Shimbashi Station SL Square – Tokyo, Japan - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Shimbashi Station SL Square

Tokyo, Japan

The decommissioned steam engine’s whistle can still be heard three times a day at one of Japan’s oldest train stations. 

View all photos
The C11–292 steam train. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
The C11–292 steam train. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
The D51 steam locomotive wheel. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
SL Square, 2009. painreef3108
SL Square, 2016. Nesnad
“The Girl and Her Guide Dog” sculpture. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
“Statue of Love” by Danji Seto. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
99
110
Top Places in Tokyo
Giant Unicorn GUNDAM Robot
Tokyo, Japan
Hachiko
Tokyo, Japan
Shirahige-Higashi Firewall Apartment Complex
Tokyo, Japan
 See All

Shimbashi is a busy district in Tokyo known for its numerous izakaya-style bars and restaurants, typically frequented by groups of “salarymen” looking for a drink after a long day of work. The most popular meet-up spot for these barhoppers is the old-fashioned steam locomotive train in the square outside Shimbashi Station, one of the oldest railway stations in Japanese history.

Officially named the Shimbashi Station West Entrance Square, the so-called SL Square was created in 1972 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Japan’s railway transport system. The district served as the starting point of the railway going from Tokyo to Yokohama, established in October 1872. At the time, Shimbashi Station was named Karasumori while what is now known as Shiodome Station was called Shimbashi.

The steam locomotive (hence “SL”) train is a real one of the C11-292 type, used from 1945 to 1972. It blows a whistle three times a day. During the winter season around November-January, it is decorated with Christmas lights and illuminated at night.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.
Book Now
train stations trains history & culture
Community Contributors
Fred Cherrygarden
Added by
Fred Cherrygarden
P
Edited by
Pierfrancesco
Published
February 21, 2023
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Shiotama
0.23 miles
The Giant Ghibli Clock
0.23 miles
Café Paulista
0.26 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Shiotama crawling on all fours in NTV plaza.
Tokyo, Japan

Shiotama

Steampunk, humanoid sculptures crawl on all fours in a Tokyo plaza.
The clock is at the Nippon TV tower in Shiodome, Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan

The Giant Ghibli Clock

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.
Tokyo, Japan

Café Paulista

Luminaries from Albert Einstein to John Lennon once had a cup of coffee at Tokyo's oldest café.
Commercials from some decades ago.
Tokyo, Japan

Ad Museum Tokyo

This museum celebrates the history of Japanese advertising, from feudal business tricks to modern T.V. commercials.
Related Places
Takao Railway Museum
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Takao Railway Museum

A museum commemorates what was once the largest freight station in Taiwan.
Prince Station
Prince, West Virginia

Prince Station

In the mountains of West Virginia is this perfectly preserved Art Deco train station.
Scenes from the "Modern" age of science.
New Orleans, Louisiana

Union Passenger Terminal Murals

Striking images of New Orleans history, including colonizers, soldiers, Klansmen, scientists, sharecroppers, and more, are depicted in frescoes that line the walls of this transportation hub.
The station.
Toyoura, Japan

Koboro Station

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web