This page is dedicated to railfan information in Tokyo.  The rail systems that mesh in the Tokyo area is the most impressive collection of lines in the world.  There are regular trains, subways, monorails, a rubber-tired pilotless line, a trolley line and the Shinkansen "Bullet" trains.

• Where are the best photo ops?  The entire central Tokyo area is a photo-op but the bridges that span Nippori Station probably have the widest range of lines running underneath them.  Shinkansen trains can be viewed from a number of non-Shinkansen platforms with Hamamatsucho Station being one of the best view spots.
• Why are Shinkansen platforms closed to non-passengers?  Shinkansen trains are what is known as special limited express trains which require an upgrade to a regular ticket.  That's why you often get two tickets when you use the Shinkansen.  Incidentally, the ticket machines are able to handle the two tickets at once, you just put both of them in and it processes them accordingly.  Because it requires a special upgrade, access to the platforms is limited to those holding those upgrades.
• What's the difference between a train and subway?  In general, trains run above ground and subways run below ground.  Trains are run by separate companies than subways, too.  But, to add to the confusion, some trains do run below ground and some subways run above ground.  Even more confusion is added when some trains actually transform into subways (and vice-versa).  For instance, a Tokyo Metro subway train will interoperate with a Tokyu Meguro Line train.  They are one and the same trainset running on continuous tracks from the subway line straight through to the suburban train line.  The only clue that this is happening to the close observer is that at the terminus (Meguro Station), the driver change takes place where one company takes over from another company.
• What's a private train line, what is JR?  Train lines in Japan used to be categorized as the nationalized Japan Railways and private lines.  JR was privatized and broken up into separate operating companies.  Tokyo is serviced by JR East with Shinkansen service over the Tokaido Line serviced by JR Central.  Private train lines usually (but not always) handle passenger traffic into the suburbs.  This is most evident if one studies the routes of the Tokyu lines.  The Keihin Kyuko (Keikyu) line runs from Shinagawa Station out to Kanagawa Prefecture and parallels the Tokaido Line until it reaches Yokohama Station where it veers to the north into the Yokohama suburbs.
  
• Where can I get books, magazines and videos on trains?  All major bookstores and book departments in large department stores usually have Japan Railfan magazine and an assortment of rail books.  The mecca for railfans is Shosen Grande bookstore in Jimbocho.   Here is are the details:  Shosen Grande (1-3-2 Kanda-Jimbocho;  3rd block east from Jimbocho Intersection.  03-3295-0011 Open 10:30-19, -18:30 Sun, Hol.  Closed irr. Mon.