Ueno Subway Station is an underground railway station in Ueno which has two lines: The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. This station also has direct access to JR Ueno Station and is linked to Keisei Ueno Station by an underground passageway.
This article will introduce the general layout of the station, how to access each of its lines, what facilities are available, and how to transfer to other stations.
Entrances to Ueno Subway Station are marked by the Tokyo Metro sign
General Orientation
Ueno Subway Station has two lines, the Ginza Line and Hibiya Line, which are accessed separately by separate ticket gates. There is no direct link between these two lines, so to transfer between the Ginza and Hibiya Line, passengers must exit and reenter the ticket gates for each line. However, if you have the right ticket you can transfer between the two lines for no extra charge.
If you have a transfer ticket between the Ginza Line and Hibiya Line, you should use the orange transfer gate
All ticket gates, ticket machines and ticket offices are located on the first basement level (B1) and platforms are located on the second basement level (B2).
The Ginza Line is on the west side of the station and is closer to JR Ueno Station. The Hibiya Line is on the east side of the station and is closer to Showa Dori Avenue and Ueno’s business district. The two halves of the station are connected by two underground passageways.
The Ginza Line has ticket gates in two locations. The Ginza Line East Gate is the main gate for the Ginza Line. From this gate passengers can access both platforms 1 and 2. This gate is the closest to JR Ueno Station, so it is also called the JR Ueno Station District Gate.
The Ginza Line East Gate
The Ginza Line West Gates are two sets of gates facing each other. One gate leads to Platform 1 and the other leads to Platform 2. These gates are also called the Ueno Park District Gates and they are the closest gates to Keisei Ueno Station.
The Ginza Line West Gate for Platform 1
The Ginza Line West Gate for Platform 2
The Hibiya Line has ticket gates in three locations. Both the Hibiya Line South Gate and the Hibiya Line North Gate have access to both platforms 1 and 2.
The Hibiya Line South Gate
The Hibiya Line North Gate
There is also a small “special” gate on the passageway that runs between the north and south Hibiya Line gates. From this gate passengers can only access platform 1. The stairs leading to the platform here can only be used during the morning rush hour (7.50 – 8.50 on weekdays). However, the elevator here can be used at any time.
This “special” gate leads only to Platform 1 on the Hibiya Line
A connecting passageway runs between the Ginza Line West Gate and the Hibiya Line South Gate.
The passageway between the Ginza Line West Gate and the Hibiya Line South Gate
Another connecting passageway runs between the Ginza Line East Gate and the Hibiya Line North Gate.
The passageway between the Ginza Line East Gate and the Hibiya Line North Gate
Buying Tickets
Ticket machines are located by the ticket gates.
Ticket machines at the Ginza Line East Gate
Above the ticket machines are bilingual route maps in Japanese and English and information about fares for each destination.
A bilingual route map
The automatic ticket machines have language options in English, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish and Japanese.
Language options on a Tokyo Metro ticket machine’s touch screen
Platforms
Trains bound for Ginza, Shimbashi, Omotesando and Shibuya depart from Platform 1 on the Ginza Line.
Platform 1 on the Ginza Line
Trains bound for Tawaramachi and Asakusa depart from Platform 2 on the Ginza Line.
Platform 2 on the Ginza Line
Trains bound for Ginza, Roppongi and Naka-Meguro depart from Platform 1 on the Hibiya Line.
Platform 1 on the Hibiya Line
Trains bound for Kita-Senju depart from Platform 2 on the Hibiya Line.
Platform 2 on the Hibiya Line
Ueno Subway Station Transfers & Exits
For transfers to JR Ueno Station use exits 8 or 9 which lead to the JR station’s Main Entrance. The escalators by Exit 9 open directly inside JR Ueno Station.
A sign for exits 8 and 9
The escalators for JR Ueno Station
For transfers to Keisei Ueno Station look for Exit 6.
The sign for Exit 6 and Keisei Ueno Station
There is an underground passageway by the Ginza Line West Gate that leads directly into Keisei Ueno Station.
The passageway between Ginza Line West Gate and Keisei Ueno Station
To get to Ueno’s shopping district take Exit 5 which leads to the Ameya-Yokocho (Ameyoko) shopping street and Marui department store.
The sign for Exit 5 to Ameyoko
Exit 7 leads to Ueno Park. Exits 1, 2, 3 and 4 open on Showa Dori Avenue. Take Exit 1 for Mitsui Garden Hotel. For more details on the exits at Ueno Subway Station see the exit guide on the Tokyo Metro website.
Facilities
There are a limited number of facilities at Ueno Subway Station. In front of the Ginza Line East Gate (JR Ueno Station District Gate), there is a Tourist Information Desk and an information board. Here you can ask for directions and pick up local area maps.
The Tourist Information Desk
There is a Seven-Bank ATM cash machine outside the Ginza Line West Gates. This ATM has English language guidance and accepts most major international bank cards such as MasterCard, VISA, Diners Club, American Express, and JCB.
The Seven-Bank ATM outside the Ginza Line West Gates
The Tokyo Metro Station Office is located by the Hibiya Line South Gate. This office deals with lost and found enquiries and Tokyo Metro passes can also be bought here. The office is open from 7.40 to 20.00.
The Tokyo Metro Station Office at Ueno Subway Station
For information about lockers and at Ueno Subway Station see our general article: Lockers and Baggage Storage in Ueno.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
