Lost at Meguro Station?: Which Exit Should You Use?

Arrived at Meguro Station and not sure which exit to use?

Meguro Station is served by JR, Tokyu, Tokyo Metro, and Toei services, and the exit names can look different depending on which railway you are using.

The easiest thing to remember is:

Meguro River / Gonnosukezaka → West Exit side

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum / Shirokanedai → JR East Exit or Tokyu Main Gate

Here is a simple guide.

Quick Answer: Which Exit Should You Use?

Destination	Useful Exit
Meguro River (Shimomeguro / Gajoen side)	West Exit side
Gonnosukezaka	West Exit
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum	JR East Exit / Tokyu Main Gate
Shirokanedai direction	East side
Atre Meguro	Station area
Tokyu Meguro Line	Follow Tokyu signs
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line	Follow Namboku Line signs
Toei Mita Line	Follow Mita Line signs

Meguro River — Head Toward the West Side

If you want to walk toward the Meguro River around Shimomeguro and the Gajoen area, head toward the west side of Meguro Station.

From this side of the station, the road slopes downhill toward the river.

This can be a good starting point if you want to walk along the Meguro River.

However, if your main goal is the famous cherry blossom area around Nakameguro, Nakameguro Station is usually more convenient.

Meguro Station and Nakameguro Station are different stations.

Gonnosukezaka — Use the West Exit

For Gonnosukezaka, use the West Exit side.

The road slopes downhill from Meguro Station toward the Meguro River and Shimomeguro area.

One thing to remember:

Walking down from the station is easy, but coming back means walking uphill.

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum — Use the East Side

If you are arriving on the JR Yamanote Line, use:

Meguro Station → East Exit

The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum officially lists the walk from the JR East Exit as approximately 7 minutes.

If you arrive via the Tokyu Meguro Line, use the:

Main Gate

From there, continue toward the Shirokanedai area.

This is a good example of why the same destination may have different exit instructions depending on which railway you are using.

Why Do the Exit Names Look Different?

This is one of the confusing points at Meguro Station.

JR passengers will see JR exit names such as:

East Exit

and

West Exit

Passengers using the underground Tokyu station may see different gate and exit wording.

So if an online guide says “East Exit” but you cannot find exactly the same wording, first check which railway you arrived on.

Then follow the signs toward your destination.

Which Lines Stop at Meguro Station?

Meguro Station is served by:

• JR Yamanote Line
• Tokyu Meguro Line
• Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
• Toei Mita Line

The underground part of Meguro Station is managed by Tokyu Railways.

It serves the Tokyu Meguro Line, with through services from the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Toei Mita Line.

This is why the underground station can feel a little different from a typical Tokyo Metro or Toei station.

A Common Surprise: Meguro Station Is Not in Meguro City

Despite its name, Meguro Station is actually located in Shinagawa City (Shinagawa-ku).

It is very close to the border with Meguro City.

So if you search for Meguro Station and see an address in Shinagawa-ku, you have not chosen the wrong station.

Meguro and Nakameguro Are Different Stations

This is another easy mistake to make.

Meguro Station is served by the JR Yamanote Line, Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, and Toei Mita Line.

Nakameguro Station is served by the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.

If you are mainly visiting the famous cherry blossom section of the Meguro River, Nakameguro Station is usually more convenient.

If you want to explore the Shimomeguro side of the river, Meguro Station can be useful.

Transferring at Meguro Station

If you are transferring between JR and the underground railway lines, look for signs for:

Tokyu Meguro Line

Tokyo Metro Namboku Line

or

Toei Mita Line

Do not leave the station just because you see an exit sign.

Check the transfer signs first.

This can save you from going outside and having to re-enter the station.

Japan Life Steps Tip

At Meguro Station, do not think only:

“Which exit should I use?”

First ask:

“Which railway am I arriving on?”

Then choose the correct exit or gate.

For a simple rule:

Meguro River / Gonnosukezaka → West side

Teien Art Museum / Shirokanedai → East side

That will help you avoid walking down the wrong hill and having to climb back up.

Related Japan Life Steps Guide

If you are continuing south on the JR Yamanote Line, you may also find this useful:

Gotanda Station: Which Exit for TOC & Tokyu Square?

Official Information

For the latest station layout, exits, accessibility information, and route changes, check the official websites:

JR East — Meguro Station

Toei Transportation — Meguro Station

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum — Visit

Disclaimer:
Information in this article is based on official information available in 2026. Station layouts, exits, construction work, and access routes may change. Always check current station signs and official information when traveling.