I took the Yamanote Loop Line and alighted at every stop (Part 3)
Welcome to part 3 of my adventure on the Yamanote Line (山手線 Yamanote-sen) and the conclusion to this article series! Previously in part 2, I described my uchi-mawari (内回り anti-clockwise) adventure from Yurakucho Station (JY30) to Otsuka Station (JY12). In this final part, I will resume my journey from Ikebukuro Station (池袋駅 Ikebukuro-eki) and conclude with a short reflection on this insightful journey!
Ikebukuro (JY13): Shopper’s heaven
(Image credit: LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & ykanazawa1999 / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 & Endure Goh)
Ikebukuro (池袋) is the perfect place for shopaholics as the vicinity of the station (池袋駅 Ikebukuro-eki) consists almost exclusively of major department stores and shopping arcades that offer a wide array of goods. From luxury goods to collectables from the latest anime, shoppers can be assured that this one-stop retail paradise can satisfy their shopping needs.
Commence the shopping spree! (Image credit: Endure Goh)
Ikebukuro is also popular among the ladies as there are butler cafes that help to satisfy their fantasy of being pampered as princesses, or being tended to by charming gentlemen in handsome butler suits! Of course, men are also welcome to partake in the same experience and I am interested in doing so on my next visit to Ikebukuro.
Mejiro (JY14): Office, residence and a lucky surprise
Interior of Mejiro Station. (Image credit: LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Endure Goh)
As the kanji “白” (shiro) in the station name suggests, Mejiro Station (目白駅 Mejiro-eki) has a pristine whiteness—the walls and floors of the station are mostly white and the entire station is well-lit. Furthermore, the colours of the stores within the station are either white or have light colours that reinforce the whiteness of the station, providing a contrasting surprise from the colourful or slightly dark interior of the stations before.
Recharging myself with zangi. (Image credit: Endure Goh)
Like Komagome, Sugamo, and Otsuka, the vicinity of Mejiro Station features a mix of commercial and residential buildings. However, I had a pleasant surprise when I was greeted by a good truck selling zangi (ザンギ) chicken just outside the station. Zangi is a Hokkaido speciality that is similar to kara-age (唐揚げ fried chicken). Unlike kara-age where the meat is battered and deep-fried, the meat for zangi is marinated with ingredients such as soy sauce and ginger and deep-fried without batter. After a long day of adventure, the aroma of the zangi hypnotised me to purchase it and I devoured it within minutes, completely forgetting to take pictures of the mouth-watering snack!
Takadanobaba (JY15): Students and prep school
(Image credit: 江戸村のとくぞう & LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Endure Goh)
Recharged by a brief snack, I ventured towards Takadanobaba Station (高田馬場駅 Takadanobaba-eki) and was bombarded by billboards advertising supplementary education services. The vicinity of Takadanobaba Station is concentrated with prep schools (予備校 yobikо̄) that offer tuition services to help students excel in the university entrance exams.
Fierce competition among prep schools. (Image credit: Endure Goh)
According to the locals, Takadanobaba is also one of the more accessible stations to the prestigious Waseda University (早稲田大学). Hence, the vicinity of the station is visited mostly by students from Waseda University stopping by for a quick dinner or enjoying a nomikai (飲み会 drinking party) with their fellow friends. I was not able to observe this because the sale of alcohol was restricted during the state of emergency.
However, based on the accounts of the locals, the juxtaposition between partying university students and high schoolers exhausted from prep school depicts the lives led by students in different stages of education, where Japanese students can look forward to enjoying their university lives after overcoming the challenging university entrance examinations.
Shin-Okubo (JY16): Korean Town
Vicinity of Shin-Okubo Station. (Image credit: LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Endure Goh)
Shin-Okubo (新大久保) is known as the Korean Town of Tokyo because there are numerous retailers that sell cosmetic products, apparel and collector goods from South Korea. It is certainly the place for the locals to chase and purchase the latest South Korean fad.
Remembering the heroes of Shin-Okubo Station. (Image credit: Endure Goh)
However, I also speculate that another factor that contributed to the rise of Shin-Okubo as the Korean Town of Tokyo could be due to the heroic deed of Lee Soo-hyun back in 2001. Lee was an exchange student from South Korea and lost his life while attempting to rescue a passenger that fell onto the track of Shin-Okubo station with an oncoming train. His heroic deed alongside a Japanese man, Sekine Shiro, has been engraved in a commemorative notice in the station. I’d like to believe that the heroic deed of Lee served as the foundation for the rise of the Korean Town in Tokyo.
Shinjuku (JY17): The second labyrinth
Stepping forth into the labyrinth. (Image credit: Japan Railway / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Endure Goh)
Just like Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station (新宿駅 Shinjuku-eki) is another station that I struggle to navigate. Known as the busiest station in Japan (and quite possibly in the world), Shinjuku Station serves as an essential interchange comprising numerous rail lines with a mind-blogging number of exits.
I am definitely not getting into that crowd… (Image credit: Endure Goh)
Despite the state of emergency, Shinjuku Station was swarming with passengers and I was nearly diverted to the wrong exit for my adventure. Usually, I avoid transiting at Shinjuku Station unless I am absolutely certain of my way to the transiting platform. However, if you enjoyed the confusing navigation at Tokyo Station, I recommend that you challenge yourself to the labyrinth of Shinjuku Station.
Yoyogi (JY18): More prep schools with food to console
(Image credit: LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Rs1421 / CC BY-SA 3.0 & Endure Goh)
Similar to Takadanobaba, the vicinity of Yoyogi Station (代々木駅 Yoyogi-eki) also has a high concentration of prep schools for high schoolers. Furthermore, there are some vocational schools (専門学校 senmongakkо̄). The vicinity of Yoyogi is also well known for selling various cultural cuisines from around the globe, some of which are priced reasonably for the tight budget of students.
Yoyogi seems to be the perfect place for students to focus on their studies while re-energising themselves with delicious gourmets. Apart from that, park-goers will be pleased to know that Yoyogi Station is sandwiched between and is within walking distance of two of Tokyo’s most popular parks: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Yoyogi Park.
Harajuku (JY19): Land of lolita fashion and shopping
A vibrant place to showcase the vibrant colours of lolita fashion. (Image credit: LERK / CC BY-SA 4.0 & Dick Thomas Johnson / CC BY 2.0 & Endure Goh)
Finally, the last station of my adventure around the Yamanote Loop Line! Harajuku (原宿) has made a name for itself as the land of lolita fashion where like-minded individuals who share the passion for lolita fashion dress up and assemble to enjoy their hobby. The vibrant colour scheme of the nearest shopping arcade, Takeshita Street (竹下通り Takeshita-dōri), aligns itself with the vibrant colours of lolita fashion.
My spooky senses are tingling… What about you? (Image credit: Endure Goh)
Unfortunately, I did not spot anyone wearing lolita fashion probably because I visited the place early in the morning. However, it was a nice change of pace to see only a small crowd which would otherwise be crowded with people. An interesting spot that I found tucked in a corner of the vicinity around the station exit is a non-operating railway platform that has been sealed off to the general public. I imagine that this spot is perfect for any horror-themed activities when night falls. The absence of human traffic and the gated fences reminds me of similar scenes from horror movies and video games.
Concluding thoughts
There you have it—all 30 stations of the Yamanote Line and their respective vicinities! I started this adventure amidst Japan's state of emergency so I may not have been able to experience the full attractions of the various places and describe its full glory. However, the reduced human traffic also meant that I did not have to jostle with the crowd and could slow down to carefully observe all the stations on the Yamanote Loop Line and their immediate vicinities.
I slowed down so much that I took TWO whole days to finish this adventure! Veteran travellers to Japan are familiar with the Yamanote Loop Line in their extensive travels; however, the line has more to offer and so do the places serviced by it. I invite you to embark on a similar adventure and share with everyone what more the Yamanote Loop Line has to offer!
Header image credit: Mentor_Henry
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