Choose for your trip
JR Yamanote Line
Shibuya → Harajuku → Yoyogi → Shinjuku: 3 stops. Take the train bound for Shinjuku / Ikebukuro. Easiest for the west exit, Tocho and Omoide Yokocho.
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
Shibuya → Meiji-jingumae → Kita-sando → Shinjuku-sanchome: 3 stops. Good for Isetan, Shinjuku Gyoen and the Shinjuku-sanchome restaurant streets.
Walk via Harajuku
About 4 km, roughly 50 minutes. Pleasant if you want to see Harajuku and Meiji Jingu on the way.
| Option | Stops / transfers | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR Yamanote | 3 stops | West side, JR Pass holders | Very crowded at rush hour |
| Fukutoshin Line | 3 stops to Shinjuku-sanchome | East side, Shinjuku Gyoen | Deep platforms at Shibuya |
| Walk | About 4 km | Harajuku sightseeing | About 50 minutes |
Before you travel
Shinjuku is huge
Pick the exit for where you are going before you arrive; walking between the west and east sides inside the station can take 10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Yamanote or Fukutoshin?
Both are 3 stops. Choose by where you are going in Shinjuku: west side → Yamanote; east side or Shinjuku Gyoen → Fukutoshin to Shinjuku-sanchome.
Official sources and current conditions
Reviewed 27 October 2026 against the operators’ route maps. Walking times are rounded estimates. Check timetables and fares in a route planner on the day.