How crowded is Yamanote Line in 2022?

5 comments

1. >So in the past, when most people think about crowded and congested trains, it is usually the Yamanote Line that comes into mind.

   I don’t think I’ve ever associated the yamanote with excessive congestion.

   But the train I ride to & from work is as crowded as it ever was.

2. It all depends on

   A) where you get on

   B) time of day

   C) if it’s a work day or holiday

   The worst is probably getting on at Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Tokyo station anywhere between 6:30AM -7:30 AM or 5pm-6:30pm on a standard weekday. You could be squished or could have just enough space to stand but not use your phone . It’s about the same as it was pre-pandemic times and not worse or better.

   Edit to add: maybe Shinagawa too but I never got on or off there via the yamanote so I can’t speak from experience. The other 4 stops I mentioned above are major transportation hubs, working areas or tourist areas so many people get off and on

3. Anyways:
   To add context:
   Our hotel will be the Intercontinental Hotel in Shinagawa.
   As such, we are hoping we can visit Shibuya Mark City and Shibuya Hikarie for some items there.

   But from what I’m hearing so far.
   As long as we avoid these rush hours / peak times:
   – 6 AM to 9 AM
   – 4 PM to 8 PM
   – 11 PM to 12 midnight (e.g. last train rush)

   Then we won’t be crammed like sardines inside the Yamanote line, right?

4. It was packed during peak Covid 2020. Work from
   Home never really took place in Japan because no one really has a home PC or office space.

   The packed experience is part of the journey.

5. just took the Yamanote Line at noon (2hrs ago) it was fairly empty.