When foreign visitors travel to Japan by flight via Tokyo, they will arrive via either one of two major international airports, one of which is Haneda Airport (羽田空港). The airport is only a short train ride away from the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, making airport transfer highly convenient, and one of the options for airport transfers is the Tokyo Monorail (東京モノレール).
The Tokyo Monorail is a line connecting Tokyo’s Haneda Airport with Hamamatsuchō Station on the Yamanote Line (山手線), a highly popular loop train line in the city centre. Since its opening in 1964, the Tokyo Monorail has been a favourite choice among not only foreign visitors arriving at Haneda Airport, but also daily commuters to stations along the line.
For this article, I would like to introduce the Tokyo Monorail, and the interesting spots that passengers on the train should look out for the next time they travel to Tokyo. The train line is not just for transferring from the airport to the city centre; it also has some surprises that even frequent travellers to Tokyo may not know about!
Say hello to the Tokyo Monorail!
Did you know? The Tokyo Monorail line is 17.8km in total, and passengers on the line can capture glimpses of Tokyo even before reaching Hamamatsuchō Station. The monorail runs around the perimeter of Haneda Airport, and as you depart from Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Station, you can see the buildings in central Tokyo, such as the Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree on the right side of the monorail, just behind the runway.
The most notable feature of the monorail line is the beautiful scenery that runs along the Tokyo Bay coast. With the help of Tokyo Monorail employees, let’s check out the best spots to see from the monorail.
Going under the Ebitori River
The monorail descends a steep slope and passes through a tunnel under the Ebitori River (海老取川). Since this spot is within proximity to the airport, constructing high tracks running over the river was not possible. Hence, the solution was to go under the river in a tunnel along with the expressway running parallel to it. After passing through the tunnel, you can see the airport and the Keihin Canal in the distance on the right.
Train depot next to Shōwajima Station
Shōwajima Station (昭和島駅) is one of the stops along the Tokyo Monorail, and is adjacent to the monorail depot, and on the left, you can see the monorail resting in the depot and yellow maintenance vehicles repairing the tracks at night.
Japan’s Largest Truck Terminal Group
After passing Ryūtsū Center Station (流通センター駅), the monorail runs through Japan’s largest group of truck terminals. This area is blessed with a variety of land, sea, and air logistics facilities, and handles a lot of cargo, with many trucks passing on both sides of the monorail.
Of horseraces and stunning illumination event
After Ryūtsū Center Station, the next stop is Ōi Keibajō Mae Station (大井競馬場前駅). Fun fact: “keibajō” means horse racecourse, and as the name suggests, the station is adjacent to a large horse racecourse. On the left, you can see Oi Keibajo, where not only horse races are held, but the Tokyo Mega Illumi, a stunning winter illumination event is held as well, attracting numerous visitors. If you are travelling to Tokyo in winter, check out this special event especially if you are riding the Tokyo Monorail!
Somewhere over the Rainbow
After passing Tennōzu Isle Station (天王洲アイル駅), you will finally be surrounded by central Tokyo’s tall buildings and apartments. On the right, you can see the imposing Rainbow Bridge (レインボーブリッジ), the symbol of Tokyo Port. The suspension bridge features two 126-metre towers, and has a total length of 798m. Behind it, you can see the island of Odaiba (お台場) and iconic buildings such as Fuji TV Headquarters and Tokyo Big Sight.
Last stop: Hamamatsuchō Station
After going through a sharp curve, you will arrive at Tokyo Monorail’s last stop: Hamamatsuchō Station, along the Yamanote Line. On the left, you can see Tokyo Tower, one of Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks, through the gaps between buildings. From Hamamatsuchō Station, you can begin your journey around Tokyo by visiting the tower and many other nearby attractions that await, including Zōjō-ji Temple (増上寺).
Closing
The Haneda Airport serves as a gateway for the millions of visitors arriving in Tokyo each year, and the Tokyo Monorail is your ticket out from the airport into the heart of central Tokyo.
The Tokyo Monorail has rapid services that skip several stops along the way, but on these services, you can still enjoy the views from the car. While riding the monorail, don’t forget to keep a lookout for interesting attractions along the way!
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
If you plan to visit Tokyo and other destinations in the surrounding region, check out the JR TOKYO Wide Pass, an affordable pass offering unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including the Tokyo Monorail) in the valid area for 3 consecutive days at only ¥15,000. Not only can you use it for a return trip between Haneda Airport and JR Hamamatsuchō Station, but you can also use it to travel to other valid areas in the region, such as Lake Kawaguchiko, Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture, and GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort in Niigata Prefecture.
The JR-EAST Train Reservation. | ©JR EastYou can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains, and Joyful Trains online for free, up to one month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation. The pass can be used for automatic ticket gates, and foreign passport holders living in Japan are also eligible to use it.
Header image credit: ©Tokyo Monorail
