In Tokyo, the Yamanote Line is no doubt the most convenient, most busiest and most important railway loop line.
Operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR east), the Yamanote Line was created in 1885 and currently goes to 29 stations.
Back in 1872, the railroad would go from Shinagawa Station to Yokohama Station. By 1883, Ueno Station opened and by 1885, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Itabashi and Meguro Station was added.
Back in 1894, Akihabara Station would be a main cargo line and would also be a freight station and Osaki Station would later be opened and will also be a cargo lines would run through this station. In 1896, Tabata Station would be added and another freight station (Ebisu Station) would be added in 1901.
And Ikebukuro and Otsuka Station would be added in 1903 and as Tokyo grew in population and expanded, the line surround Tokyo around 1909 and in 1925, refined to what it is today.
It was announced in 2012 that a new 30th station would me made and is scheduled to open in time before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Having ridden on the Yamanote Line for a very long time, I’ve always had it in my head of how it would be to visit the surrounding vicinity outside of each station.
And I figured, why not make it happen. Dedicate a day in my life to visit all 29 stations and I’m curious to see what is out there.
Many times, I have bypassed these areas because I was going to another station but I want to see what lies outside these stations.
So, here is my Yamanote Line Challenge. I must take photos and video of each station (interior and exterior) and visit three locations outside the station. By making it three, it allows me to visit all of them.
Because I have visited Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Akihabara, Nippori and Ueno Station already and many locations outside the station, these stations can receive a pass (I will be visiting them again anyway) to allow for more time at these other stations.
But we’ll see how things go!
