How to Read Tokyo Maps: 10 Practical Tips

Before diving into details, master these five essential skills that will save you hours of confusion:

1. Exit before arrival: Screenshot station exit maps before your trip
2. Landmark navigation: Use convenience stores, police boxes, and department stores as reference points
3. Color coding: Memorize key transit line colors (Green = Yamanote Line, Orange = Ginza Line, etc.)
4. Block system: Understand Tokyo's block-based addresses don't follow street logic
5. GPS backup: Have offline maps ready for station interiors where GPS fails

Understanding Station Exit Symbols and Systems

Tokyo stations use letter-number combinations (A1, B3, etc.) that follow specific logic:

Actionable tip: At Shinjuku Station, "E" exits lead east toward Kabukicho and hotels, while "W" exits lead west toward government buildings.

How to Orient Yourself When Exiting Stations

Follow this 3-step process every time you exit a station:

1. Pause at the ticket gate: Look up for the large exit map above the gates
2. Find your destination: Locate it on the map and note the recommended exit
3. Follow colored lines: Many stations have colored lines on the floor leading to specific exits

Common mistake to avoid: Don't follow the crowd - commuters are heading to workplaces, not tourist destinations.

Key Station Exit Maps to Study Before Your Trip

Pro tip: Screenshot these exit diagrams from Google Maps before your trip. Zoom in on the station, click on it, and look for "Exit" information.

Decoding Tokyo's Color-Coded Transit System

Each transit line has a specific color used on maps, signs, and trains:

Actionable guidance: When transferring, follow the colored lines painted on platform floors and station walls.

Understanding Transfer Symbols and Walking Times

Transit maps use specific symbols to indicate transfers:

Critical transfers that need extra time:

• Shinjuku JR to Oedo Line: 5-7 minutes through underground passages
• Shibuya surface to underground lines: 10+ minutes for first-timers
• Tokyo Station Marunouchi to Yaesu: 10-15 minutes across the station

Reading Platform Maps and Signs

As you exit the train, immediately look for:

1. Platform wall maps: Show all exits from your specific platform
2. Pillar maps: Located throughout passages, show local exits
3. Overhead signs: Directional signs with exit numbers
4. Floor markings: Colored lines leading to specific exits or transfers

Best practice: Take a photo of the platform map when you arrive. This gives you a reference if you get disoriented in passages.

Tokyo's Block-Based Address System Explained

Unlike Western cities, Tokyo addresses work like this:

• District name: Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc.
• Block number: 2-chome, 3-chome, etc.
• Building number: 12, 15, 8 (based on construction order, not location)

Practical implication: Building 2-15-8 might be next to 2-3-1. You need landmarks, not sequential addresses.

Key Landmarks to Look For When Navigating

Use these reliable landmarks for orientation:

Navigation phrase template: "From [Station] Exit [Number], walk past [Landmark], turn left at [Second Landmark], it's the building with [Distinctive Feature]."

Common Map Types Tourists Encounter

Pro tip: When using paper maps, note that north isn't always at the top in Tokyo. Many tourist maps orient to the nearest station instead.

What Works (and Doesn't) with Digital Maps in Tokyo

GPS Dead Zones and How to Handle Them

GPS fails in these common situations:

• Inside major stations (Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya interiors)
• Underground passages connecting stations to buildings
• Between tall buildings in dense areas like Shinjuku's skyscraper district

Backup strategies:

1. Screenshot your route before entering stations
2. Follow physical signs on walls and pillars
3. Ask station staff at information booths (most speak basic English)
4. Use station WiFi to reload maps before entering dead zones

Optimal Zoom Strategy for Digital Maps

Common mistake: Zooming in too early shows building details before you're oriented to the block structure.

The Stations That Break Everyone (and How to Conquer Them)

Strategy for all complex stations: Arrive 30 minutes early for timed connections. If carrying luggage or with family, consider a taxi from outside the station instead of navigating interiors.

When to Use Taxis vs Public Transit

Navigation with Mobility Limitations

Tokyo stations have elevators but they're not always conveniently located:

1. Research accessible routes before your trip using station accessibility maps
2. Look for elevator symbols on station maps (usually wheelchair icon)
3. Ask station staff for assistance - they can guide you to elevators
4. Consider taxis for station-to-station travel to avoid transfers

Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist

1. Screenshot these key station exits:

   • Shinjuku East Exit map
   • Shibuya Hachiko Exit area
   • Tokyo Station Marunouchi vs Yaesu
   • Your hotel's nearest station exit

2. Download offline maps of central Tokyo

3. Bookmark these resources:

   • Tokyo Metro official map (PDF)
   • JR East map (English version)
   • Your hotel's location on Google Street View

4. Practice with these addresses (try to find them on maps):

   • Shibuya 2-24-12 (Shibuya Scramble Square)
   • Shinjuku 3-38-1 (Lumine Est department store)

On-the-Ground Quick Reference Guide

When you're lost:

1. Find the nearest convenience store or police box (koban)
2. Show the address or map on your phone
3. Ask "Koko wa doko desu ka?" (Where is this place?)
4. Most Japanese will try to help, often walking you partway

Reading Japanese maps:

• 出口 (deguchi) = Exit
• 改札 (kaisatsu) = Ticket gate
• 案内 (annai) = Information
• 地下 (chika) = Underground
• 地上 (chijo) = Ground level

Emergency phrases:

• "Eigo no mapu wa arimasu ka?" = Do you have an English map?
• "~ e no ikikata o oshiete kudasai" = Please tell me how to get to ~
• "Michi ni mayoi mashita" = I'm lost

1. Exit before arrival: Screenshot station exit diagrams before your trip
2. Landmark navigation: Use convenience stores and police boxes as reference points
3. Color coding: Memorize key transit line colors (Green=Yamanote, Orange=Ginza)
4. Block system understanding: Addresses show construction order, not location
5. GPS backup: Have offline maps for station interiors
6. Zoom strategy: Stay zoomed out until you're on the correct block
7. Transfer timing: Budget extra time for complex station transfers
8. Operator awareness: Know when you're changing between JR, Metro, and Toei
9. Physical signs: Follow colored lines and wall maps in stations
10. Ask for help: Use koban (police boxes) when genuinely lost

Tokyo uses a block-based address system, not a street-based one. Addresses identify buildings within numbered blocks, not positions along named streets. The numbers don't follow a logical sequence—they reflect the order buildings were constructed, not their physical arrangement.

In grid cities like New York or Chicago, addresses follow streets. 350 Fifth Avenue sits between 340 and 360. In Tokyo, adjacent buildings might be numbered 2-15 and 2-3 because they were built decades apart.

GPS coordinates work fine—they point to exact locations. But if someone gives you an address like "Shibuya 2-24-12," the map shows the general block, not the specific entrance. You'll know you're close, but finding the actual door requires landmark-based navigation. For the broader context of getting to and around Tokyo, including airport connections and citywide navigation, that guide covers the full transport picture.

This matters most at major stations. Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo Station all sprawl across multiple blocks with dozens of entrances. The exit you need might be labeled with block numbers that don't match your destination's address format.

This guide is published by Hinomaru One, a Tokyo-based private tour operator