How to Use Free Shuttle Buses Around Tokyo Station

The Start of Summer Break in a Household with Kids

I got mad at my kid today.
Here’s how it happened.

People don’t really listen to CDs anymore, do they?
It might not click with younger folks, but in our CD-generation household, we still have an old CD boombox and, along with it, an equally old amplifier.
Of course, there’s a row of CDs sitting right next to them.
My kid wanted to open one of the CDs, so I popped open the case and showed it to them.
Then, they tried to spin the CD—still in its case—with their finger.
So I said,
“We don’t do that. No touching. No spinning. Got it?”

I made sure to check they understood.
They seemed satisfied with that, so I thought, “Phew, good, all clear,” and relaxed for a moment.

…And in that very moment, they were spinning the CD that was still inside the boombox with their finger.
(This is where I got mad.)

I took it out and checked.
A deep scratch went all the way around.
Just to be sure, I checked another CD—an American pressing of the Brian Jones-era classic, Out of Our Heads.
Same kind of scratch, same place.

(I opened it for them. I said no spinning. I double-checked. So why would they do that?)

I felt completely deflated.

I told my partner about it.
And they said,
“Maybe you should keep it upstairs?”

No, no—why is that the response?
If I had asked, “Should we keep the boombox upstairs or downstairs?”
Then sure, “Maybe upstairs?” would make sense.

But that’s not what I needed just now.
We’ve already had that conversation before—more than once.
But here I am, in a really low moment, and that’s what I get again.
Ugh.

Now that summer break has started, our kid’s been acting up even more these past few days.
“One ice cream a day! You already had one! Just one, okay?!”
“Waaaaah!!” (screaming)

Hearing those shouts and shrieks all day long makes me feel like I’m losing it.
It’s not so much a chain reaction of family stress—
More like the stress has nowhere to go, swirling and building up, just stuck inside the house.
That’s more what it feels like.

And yet.

Even through all this, we parents still try to give our kids good summer memories.

How to Use Free Shuttle Buses Around Tokyo Station

Daily Life Guides in Japan

2025.08.042025.08.14

Free circulating buses are very convenient for short-distance travel around Tokyo Station. I often use them when going to Nihonbashi. Several buses run on a regular schedule, so if you wait a little while, one will arrive soon.

There are three routes for the free buses, and each bus has a different color, making them easy to tell apart.

Marunouchi Shuttle
Metro Link Nihonbashi
Metro Link Nihonbashi e-Line

If you wait near the sign that marks the bus stop, a bus will come.

Actually Traveling from Nihonbashi to Tokyo Station
Arriving at Tokyo Station Nihombashi Exit
1. Marunouchi Shuttle Route
Riding the Free Bus Back
1. Heading Back from Yaesu Exit to Nihonbashi
2. Metro Link Nihonbashi e-Line Route

Actually Traveling from Nihonbashi to Tokyo Station

I’m heading from Nihonbashi 2-chome to Tokyo Station.

I got on the free shuttle bus. I’m heading to Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit.

I took this photo after getting off the bus. This is a free shuttle bus, and the word “無料” (free) is written on the side. On the front, “FREE” is clearly displayed in large letters.

This is a Metro Link Nihonbashi Line bus.

Arriving at Tokyo Station Nihombashi Exit

I arrived at the Nihombashi Exit of Tokyo Station. Now that I’m here, I’d like to take a photo of the Marunouchi Shuttle as well. To get to the opposite side of the station, I need to go through the underground passage.

This is Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit. I came out from Exit M11.

The free Marunouchi Shuttle bus just passed right in front of me.

Or so I thought—but I ran after it and managed to get a shot from behind.

I’m in front of the Shin-Marunouchi Building. The route looks like the one shown in the image below. There are two routes: one goes from Otemachi Tower to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and then returns to the Shin-Marunouchi Building. The longer route makes a wide loop and goes as far as Hibiya.

Marunouchi Shuttle Route

The official map is a bit hard to use, so I entered the route toward Hibiya into Google Maps myself. This is roughly what the route looks like. It gives you an easy way to move around a bit on the west side of Tokyo Station.

Riding the Free Bus Back

I’ve returned to Yaesu North Exit.

Heading Back from Yaesu Exit to Nihonbashi

Here’s the sign to look for.

There are a few people lining up. Even if the sign is hard to spot, it’s easy to find the stop because people are usually waiting there.

Just about to get on the bus. You board from the front and get off from the middle.

I’m back in Nihonbashi.

This is the route of the Metro Link Nihonbashi.

I didn’t ride it this time, but I did take a photo of the bus that runs on the Metro Link Nihonbashi e-Line.

The Metro Link Nihonbashi e-Line goes as far as Hamacho 2-chome and Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT). Compared to the Marunouchi Shuttle, it covers a much wider area. The map below is something I created by entering the route into Google Maps myself. Please note that it does not reflect the actual driving route—it’s just a reference image.

Metro Link Nihonbashi e-Line Route

It felt like being on a school field trip again — I really enjoyed the ride.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this little journey!