銀座線
The 14.3km Ginza-sen is the oldest line in the Tokyo subway network, dating back to December 30, 1927, when a 2.2km stretch opened between Asakusa and Ueno.
Being the oldest subway in the city, it's also closest to the surface. Unlike the brand-new Toei Oedo Line, which is buried several stories underground, the Ginza Line is down a short flight of stairs from street level.
It also has the tiniest platforms and the shortest trains (6 cars) in the network, which make it among the worst trains to have to ride during rush hour. During midday and evening hours, the line is more palatable.
The line has 19 stops. From west to east, they are:
- Shibuya - trendy shopping, giant scramble crossing, lots and lots of people, Tokyu and Keio trains to west Tokyo and Yokohama
- Omotesando - less trendy but more stylish shopping
- Gaienmae - the Gaien
- Aoyama-itchome - condos, luxury car dealerships, big cemetery
- Akasaka-mitsuke - nice hotels, office towers
- Tameike-sanno - the Prime Minister, good restaurants
- Toranomon - the U.S. Embassy and Kasumigaseki government offices
- Shinbashi - the Yamanote Line, southbound JR trains to Yokohama, and the Yurikamome to Odaiba
- Ginza - expensive shopping
- Kyobashi - business district, full of love hotels after hours
- Nihonbashi - financial district, close to Tokyo Station
- Mitsukoshimae - the Mitsukoshi store
- Kanda - kind of close to Jimbocho for books and sporting goods
- Suehirocho - close to Akihabara, the electronics district
- Ueno-hirokoji - close to Okachimachi, one of the funniest-sounding train stations in Tokyo
- Ueno - Ueno Park, northbound Shinkansen
- Inaricho - kinda ghetto
- Tawaramachi - more ghetto
- Asakusa - Sensoji and Kaminarimon, fireworks on the Sumida River, Tobu Railway trains to Nikko