun 11: 00-17: 00, Wed 11: 00-20: 00. This small museum houses a number of interesting exhibits in a 1930s house that is a fine example of modern architecture in pre-war Japan. There is a nice cafe with indoor and outdoor tables.
¥ 1000 adults, ¥ 700 students. What to do
- 1 Shinagawa Aquarium (し な が わ 水族館, Shinagawa Suizokukan), 3-2-1 Katsushima (5 minutes walk from Keiyu Ōmori-Kaigan station.), ☎ 81 3-3762-3433, fax: 81 3-3762-3436. ¥ 1350 adults, ¥ 600 students, children ¥ 300.
- 2 Hippodrome (大 井 競 馬 場), 2-1-2 Katsushima Shinagawa (Take Tokyo Monorail), ☎ 81 3-3763-2151. Adults ¥ 100.
Shopping
- 1 Sanrio Gift gate (サ ン リ オ ギ フ ト ゲ ー ト), 1-6-5 Ōsaki (Close to Ōsaki station and Sanrio office), ☎ 81 3-3449-7007. A brand shop behind the famous Hello Kitty.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Most of the restaurants are located around Shinagawa station, you see Minato.
Moderate prices
- 1 Starbucks, 品 川 区 大 崎 1-11-1 ゲ ー ト シ テ ィ 大 崎, 1 Chome-11 Ōsaki, Shinagawa-ku, 1st floor, ☎ 81 3-5496-3027. Mon-Sun 07: 00-22: 30.
Average prices
- 2 Komahachi (駒 八 目 黒 店), Shinagawa-ku, Kamiōsaki, 2 Chome − 13−35 KI ビ ル 2F, ☎ 81 3-5420-3945. 3000¥. Izakaya serves the sanma in all forms, try at least it shioyaki and sushi. Adventurous eaters might try the rice crackers sanma.
Where stay
With the new Shinkansen service in Shinagawa, area hotels have become much more affordable (and crowded). The rooms in the hotels near the station sell out very quickly. In the Gotanda station area, there are the cheapest hotels or capsules.
Moderate prices
- 1 Toyoko Inn Minami-Shinagawa, 3 Chome-1-20 Minamishinagawa, Shinagawa-ku. Fixed rates from ¥ 6,720. An alternative Toyoko Inn, five minutes south of Shinagawa from the local Keikyu train. Availability is generally better here than the other Toyoko Inn, and the hotel is directly connected to the Keikyu Line.
