Shinjuku Station, confusing tourists since... well forever.
Shinjuku station is a curious beast, with so many exits and entrances it would be pretty easy to get disorientated. One thing to note is that the signage in there is amazing.
Look online for a map. It will save your life. This map is great (even though it is upside down with South pointing up) but it gives you a pretty good idea just how many trains come in and go out from Shinjuku Station. (View the original here: Shinjuku Station)
We went into the station via the South Entrance every time, so we knew which way we needed to walk to catch our trains leaving from their platforms. Coming off was more of a hit and miss, we just followed people from the platform to the main station area and found somewhere to stand while we looked around for an obvious exit. Don't stress too much, there are signs everywhere pointing to various exits. As long as you know where you are heading it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
For example the West Exit and the Central West exit are the best if you want to go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. There is an underground tunnel that is very well signposted, and you come out on one of the streets that runs down the side of it.
If you want to go to the Yodabashi neighbourhood coming out the South Exit/Entrance and turning right will get you there.
If you are looking for Godzilla, Robot Restaurant or the Samurai Museum the East Exit will put you on the right side of the station to get there easily.
Now, to get on the train there are two options. Work out how much your trip is going to be via the ticket machines and do this every time you catch a train... or purchase a SUICA card to make your trip far easier. (These are both CASH only options)
SUICA is like a metro-card, it stores cash and deducts the trip cost every time you leave a station. You tap to enter, catch your train, and tap to leave. The trains are so efficient that depending on the time that you spent on the train it can calculate if you took an express, or limited express, or local train and will charge you accordingly. Well worth getting and well worth taking the time to calculate your trip costs via google maps.
You can buy a card from the machines outside any of the stations (which is also where you can top them up with more cash if you are running low) but if you do not want to struggle with purchasing your SUICA card from one of the outside machines head to the JR East Travel Service Center (top of the map in orange with a '?' mark on it)
You can buy your SUICA card from them in any of the denominations available. You will also need a passport for any child under the age of 12 (they can't be 12, that is an adult fare) and their SUICA card will get them half price travel. If you are going to the same places together just get a SUCIA card worth half of what you need.
As a visual reference Kosho-Kaudo Ave is a 6-8 lane (from memory) wide raised main street. It pretty much splits the station into two areas. The travel centre is tucked away behind the smaller section of the station. You can see on the map that there is a wide pedestrian crossing that crosses the road, to get to the JR East Travel Centre you can duck to the right of the main building when you get across the road and enter from the side, or walk all the way around to your left. You do not have to enter the station to access it, it is on the outside. You can also purchase your Shinkansen tickets there! Again, cash only.
Look online for a map. It will save your life. This map is great (even though it is upside down with South pointing up) but it gives you a pretty good idea just how many trains come in and go out from Shinjuku Station. (View the original here: Shinjuku Station)
We went into the station via the South Entrance every time, so we knew which way we needed to walk to catch our trains leaving from their platforms. Coming off was more of a hit and miss, we just followed people from the platform to the main station area and found somewhere to stand while we looked around for an obvious exit. Don't stress too much, there are signs everywhere pointing to various exits. As long as you know where you are heading it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
For example the West Exit and the Central West exit are the best if you want to go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. There is an underground tunnel that is very well signposted, and you come out on one of the streets that runs down the side of it.
If you want to go to the Yodabashi neighbourhood coming out the South Exit/Entrance and turning right will get you there.
If you are looking for Godzilla, Robot Restaurant or the Samurai Museum the East Exit will put you on the right side of the station to get there easily.
Now, to get on the train there are two options. Work out how much your trip is going to be via the ticket machines and do this every time you catch a train... or purchase a SUICA card to make your trip far easier. (These are both CASH only options)
SUICA is like a metro-card, it stores cash and deducts the trip cost every time you leave a station. You tap to enter, catch your train, and tap to leave. The trains are so efficient that depending on the time that you spent on the train it can calculate if you took an express, or limited express, or local train and will charge you accordingly. Well worth getting and well worth taking the time to calculate your trip costs via google maps.
You can buy a card from the machines outside any of the stations (which is also where you can top them up with more cash if you are running low) but if you do not want to struggle with purchasing your SUICA card from one of the outside machines head to the JR East Travel Service Center (top of the map in orange with a '?' mark on it)
You can buy your SUICA card from them in any of the denominations available. You will also need a passport for any child under the age of 12 (they can't be 12, that is an adult fare) and their SUICA card will get them half price travel. If you are going to the same places together just get a SUCIA card worth half of what you need.
As a visual reference Kosho-Kaudo Ave is a 6-8 lane (from memory) wide raised main street. It pretty much splits the station into two areas. The travel centre is tucked away behind the smaller section of the station. You can see on the map that there is a wide pedestrian crossing that crosses the road, to get to the JR East Travel Centre you can duck to the right of the main building when you get across the road and enter from the side, or walk all the way around to your left. You do not have to enter the station to access it, it is on the outside. You can also purchase your Shinkansen tickets there! Again, cash only.
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