Shinagawa City Guide: From the Convenient Station to the Tennozu Isle Arts District

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Updated: December 11, 2024

Shinagawa City, one of Tokyo's 23 special wards, is a business hub that's also known for its high level of public safety. The busy Shinagawa Station connects Tokyo with the Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka areas through the Tokaido Shinkansen. However, the Shinagawa area is an exciting destination in and of itself, and the waterfront Tennozu Isle area is perfect for exploring.

Shinagawa's history, great dining options, and attractions, such as aquariums and even a racecourse, make it a great place to visit or to stay: you can find modest or luxury hotels that are a short train ride away from Haneda Airport.
Tennozu Isle, within Shinagawa City, is known for its art scene, being home to repurposed warehouses, art galleries, cafes, and creative spaces. You can go for a leisurely stroll along the water or stop for a bite to eat.

Shinagawa is well known as a safe place to be, and the diverse array of tourist attractions on offer make it well worth a visit.

Shinagawa Station

Shinagawa Station is one of the busiest train stations in the world, with around one million people passing through each day. The station has coin lockers of various sizes, so you can store your bags there while sightseeing. Being served by four JR lines (including the popular Yamanote Line), one Keikyu line, and the Tokaido Shinkansen, Shinagawa Station is widely used because of its many train lines and its proximity to Tokyo Station. It also has direct services to both international airports.

The Tokaido Shinkansen is a bullet train line that links Tokyo to Osaka. It passes through Shinagawa Station on its way to Nagoya, Kyoto, and finally Shin-Osaka Station, with through service to bullet trains that run even farther afield, making it a high-speed, comfortable way to travel from Tokyo. While Shinagawa Station is busy, it's not as busy as Tokyo Station, making it a better place to board the Tokaido Shinkansen.

How to get there

Shinagawa Station is on the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Yokosuka, Tokaido, and Keikyu lines.

From Haneda Airport: 45 minutes by Limousine Bus to Shinagawa Station, or 35 minutes by train.
From Narita Airport: One hour 25 minutes by Limousine Bus or one hour 40 minutes by train.
From Shinjuku Station: Around 19 minutes to Shinagawa Station on the JR Yamanote Line.
From Tokyo Station: Around 13 minutes to Shinagawa Station on the JR Yamanote Line.
To Shibuya Station: Around 14 minutes to Shibuya Station on the JR Yamanote Line.
To Ueno Station: Around 21 minutes to Ueno Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

Many different train lines pass through the station, so an express train on another line may be a quicker way to get to your destination, depending on the time of day. Make sure to check the timetable in advance and use a navigation app.

Things to do near Shinagawa Station

There are plenty of opportunities to shop around Shinagawa Station. The Ecute Shinagawa shopping mall sits within the station's ticket gates and has a variety of offerings, including food and clothing. Atre Shinagawa, the building directly outside of the gates, offers food and souvenirs as well.

Food at Shinagawa Station

If you're hungry, there's plenty of delicious food within Shinagawa station. Inside the Ecute Shinagawa shopping mall, you'll find Uogashi, a popular standing sushi bar. Or, if you want to buy a meal to take with you on the shinkansen, you can pick up an ekiben; a special station bento lunch box.

Restaurants near Shinagawa Station

The area around Shinagawa Station is packed with high-quality restaurants. Okonomiyaki Kiji, for example, offers okonomiyaki, savory pancakes filled with meat and vegetables. Izakaya, such as 82 Shinagawa and Dynamic Kitchen & Bar Hibiki, serve drinks and food. Other options include Devi Corner for Indian dishes, and Outback Steakhouse for American food.

Hotels in Shinagawa

Shinagawa boasts a wide variety of hotels, with rooms at all different price points. There are luxurious 4-star hotels such as the Tokyo Marriott and Shinagawa Prince Hotels. Shinagawa Prince Hotel's entertainment complex includes a bowling alley, an aquarium, and T-Joy Prince Shinagawa―a cinema with IMAX screens.

Tokyo Marriott Hotel

Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Closer to Shinagawa Station Flexstay Inn, Toyoko Inn, and Keikyu Ex Inn offer cheerful accommodations that won't break the bank. On the other hand, InterContinental The Strings Tokyo offers a high-end, 5-star experience.
And Hearton Hotel, Loisir Hotel, and Wires Hotel Shinagawa Seaside are right on the water.

Things to do in Shinagawa & Tennozu

Shinagawa and Tennozu Isle are full of attractions and exciting places to visit. Enjoy a trip to an aquarium or racecourse, or a bite at the delicious restaurants, offering traditional Japanese food, such as sushi, as well as craft beer and other delights.

Shinagawa flourished as a stopping-off point during the Edo period (1603-1867), and you can feel its history through the old wooden buildings. On Tennozu Isle, you can take in works of art and buy supplies to make your own.

Shinagawa Aquarium & Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa

There are two aquariums in Shinagawa, both of which offer tickets on their website. Shinagawa Aquarium showcases the Earth's water cycle, and includes long tunnels where you can walk through tanks full of sea creatures. Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, located inside Shinagawa Prince Hotel, features neon lights and music as well as rides, such as a merry-go-round.

Shinagawa Aquarium

Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa

Restaurants in Shinagawa & Tennozu Isle Area

Shinagawa offers something for all tastes, including traditional Japanese food at ramen restaurants and izakaya, as well as high-quality non-Japanese options. Tennozu Isle is also home to delicious restaurants and eateries. T.Y.HARBOR offers craft beer and American food in Tennozu Isle, Sushiryori Inose has high-quality sushi, and Oimachi Yoshizou Sohonten serves up yakiniku (grilled meat).

Historical spots

While you may not have heard of Sengakuji Temple, you'll probably have seen adaptations of the story of the 47 Ronin—the band of samurai who died for loyalty. The 47 are laid to rest at this temple—as is their ill-fated lord. If you find yourself a little low on funds, head to Shinagawa Shrine. Legend has it that if you wash your money in the sacred water of Ana Inari Shrine, a small shrine in the grounds, it will increase a lot.

Sengakuji Temple

Shinagawa Shrine

You can experience the area's history while riding on yakatabune, traditional Japanese pleasure boats, which leave from Shinagawa's waterfront. Also make sure to check out Shinagawa 1930, a cultural facility housed in five old wooden buildings.

Tokyo City Keiba

The Oi Racecourse, affectionately known as Tokyo City Keiba, or TCK, is a large arena that hosts horse races. The track is illuminated after sunset, for nighttime events known as "Twinkle Races." On most weekends, it also hosts the Oi Racecourse Flea Market, one of the largest flea markets in the city.

Shopping in the Shinagawa and Tennozu Isle area

Shinagawa is home to two major shopping streets: Togoshi Ginza Shopping District and Musashi Koyama Shopping Street Palm. Togoshi Ginza Shopping District is lined with snack shops selling pastries, as well as popular restaurants that are commonly featured in TV food shows. The 800-meter-long Musashi Koyama Shopping Street Palm is popular among locals for its bargain wares and produce.

Tennozu Isle is known for its art scene, and there are several stores that specialize in art supplies. Pigment Tokyo offers pigments in 4,500 colors, as well as paintbrushes and other materials. There are also many art galleries in the area, where you can buy works to bring home.