About Shinbashi
Shinbashi is one of the more interesting central districts in Tokyo and a great non-touristy place to head for food and drinks. It’s located near Hibiya and the Imperial Palace and is easily reached by train. To avoid any confusion, “Shinbashi” and “Shimbashi” are one and the same. The name was simply Romanized in the translation. Regardless of what you call it, this area is where you’ll find Tokyo’s “salarymen.”
The concept of a “salaryman” will be alien to any international traveler, but it more or less refers to the after-work nightlife scene that finds corporate employees drinking (in large quantities) and eating with their cohort. This often results in corner bars packed with office workers clad in suits and drinking at a fervent pace.
The food scene in Shinbashi is outstanding as it’s home to wonderful Izakaya and ramen bars along with a few nightclubs. It’s not precisely a place you’ll want to bring the kids, but it’s perfect for groups of friends who want to bar-hop.
The area is well-connected via Shimbashi Station and easy to reach from Shinjuku or Tokyo’s other central districts. And if you need luggage storage near Shimbashi Station or other parts of the district, Bounce has convenient locations that are easy to stop by on your way to restaurants or bars.
Getting around Shinbashi
The area is well-connected to the rest of Tokyo via multiple JR routes along with a few subway lines stopping at Shimbashi Station. Shiodome Station is another hub in Shinbashi (Toei Oedo Line, Yurikamome Line), but it’s more for commuters than travelers.
Shinbashi Station train connections
Spend any amount of time in Tokyo and you’ll certainly take the Yamanote Line, which conveniently connects Shimbashi Station with the rest of the city.
- JR Yamanote Line: Yokohama Station (35 minutes), Ueno Station (6 minutes), Tokyo Station (4 minutes), Shibuya (40 minutes)
- Keihin-Tōhoku Line: Ueno Station (5 minutes), Tokyo Station (5 minutes), Shinagawa Aquarium (17 minutes), Yokohama Station (43 minutes), Shinjuku Station (14 minutes)
- Yokosuka Line: Yokohama (23 minutes)
- Tokaido Line: Yokohama (23 minutes)
Taking the subway to Shinbashi
The Ginza Line is one of the most useful routes for quick trips around Tokyo, and it stops right in the heart of Shinbashi.
- Tokyo Metro Ginza Line: Shibuya (30 minutes), Tokyo Station (13 minutes), Senso-ji Temple (15 minutes), Asakusa (15 minutes), Ueno Zoo (10 minutes), Meiji Jingu Gaien (30 minutes)
It takes about an hour to get from Haneda Airport to get to Shinbashi. You’ll simply take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station, then transfer to the JR Yamanote Line to reach Shimbashi Station.
If you’re taking a connecting flight from Narita Airport, you’ll take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station before transferring to the JR Yamanote Line to reach Shimbashi Station. The whole trip will take just over an hour and will cost around $8.