A few days after a mysterious list of the 51 busiest train stations in the world emerged on the Internet an expanded version listing the 100 busiest train stations around the globe has shown itself.
Although other countries such as China and Germany made appearances, the densely populated island of Japan still holds 82 of the bustling transport hubs. And while Japan seems full of stations that resemble Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, only the top 10 are really that freakishly large and chaotic.
We’ve probably all seen the world famous images of Japanese commuters being shoved onto a train like so many complimentary hotel towels into a suitcase. Still, let’s see it again because it’s funny.
Actually, for the most part the trains run smoothly and people board and get off in an orderly fashion. The drivers are professional and conduct things (mostly) like a perfectionist.
For example, here’s a platform for the Yamanote Line at the busiest train station in the world, Shinjuku Station. Despite the hundreds of people lining the platforms, trains smoothly roll in and out every two minutes or so stopping for a mere 40 seconds at a time. Check it out for some medium-paced, orderly action!
Even in the heavy snow of 14 January in Tokyo, the evenly paced trains continued unabated. At about 55 seconds into this video, you can see one driver even implement the “time to lean, time to clean” principle during his brief stop.
Delays can happen like when some poor soul chooses to use a train to end their life, but even in the busiest of stations, the trains run on time.
And so without further ado, here is the expanded list of 100 busiest train stations in the world. These figures are ranked on the number of passengers per year. Again, this data came to light with very little in the way of details such as transfers being included or the year measured, and could easily be subject to change.
1 Shinjuku (Tokyo, Japan)
2 Shibuya (Tokyo, Japan)
3 Ikebukuro (Tokyo, Japan)
4 Umeda-Osaka (Osaka, Japan)
5 Yokohama (Kanagawa, Japan)
6 Kita-Senju (Tokyo, Japan)
7 Nagoya (Aichi, Japan)
8 Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
9 Shinagawa (Tokyo, Japan)
10 Takadanobaba (Tokyo, Japan)
11 Namba (Osaka, Japan)
12 Shinbashi (Tokyo, Japan)
13 Tennoji (Osaka, Japan)
14 Akihabara (Tokyo, Japan)
15 Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
16 Sannomiya (Kobe, Japan)
17 Omiya (Saitama, Japan)
18 Yurakucho-Hibiya (Tokyo, Japan)
19 Nishi-Funabashi (Chiba, Japan)
20 Meguro (Tokyo, Japan)
21 Daimon-Hamamatsucho (Tokyo, Japan)
22 Ueno (Tokyo, Japan)
23 Oshiage (Tokyo, Japan)
24 Paris Nord (Paris, France)
25 Taipei (Taipei, Taiwan)
26 Machida (Tokyo, Japan)
27 Gare de Chatelet-Les Halles (Paris, France)
28 Kawasaki (Kanagawa, Japan)
29 Roma Termini (Rome, Italy)
30 Tamachi-Mita (Tokyo, Japan)
31 Kyobashi (Osaka, Japan)
32 Funabashi (Chiba, Japan)
33 Ayase (Tokyo, Japan)
34 Hamburg Central (Hamburg, Germany)
35 Yoyogi-Uehara (Tokyo, Japan)
36 Kamata (Tokyo, Japan)
37 Gotanda (Tokyo, Japan)
38 Kichijoji (Tokyo, Japan)
39 Kaneyama (Aichi, Japan)
40 Musashikosugi (Kanagawa, Japan)
41 Fujisawa (Kanagawa, Japan)
42 Oimachi (Tokyo, Japan)
43 Nakano (Tokyo, Japan)
44 Tachikawa (Tokyo, Japan)
45 Iidabashi (Tokyo, Japan)
46 Kashiwa (Chiba, Japan)
47 Hakata (Fukuoka, Japan)
48 Tsuruhashi (Osaka, Japan)
49 Nishi-Nippori (Tokyo, Japan)
50 Nakameguro (Tokyo, Japan)
51 Zurich Main (Zurich, Switzerland)
52 Osaki (Tokyo, Japan)
53 Ebisu (Tokyo, Japan)
54 Frankfurt Central (Frankfurt, Germany)
55 Munich Central (Munich, Germany)
56 Otemachi (Tokyo, Japan)
57 Shin-Osaka (Osaka, Japan)
58 Mizonoguchi (Kanagawa, Japan)
59 Sapporo (Hokkaido, Japan)
60 Jimbocho (Tokyo, Japan)
61 Sengakuji (Tokyo, Japan)
62 Nippori (Tokyo, Japan)
63 Ichigaya (Tokyo, Japan)
64 Kokubunji (Tokyo, Japan)
65 Milano Centrale (Milano, Italy)
66 Yodoyabashi (Osaka, Japan)
67 Noborito (Kanagawa, Japan)
68 Wakoshi (Saitama, Japan)
69 Matsudo (Chiba, Japan)
70 Fukuoka-Tenjin (Fukuoka, Japan)
71 Shanghai (Shanghai, China)
72 Berlin Central (Berlin, Germany)
73 Totsuka (Kanagawa, Japan)
74 Kinshicho (Tokyo, Japan)
75 Cologne Central (Cologne, Germany)
76 Yotsuya (Tokyo, Japan)
77 Shin-Kiba (Tokyo, Japan)
78 Gare Saint-Lazare (Paris, France)
79 Tsudanuma (Chiba, Japan)
80 Asakadai/Kita-Asaka (Saitama, Japan)
81 Shin-Koshigaya/Minami-Koshigaya (Saitama, Japan)
82 Ebina (Kanagawa, Japan)
83 Seoul (Seoul, Korea)
84 Shimokitazawa (Tokyo, Japan)
85 Chiba (Chiba, Japan)
86 Ochanomizu (Tokyo, Japan)
87 Okachimachi (Tokyo, Japan)
88 Amsterdam Central (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
89 Dusseldorf Central (Dusseldorf, Germany)
90 Hanover Central (Hanover, Germany)
91 London Waterloo (London, England)
92 Sakae (Aichi, Japan)
93 Nihonbashi (Tokyo, Japan)
94 Kanda (Tokyo, Japan)
95 Nagatsuda (Kanagawa, Japan)
96 Hiyoshi (Kanagawa, Japan)
97 Sugamo (Tokyo, Japan)
98 Ginza (Tokyo, Japan)
99 Ogikubo (Tokyo, Japan)
100 Sendai (Miyagi, Japan)
Source: Hachima Kiko (Japanese)
Videos: YouTube: meemee333jp, naha478 , naha478
Click here for an enlarged chart if you want to see the numbers. They’re measured in the tens of millions people per year.

The 51 Busiest Train Stations in the World– All but 6 Located in Japan
New study ranks the most notorious Japanese train stations for perverts
Tokyo’s busiest train stations have a new, free, English-compatible navigation app
Tokyo starts massive renovation project for entrances to the world’s busiest train station
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Krispy Kreme releases new limited-edition fox doughnuts at only four stores in Japan
Two new Sailor Moon art manhole covers are coming to Usagi’s real-world Tokyo neighborhood
KFC Japan’s “The American Burgers” include a pile of guilt
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Japanese government to allow desecration of flags on kids’ meals
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
What makes the Starbucks Japan chocolate terrine so popular?
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Navigate your way through Japan’s busiest train stations with Google Street View
150 Pokémon will be hiding in major Japanese train stations this fall, waiting for fans to find them
Train otaku say this is the narrowest train station platform in Japan
Tokyo Revengers anime/manga takes over Tokyo Station with dozens of character posters【Photos】
We visit Kyushu’s oldest wooden train station building, get hit with a nostalgia overload
Man hangs himself outside of Japan’s busiest train station
Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train will start offering wider seats, but will charge more for them too
Is this Japanese train crowded? Question divides the nation
This train station bento boxed lunch shop has been in business for nearly 100 years
Secret staff cafeteria at this Japanese train station is still open…for those in the know
Shitty Shinjuku – 30-meter streak of human turd spotted in Tokyo’s busiest train station
Woman decides to go for a walk on the busiest train tracks at Shibuya Station【Video】
Crabs take over electric signboard at Japanese train station
12 beautiful Japanese train stations by the sea