Ōmiya Station

Ōmiya Station (おおみやえき, Ōmiya Station) is located in Ōmiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, and is one of the most important transportation hubs in eastern Japan. It is jointly operated by JR East, Tobu Railway, and Saitama New Urban Transit. As the largest transfer station north of Tokyo, it serves six Shinkansen lines (including the Tōhoku, Yamagata, Akita, Hokkaidō, Jōetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen), as well as multiple JR conventional lines, private railways, and a new transit system. It functions as a vital gateway connecting Tokyo with the Tōhoku, Northern Kantō, Shin’etsu, Hokuriku, and Hokkaidō regions, earning the nickname “the northern gateway of the metropolitan area.”

In terms of the number of lines, Ōmiya Station is second only to Tokyo Station. Including the Shinkansen, it serves 13 major lines, and when factoring in trains operating via freight lines (such as the Musashino Line’s “Musashino” and “Shimōsa” services), the total rises to 16, making it one of the busiest nodes in Japan’s railway network. With over 700,000 passengers boarding and alighting daily, it ranks first in Saitama Prefecture and among the top nationwide.

Ōmiya Station itself is located in the former city center of Ōmiya, which was already the area’s commercial hub prior to the merger that formed Saitama City. The surrounding area is filled with high-rise buildings, department stores, shopping malls, gourmet streets, and entertainment facilities, making it the largest downtown district in the prefecture. In addition, major road networks converge here, including the Shuto Expressway Saitama Shintoshin Line, National Routes 16 and 17, and the New Ōmiya Bypass. A large highway bus terminal is also located nearby, providing connections to destinations throughout the Kantō region and long-distance intercity services, solidifying its role as a true land transportation hub.

In terms of railway culture, Ōmiya has long been known as the “City of Railways,” a title officially designated since the Japanese National Railways era. To the north of the station is JR East’s Ōmiya General Rolling Stock Center (formerly the Ōmiya Works) and JR Freight’s Ōmiya Rolling Stock Center, while the south side houses the Ōmiya Marshalling Yard. On October 14, 2007, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of JR East’s founding, the “Railway Museum” was opened next to the General Rolling Stock Center. It has since become a beloved attraction for railway enthusiasts and families alike, drawing countless visitors every year.

In recent years, with growing demand for the Kita-Kantō and Tōhoku Shinkansen, Ōmiya has increasingly become a starting point for Shinkansen services. During holidays and peak travel seasons, special temporary trains such as the “Hayabusa” depart from Ōmiya, easing congestion at Tokyo Station and offering more flexible and convenient travel options.