By Christina Kawamoto-Butler | CKB Travel
We’d been riding trains in Japan for days. At this point in the trip, we were walking around with full-blown main character energy. We’d navigated Tokyo. We’d been to Disneyland and DisneySea. We’d caught a boat across the city, moved hotels, hopped between lines like pros.
And then came Shinagawa Station.
And the moment we were reminded we are, in fact, still learning.
The Setup: Confidence High, Caution Low
We had just left Asakusa, a day full of temples, street food, and accidentally bumping into a local Hawaiian celeb (what are the chances?!). We caught the subway back toward our hotel near Shinagawa, transferring to the Toei/Keikyu line, which was already a little unfamiliar to us.
When we arrived at Shinagawa Station, we were moving fast—confident, seasoned travelers. We took our usual route toward the center gate exit, the one we’d used before on the JR Yamanote Line.
We scanned out of the Toei area without even thinking twice. Big mistake.
The Moment Everything Froze
We strolled up to the JR gates like we owned the place. I handed Keao her Suica card like we do at every transfer. She tapped it. Denied. I tried mine. Denied. We looked at each other… then at the gate… and realized:
We were trapped!
We had exited one system—Toei/Keikyu—but hadn’t completed the proper transfer to the JR side. And the gates were NOT having it. Basically, the system thought we had just teleported from one line to another without paying for the connection.
We were in train station purgatory. Couldn’t go forward, couldn’t go back. We had no idea what to do. Mele was ready to pick a place to sleep already!
The Breakdown (and Breakthrough)
I skimmed the small print on the gate’s rejection screen and saw something about going back to where you exited. Like… physically go back?
There was a tiny customer service booth near the Toei gate. I could already feel myself panicking—do I try to explain in Japanese? Do I just show them the error screen and pray?
Pat, calmly, says: “Just ask the guy.”
Right. Ask the guy. Logical, obvious, terrifying.
But here’s the thing: once we approached the Toei attendant, he didn’t sigh or roll his eyes or act like we were the 5th Americans to mess up that day. He smiled, looked at our cards, and nodded. A few taps, a polite hand gesture, and we were through.
It was that simple. And somehow, also not.
What I Learned from Being Stuck in Shinagawa
• Different lines mean different gates. Just because you’re in the same station doesn’t mean you can scan through like it’s one big system. Tokyo’s train networks are layers on layers.
• Confidence is great. Humility is better. Travel will always find a way to keep you grounded.
• Asking for help is not failure. It’s growth.
• Train purgatory is real. But also kind of hilarious in hindsight.
Final Thoughts
We made it back to the hotel that night—no worse for wear, just a little quieter and a lot more respectful of station signage. Sometimes the moments that don’t go perfectly are the ones you remember the most.
So if you ever find yourself stuck between gates in Japan, just remember: breathe, backtrack, and ask the guy.
He probably helps people like us all day long.
This was definitely a lesson in humility for me, getting lost, not knowing what to do, and asking for help. Growth is growth, and these are the funny memories we will cherish.
Need help planning your Japan trip without getting stuck in transit limbo? I’ve got you. Follow @CKBTravel or reach out to get custom itineraries and real advice from someone who’s lived it—train fumbles and all.
Discover more from CKB Travel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
