Yotsuya-sanchome Station
M11 · Marunouchi Line · Shinjuku
Yotsuya-sanchome Station (四谷三丁目)
M11 opened on 15 March 1959, the same day as its neighbour Yotsuya, when the Marunouchi Line was extended through this part of Shinjuku. It lies directly beneath the crossroads where National Route 20, the old Koshu Kaido and now Shinjuku-dori, meets Gaien-higashi-dori, and the crossing has given the station its shape and its name alike: Yotsuya-sanchome is simply the third block of Yotsuya.
Everything at this station is on one level. The two side platforms and both ticket halls are at B1, which is shallow even by the standards of a 1950s line, and for decades there was no way across between them inside the barrier; an underground passage linking the two platforms was in place by 2011. Platform 1 serves trains towards Shinjuku, Ogikubo and Nakano-fujimicho, platform 2 those towards Ginza and Ikebukuro. An emergency crossover sits at the Ogikubo end, and the station was given its own departure melodies when one-person operation began. In 2025 it was used by 42,902 people on an average day.
Finding Yotsuya-sanchome on the signs
Every line gives the station its own letter-and-number code. You never have to read the Japanese name to find the right platform.
Station numbers at Yotsuya-sanchome
Tokyo signposts every platform, exit and train door with a letter and a two-digit number. Matching the number is faster than reading the name — and it is what you will see on the map, in announcements and on the platform edge.
First and last trains at Yotsuya-sanchome
| Line and direction | Weekdays first – last | Saturdays, Sundays & holidays first – last |
|---|---|---|
| MMarunouchiM11 towards Ikebukuro | 05:04 – 23:59 | 05:04 – 23:59 |
| MMarunouchiM11 towards Ogikubo | 05:30 – 00:25 to Shinjuku | 05:31 – 00:25 to Shinjuku |
Departure times come from the operators’ own GTFS timetables (ODPT GTFS Toei-Train-GTFS (version 20261009, valid 2026-03-14..2027-03-12) + TokyoMetro-Train-GTFS (version 20261008, valid 2026-09-19..2027-03-12)). Japan publishes two subway timetables: 平日 weekdays and 土休日 Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays. There is no separate Sunday timetable, and the December 30 – January 3 period runs the holiday timetable.
How often do trains run?
| Line | Weekdays, busiest hour | Sat / Sun / holidays, busiest hour |
|---|---|---|
| MMarunouchi | 27 trains/hour (about one every 2.2 min) | 15 trains/hour |
Departures in one direction during the hour with the most trains at this station, counted in the operators’ timetable.
Next stations from Yotsuya-sanchome
Scheduled running time between Yotsuya-sanchome and the stations either side of it.
| Line | Next station | Running time |
|---|---|---|
| MMarunouchi | M10Shinjuku-gyoemmae | 2 min |
| MMarunouchi | M12Yotsuya | 2 min |
Transfers and connections
Only the Marunouchi Line stops here, and no other railway serves this station, so there is nothing to transfer to inside the station.
Accessibility
| Line | Step-free by elevator | Accessible toilet | Escalator | Exits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMarunouchi | Yes | Yes | Not listed | 4 |
- Marunouchi Line: Step-free elevator route street-gate-platform (official “1-route by elevator”). Street elevator at exit(s): 2, 3. Operator page (checked Oct 20, 2026).
Taken from the operators’ own accessibility pages and nothing else. Tokyo Metro: the “1-route” (step-free street-gate-platform path by elevator, slope, stair lift or wheelchair escalator) is complete at all 180 stations; a separate list shows stations with an elevator-only 1-route.
What is near Yotsuya-sanchome Station?
The Fire Museum, run by the Tokyo Fire Department, is about 60 m from the exits and is the obvious thing to come up for; the fire station itself is next door. Temples and shrines crowd the blocks behind: Anzenji about 140 m away, the Shikokusan Zen temple about 190 m, Sho-oji about 200 m, Hounji about 240 m, and Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine and Suga Jinja at about 300 m and 400 m. The Fishing Culture Museum is about 340 m off, and the Shinjuku Historical Museum and the Tokyo Toy Museum are both nearby.
| Place | Distance (straight line) | On foot, estimated |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Museum 消防博物館 | 60 m | about 1 min |
| Anzenji Temple 安禅寺 | 140 m | about 2 min |
| Shikokusan Zen Temple 四谷山 笹寺 | 190 m | about 3 min |
| Jounji Temple 増光山 浄運寺 | 300 m | about 5 min |
| Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine お岩稲荷田宮神社 | 300 m | about 5 min |
| Shin'eiji Temple 眞英寺 | 400 m | about 6 min |
| Suga Jinja Shrine 須賀神社 | 400 m | about 6 min |
| 大黒山 円通寺 | 300 m | about 5 min |
Places from OpenStreetMap within 400 m of the station. The walking time is an estimate (straight line plus 30 %, 80 m a minute), not a measured route. © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, now. The station has two side platforms, each with its own ticket hall at B1, and for most of its life there was no connection between them inside the barrier. An underground passage linking the two had been provided by 2011, so entering on the wrong side is no longer a problem.
The Yotsuya-sanchome crossroads, where National Route 20 — Shinjuku-dori, the old Koshu Kaido — crosses Gaien-higashi-dori. The station runs under the junction, which is why its exits come up on four different corners, and the Tokyo Fire Department’s station and museum stand on one of them.