Updated: 26 April 2023
Ginza’s Underground Lines and Station History
The Ginza area is served by Ginza Station, Higashi-Ginza Station, and Ginza-itchome Station, with Yurakucho Station and Hibiya Station also within easy walking distance. Of Tokyo’s 13 metro lines, seven pass through one of these stations, making the Ginza area the very heart of Tokyo’s underground network. This is partly because one of these stations was among the first to be served by Asia’s first metro line — Ginza’s underground stations carry a great deal of history.
Noritsugu Hayakawa and the Story of Asia’s First Metro
At Ginza Station, you’ll find a bust of Noritsugu Hayakawa — the founder of the Tokyo Underground Railway and regarded as the father of Japan’s metro. Hayakawa worked tirelessly to bring Asia’s first underground railway into service, and his achievement is commemorated to this day at Ginza Station. It’s well worth tracking down this bust and reflecting on the history of the underground railway when you visit the station.
The Convenience and Appeal of Ginza’s Metro Access
As the hub of Tokyo’s underground network, the Ginza area offers outstanding transport links. The concentration of metro stations makes it exceptionally easy to access the rest of central Tokyo and the surrounding area, which is greatly valued by tourists and business travellers alike.
The New Shin-Ginza Station and the Future of Ginza’s Metro
A new metro line planned to open in the 2030s will include a “Shin-Ginza Station,” further reinforcing Ginza’s importance in the underground network. The new station is expected to be located along Miyuki-dori, bringing even greater convenience to the existing Ginza area. Its opening is expected to broaden development opportunities and business prospects in the surrounding area, and new tourist attractions and shopping facilities in the vicinity of Shin-Ginza Station are anticipated — adding further to the appeal of Ginza.