Needing some original Sunday morning dog walking ideas, my wife and I decided to walk round the famous green train line which passes through most of Tokyo’s urban centres in a loop. I should point out that our little six-year-old chihuahua would do a mix of walking and being carried either in my arms or in his backpack.

The 35-kilometre route for the whole Yamanote line was broken down into five trips. The 1st four (Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4) consisted of walks between Tokyo station (JY01) and Osaki (JY24) and we begin the 4th part back at the latter in order to fully navigate the line on foot.

Date: Sunday 8th March 2026

Starting Point: Osaki (JY24)

End Point: Tokyo (JY01)

Duration: 5 hours

Approximate Distance: 9 km

Our dog liked the wide, empty paths either side of our stop at the ever-bustling Shinagawa station. Takanawa Gateway is the most recent addition to the Yamanote Line having opened in 2020. The station was designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma and typically features a lot of wooden style which is his trademark. Outside the station were a few wooden carts for freely riding around the area on which was good fun.

The iconic landmark that is Tokyo Tower could be seen in the near distance as we approached Tamachi station.

Tamachi is perhaps the station area I know the least about on the whole line so it was quite nice to have a brief look around beyond the station itself.

Who knew that Tamachi had a Hollywood-style sign? Not I.

We later passed a burger restaurant cleverly using the McDonalds logo upside down to say “Welcome” to their store. Let’s see how long that survives before the fast-food giant’s lawyers get in touch!

In the four previous parts, I have stressed that this venture’s not really about seeing a load of sights as it is basically just a glorified dog walk! Just as well really as they are few and far between really. Luckily, I see the stations themselves as sights especially around Shimbashi station.

The Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center in Ginza appeared in the first ever ‘Tokyo Moder Architecture‘ post in 2012 and I’m pretty sure this was the first time to see it since then!

This tiny little shrine in Yurakucho is one I’ve visited numerous times when passing through that area. Sadly, dogs are not allowed in such places.

The Shinkansen (bullet train) could be seen overhead as we passed through Yurakucho and pushed on to the finish line. Our journey was definitely much, much slower!

Not long after that and we were back at Tokyo station where this little adventure had begun five months earlier. It was very familiar territory for the little fella who has been to Tokyo station a fair few times now and may well be the first chihuahua (or even dog!) to have walked (or been carried!) round the whole Yamanote Line.

Mission complete! That may be the end of this walking adventure but there is more to come still as I did something at each and every one of the 30 stops so that will appear in a post very soon.

Click here to read ‘Cycling Round the Yamanote Line in the Opposite Direction To 12 Years Ago!’

Click here to read ‘Cycling the Yamanote Line (2009)’ 

Click here to read ‘#WeStopAtNothing! Platform Zeros in Japan, Z Stations in Tokyo & The Opening of a New Yamanote Line Station’

Click here to read ‘The Complete Tour of Katakana-Named Stations in Tokyo’