Transfer to Nikko via Tokyo or Ueno?

Hi,

Tokyo station and Ueno Station is just 5 minutes train riding from my hotel. So my question is which station is better? Because both is so huge and I would like the station with the shortes transfer.

Thank you

Depends on what line you will be taking to Tokyo or Ueno and on whether you will be traveling by shinkansen or Utsunomiya Line. If you ride the shinkansen, note that the shinkansen platforms at Ueno are in a very deep basement. I always prefer using Tokyo. If you board in Tokyo, you also have a better situation of getting good non-reserved seats because it is the first station along the line, while Ueno is the second stop.

If you travel by Utsunomiya Line, it makes less of a difference.

But it also depends on what line you will be taking to get to Ueno or Tokyo. The Ginza Line in Ueno, for example, is quite a long walk from the JR platforms. A transfer from the Marunouchi Line at Tokyo Station, for example, is - in my opinion - more comfortable.

Thank you very much Uji-san I�Lll thake the Shinkansen from Tokyo station.

Question: How much time does it takes to transfer from Yamanote Line to Shinkansen plattform to Utsunomiya?

It would take myself 1-2 minutes from platform to platform because I do that transfer every other week. But the average tourist is probably going to take 2-5 minutes. Assuming that you have your shinkansen tickets purchased already.