Kita-Senju Station is located in the Adachi special ward of Tokyo, a former postal town from the Edo period. The station originally opened in 1896.
Kita-Senju is the third-busiest station on the Tokyo Metro network in terms of passenger traffic. The JR East portion of the station alone serves more than 200,000 passengers daily.
Adachi is famous for its shitamachi or “old Tokyo” atmosphere, which stands in stark contrast to the modern glitz of much of the city.
The Kita-Senju neighborhood, known for its relaxed residential vibe, is brimming with parks, traditional shopping streets, and hosts a renowned fireworks festival in July.
Below, we dive into the layout of the station and offer insights on navigating its lines with your Japan Rail Pass. We’ll also break down some of the best historic and cultural attractions in the Kita-Senju area.
How to get to Kita-Senju Station
You can get to Kita-Senju with either your JR Pass or one of the relevant regional passes using these routes:
- From Shinjuku: Take the JR Yamanote Line to Nishi-Nippori and switch to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
- From Tokyo Station: Board the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno Station and transfer to the Joban Line.
Both of these journeys take approximately 35 to 40 minutes.
Kita-Senju Station train lines
Kita-Senju Station is served by the JR East Joban Line. This includes the Narita Line and Ueno-Tokyo Line. You can use your Japan Rail Pass on all these services.
There are also 3 non-JR railway services operating out of Kita-Senju Station:
- The Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya and Chiyoda Lines
- The Tobu Railway’s Tobu Skytree Line
- The Metropolitan Intercity Railway’s Tsukuba Express
Minor services within the Chiyoda Line include the Odakyu Odawara Line, Joban Line, and Romancecar service. Tokyo Skytree uses the minor Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line.
Kita-Senju station layout
The JR East train station is located on the ground level of Kita- Senju station. Tracks 1 and 2 offer rapid service to Matsudo, Toride, and Tsuchiura. The Narita Line is also available from this platform.
Tracks 2 and 3 run the Joban line for Nippori and Ueno. The Ueno-Tokyo Line bound for Tokyo and Shinagawa also operates on these tracks.
The Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line platforms are located underground. The first track offers Chiyoda Line services to Nishi-Nippori, Otemachi, and Yoyogi-Uehara.
Romancecar services to Hakone-Yumoto and Katase-Enoshima also run on these tracks. This is a luxury train aimed at tourists traveling to mountain resorts.
The Tobu Skytree and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Lines share 7 platforms. Platforms 1 to 4 on the ground level serve the Tobu Skytree Line.
Platforms 5 to 7 on the third floor cater to both the Tobu Skytree and the Hibiya Line. The Tsukuba Express operates from 2 additional elevated platforms.
The station has 2 exits, located at the west and east ends.
Things to do near Kita-Senju Station
There are Shotengai (traditional Japanese shopping streets) on both sides of the station. Of particular interest is the historic Senju Ema Yoshida’s House, which still produces traditional lanterns and paper kites.
A number of small shrines and temples in the area have survived to the modern day and are well worth a visit. These include the Nishiaraidaishi Souji Temple and Hachiman Jinja.
You can find a lot of public artwork in the area, such as a bronze statue honoring the poet Matsuo Basho. Basho wrote the epic poem Oku no hosomichi, or The Narrow Road to the Deep North, after traveling through the area.
Other attractions include the Sekido Museum of Art and the Adachi Market, which resembles the famous Tsukiji fish market.
If you’re traveling with children, they can learn about local wildlife and creatures from around the world at the Adachi Park of Living Things. For cherry blossom viewing, visit the adjacent Motofuchie Park.
If visiting in July, the Adachi Fireworks hanabi festival is a must-see. In just one hour, over 12,000 fireworks take to the air.