Shinagawa

Shinagawa (品川) is one of Tokyo's 23 wards, and Shinagawa Station is one of the city's busiest stations. Its convenience as a transportation hub has attracted many hotels, offices, restaurants and shops to the area. Shinagawa has been catering to travelers since the Edo Period (1603-1867), when it was the first stop on the main road linking Tokyo with Kyoto.

Shinagawa Station is one of the principal transportation hubs of Tokyo. The station connects many lines, including the Yamanote Line and the Tokaido Shinkansen. Direct train connections to both Haneda Airport and Narita Airport are provided by Keikyu Railways and the Narita Express, respectively. In effect, Shinagawa Station is a convenient place of departure for a great number of destinations.

Shinagawa Station has two exits, around which much development has taken place: the Takanawa Exit on the west side, and the Konan Exit on the east side. The Takanawa side has many hotels, and many branches of the Prince hotel chain in particular. There are a number of shopping malls, including the Shinagawa Prince Hotel complex that includes cinemas, bowling and the Epson Aqua Stadium aquarium with a variety of sea creatures, a dolphin pool and frequent shows.

The area around the Konan Exit has recently undergone extensive development. Many large office buildings and company headquarters are now located in the area. The buildings have been designed to meet all the needs of the workers; dining and shopping is available on the first few floors of each building, and a large garden space has been built to give the area a pleasant atmosphere.