I Took the Wrong Station Exit in Japan — How Do I Get to My Destination?

Short answer

Find the exit number you used, then compare it with the destination on the station map. Tokyo Metro publishes numbered exits and vicinity maps, and its guidance points travelers to yellow exit signs after the fare gate. If you are outside at the wrong exit, plan a street-level walk to the intended exit or destination. Check the building name and street crossing before moving; do not tap back into a paid area just to cross the station.

Do this now

1
Read the exit number or name above you.
Keep the sign in view; large station complexes can have multiple numbered exits and operators.
2
Open the operator's station map.
Locate your current exit and the exit or landmark closest to the destination.
3
Choose a street-level route.
Follow named streets, crossings and building entrances; check accessible routes if stairs are a problem.
4
Check the destination's building details.
Confirm its Japanese name, floor and entrance after you reach the correct side.

Wrong side or wrong railway?

Tokyo Metro's station maps identify exits, nearby buildings and barrier-free paths. If the map points to an exit of another operator, first identify that operator's station area; the same station name can cover different gates and passages.

Practical advice: use a surface crossing or public passage shown on the map. Re-entering the paid area can create a new fare or IC-card record and should not be used as an assumed shortcut.

If that fails

Show the destination's Japanese name and address to station staff or a nearby information desk, and ask which public exit is closest. If you have reached the building but cannot see a restaurant door, use the existing building/floor guide.

At the building but cannot find the restaurant →

Useful Japanese

この住所へは何番出口ですか。 — Which numbered exit should I use for this address?

FAQ

Should I tap back through the gates to reach the other exit?

Do not assume paid-area re-entry is a free passage. Use the public street or passage shown on the station map, or ask staff about the correct route.

Official sources

Check the source directly if your journey depends on a detail.

Tokyo Metro: Getting off the SubwayExit numbers, yellow signs and vicinity maps after the fare gate.Tokyo Metro: Station mapsStation-specific exit and vicinity map lookup.Tokyo Metro: Using station mapsHow to find exits, nearby buildings and accessible routes on maps.

Checked against official Japanese sources · Last verified September 29, 2026