A Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line train approaches its terminal platforms during a March 2023 visit. The Marunouchi Line, one of Tokyo’s earliest postwar subway routes, opened in 1954 and played a key role in connecting the expanding Yamanote district centers with government and commercial areas in central Tokyo. Its distinctive red livery has remained a defining visual identity for decades, even as the rolling stock has undergone multiple modernizations.

Ikebukuro, the northern terminus of the line, is one of Tokyo’s busiest rail hubs, jointly served by JR East, the Seibu and Tobu railway networks, and several Metro lines. The station complex was heavily rebuilt throughout the late 20th century to handle increasing commuter volumes, resulting in the multi-level platform and passageway layout still in use today.

The historic Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station glows warmly at dusk, its red-brick exterior and copper domes standing in contrast to the modern skyscrapers of the surrounding Marunouchi business district. Opened in 1914 and designed by architect Tatsuno Kingo, the station served as the central gateway for Japan’s expanding rail network during the early 20th century.

The dramatic juxtaposition in this March 2023 photograph highlights more than a century of architectural evolution: the restored station building—meticulously reconstructed after wartime damage—foregrounds the sleek high-rise towers that define contemporary central Tokyo. Together, they illustrate how Tokyo layers historic preservation and modern development within one of the busiest transport hubs in the world.

The entrance to Yotsuya-sanchome Station on Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi Line (M11) is shown at night, featuring a clean, modern design with bright signage and red elevator doors. The station serves the Shinjuku district and connects to key destinations like Shinjuku, Ogikubo, and Tokyo Station. Braille paving and clear bilingual signs reflect Tokyo Metro’s accessibility standards and emphasis on wayfinding.

A color-coded stairway inside Nippori Station directs passengers to the Keisei Line platforms, the primary transfer point for travelers heading to Narita Airport on the high-speed Skyliner. Nippori serves as a major interchange between JR East lines, the Keisei Main Line, and the Nippori–Toneri Liner, linking northern Tokyo neighborhoods to the broader regional network. The mixed architecture—older steel passageways alongside newer safety upgrades like platform-edge barriers—reflects the station’s layered development since its opening in 1905. Today, Nippori remains one of Tokyo’s most important cross-rail transfer nodes, especially for airport-bound passengers navigating the city’s extensive transit system.

Multiple rail lines converge near Nippori Station in Tokyo, a key junction connecting the JR Yamanote, Keisei, and Joban lines. The illuminated signals and overhead power lines reveal the complexity of the city’s rail infrastructure as it weaves through residential and industrial zones. To the right, elevated expressway supports and nearby buildings frame the corridor, emphasizing Tokyo’s dense layering of transport systems and urban development.

A commuter train passes through Nippori Station in Tokyo beneath an elevated expressway. Nippori is a major interchange for the JR Yamanote, Keisei, and Joban lines, connecting central Tokyo with Narita Airport and surrounding neighborhoods. The scene reflects the district’s tightly integrated infrastructure, where multiple rail lines and highways converge within a compact urban corridor.

An entrance to Tokyo Metro’s Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, marked with the station code G-19, leads commuters down a clean, tiled stairway under the red-painted gateway structure. The illuminated signage displays route maps and directional guidance, combining modern wayfinding with the surrounding area’s traditional aesthetic. Located near Sensō-ji Temple, this entrance reflects Asakusa’s balance of old Tokyo charm and contemporary transit design.

A small soba counter operates inside Asakusa Underground Street, one of Tokyo’s oldest surviving subterranean shopping arcades. Tucked beneath the streets near Asakusa Station, these compact eateries serve quick bowls of soba and udon to commuters and visitors moving between the metro and the surrounding neighborhood.

Opened in 1955, Asakusa Underground Street is considered the oldest underground shopping street in Japan. Its narrow corridors, low ceilings, and tightly packed storefronts preserve a postwar atmosphere that has largely vanished from Tokyo as major stations modernized. The passageway originally developed as a practical connection point for transit riders, but it evolved into a lively network of bars, snack counters, tobacconists, and small service shops. Today, despite gradual renovation, it remains one of the city’s most atmospheric relics of mid-20th-century urban life—an example of how Tokyo’s underground spaces doubled as both transportation infrastructure and neighborhood social hubs.

Shimbashi Station serves as a key interchange between Tokyo’s dense urban rail systems, connecting JR East lines with the Yurikamome automated transit route to Odaiba. The elevated Yurikamome track, seen here curving above the city streets, is a fully driverless, rubber-tired train line that opened in 1995 to link Tokyo’s central business districts with its reclaimed waterfront developments.

This structure’s sleek metallic architecture and tiered design reflect Japan’s approach to maximizing space efficiency in high-density transport corridors. The network below includes the JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, and the Toei Asakusa Line, making Shimbashi one of the most vertically integrated transit hubs in Japan.

A close-up of a Japanese IC card recharge machine shows a bright pink interface with the word “チャージ” (charge) displayed prominently. The IC logo indicates it’s used for topping up transit smart cards like Suica or Pasmo. On the right side, selectable amounts range from 1,000 to 10,000 yen. The machine’s metal casing and reflective surface hint at its location inside a modern subway or train station.

The brick exterior of Shimbashi Station displays its bold green lettering in both Japanese and English, marking one of Tokyo’s busiest commuter hubs. Opened in 1872 as Japan’s first railway terminal, Shimbashi holds deep historical significance while continuing to serve modern rail lines, including JR East and Tokyo Metro. The building’s retro façade contrasts with the skyscrapers surrounding it, symbolizing Tokyo’s seamless blend of heritage and contemporary transit infrastructure.

Target Field Station in Minneapolis during a winter sunrise, viewed across the railyard as snowplow trucks clear nearby roadways. Opened in 2014, the station serves as the western terminus for METRO Blue and Green Line light-rail service and functions as a multimodal hub for events at Target Field and the surrounding North Loop district. Its distinctive steel canopy and track arrangement were designed to accommodate both current transit operations and future extensions, reflecting the region’s long-term rail planning strategy. The elevated vantage also highlights the mix of transit, freight infrastructure, and redevelopment that continues to reshape this former warehouse district.

Lake Street / Midtown Station in South Minneapolis during November snowfall.

Cedar-Riverside train station in South Minneapolis.

Franklin Avenue Light Rail station with a Metro Transit squad car.

Target Field Station in Downtown Minneapolis at night.

Starbucks located at 450 S Marquette Ave. in Downtown Minneapolis after it was boarded up following the murder of George Floyd.

George Floyd graffiti on Midtown Station in South Minneapolis seen on August 22, 2020.

Graffiti reading No Sleep Til Justice on the Lake Street/Midtown Station signage in South Minneapolis.

The Warehouse District Light Rail platform in Downtown Minneapolis with caution tape.