Japanese Train Station Signs: Deguchi, Iriguchi & More (2026)
Decode Japanese train and subway signs — 出口 (exit), 入口 (entrance), 改札 (ticket gate), 乗り換え (transfer), and more — so you can move through stations without guessing at icons alone.
Japanese train station signs repeat a small set of words everywhere — JR, Tokyo Metro, and private railways included. Icons help, but they are not always present. Learn 出口, 入口, 改札, 乗り換え, and a few platform words and you can navigate most stations without guessing. This guide covers the Japanese train station signs meaning travelers search for most: deguchi, iriguchi, kaisatsu, and more (2026).
出口
でぐち · deguchi
Exit
Station corridors, department stores, event venues
入口
いりぐち · iriguchi
Entrance
Ticket halls, shops, parks, attractions
改札
かいさつ · kaisatsu
Ticket gate
JR, metro, and private-rail ticket barriers
乗り換え
のりかえ · norikae
Transfer / change trains
Interchange stations and transfer corridors
番線
ばんせん · bansen
Track / platform number
Platform indicators (e.g. 3番線 = platform 3)
のりば
のりば · noriba
Boarding point / bus or taxi stand
Bus stops, taxi ranks, some train platforms
精算機
せいさんき · seisanki
Fare adjustment machine
Near ticket gates when your IC card or ticket is short
How to use these signs in real stations
Start at the 改札: tap in with Suica/Pasmo (or insert a paper ticket). Inside the paid area, follow 番線 numbers to your platform and のりば if you are catching a bus or taxi upstairs. When changing lines, chase 乗り換え — corridors can be long, so move early. Leaving? 出口 signs lead out; if your fare is short, stop at a 精算機 before the exit gates.
Quick tip: numbers stick to 番線
Platform 3 is almost always written 3番線, not only “3”. Match that number on departure boards and overhead signs before you walk the wrong wing of a big station like Shinjuku or Tokyo.
FAQ
What does 出口 mean in Japanese?
Exit. Follow 出口 to leave the station or building.
What is the difference between 出口 and 入口?
出口 = exit, 入口 = entrance. Read the characters when arrows alone are unclear.
What does 改札 mean at a train station?
Ticket gate / ticket barrier.
What does 乗り換え mean on subway signs?
Transfer / change trains.
What is a 精算機?
Fare adjustment machine near the gates.
For more guides, see Japanese signs & words for tourists, warning & prohibition signs, and Tokyo Station smoking areas.
Tags: japanese signs tokyo travel tips tourist guide japan
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