A Japanese actress reported on social media that she spent her weekend walking 46 kilometers. Rather than call her crazy, fans on social media lauded her for the achievement.
The actress’ route? None other than Tokyo’s most useful and famous train line. While most sensible people simply ride the train, many in Tokyo take up the challenge of tracing the line on foot and hitting every station along the way. Heck, there’s even an annual competition centered on it.
A 46-kilometer tour
On April 20th, 2026, actress, model, and celebrity Yamanouchi Suzu (Oh! My Boss, Baka Yarō no Kisu) proudly reported her achievement on her X and Instagram accounts:
“Yesterday I walked the 46 kilometers of the Yamanote Line with almost no leg damage – I’m deliriously happy! I did it in one go in about 12 hours while taking the proper breaks.”
Lest someone call her a liar, Yamanouchi followed up with a post showing each of the stations at which the train stops, along with timestamps.
If you live in Tokyo or have been here even a day, you know the Yamanote Line. Operated by JR East, the critical line stretches for 34.5 kilometers in a loop around Tokyo. With a total of 30 stations, it hits some of the city’s major urban centers and tourist attractions, including Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, and Tokyo Station.
The Yamanote is an old line, with some version of it dating back to 1909 (Meiji 42). It began operation in its current loop format in 1925 and recently marked its 100-year anniversary. The train runs in two directions: An outer loop going clockwise (the Shibuya->Ikebukuro->Ueno route) and an inner loop running counter-clockwise (Tokyo->Shinagawa->Shibuya).
The Yamanote is one of the world’s busiest train lines, serving up to four million passengers a day. Despite running frequent trains, it can reach peak rush-hour congestion of 170%. Its stops at Tokyo, Shinjuku, and Shinagawa stations connect passengers with various express trains and Japan’s Shinkansen (bullet) service.
Of course, you can’t actually walk the tracks. That’s why Yamanouchi ended up at 46km. The distance actually walked changes depending on which surface route you take. Most people can finish it in around 12 hours – 10 and a half hours of walking time with two to three hours for breaks.
A great way to see Tokyo’s diversity (and get a ridiculous number of steps)
No matter how you slice it, walking the Yamanote is a hike. But it’s also a fun challenge, which is why Tokyoites have spent decades pushing themselves to hoof the whole length.
What’s the attraction (beyond just being able to gasp “I’M ALIVE!!” at the end)? On top of the challenge, the walk gives you a nice tour that showcases the diversity of inner Tokyo. You’ll experience Harajuku fashion, Shinjuku nightlife, Takadanobaba college-town vibes, Ikebukuro’s pop culture scene, Akihabara tech and geek culture, Sugamo’s kitschiness, Kanda’s Showa-retro atmosphere, and Komagome’s Shitamachi feel.
Maybe that’s why walking the Yamanote has such a long-lived appeal. One group, the Tokyo Walking Association, has been holding an organized group walk for over six decades. Last year’s walk in December 2025 marked its 63rd year.
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The Yamathon: It’s not a competition (except it is)
For some people, the challenge is easier if there’s some incentive. Some form of gamification.
Enter the Tokyo Yamathon.
Slated to take place on October 11th, 2026, the Yamathon challenges teams of two to four people to hit every station of the Yamanote line in under 12 hours. Teams pay 14,000 yen ($88) to participate in either the full or half marathon.
It’s all for fun, with proceeds and donations going to various local nonprofits. Last year’s walk, its 16th annual, drew 3,000 participants and raised 14.8M yen ($93K) for charities such as Waffle, which works to close the gender gap for women in technology. Waffle and other beneficiaries also set up booths at the beginning and end of the walks to promote their missions.
Doing it on your own
Of course, you don’t need to participate in an event to walk the Yamanote. You can do it all on your own. The Internet is full of posts from Japanese walkers who have done the route themselves and posted photos online. Even some English-language bloggers and photographers, like Dacian Groza, have gotten in on the action.
Want to do it yourself? Simple. Find your nearest Yamanote station and then use Google Maps to map your walk to the next one. Repeat this process 29 times until you feel like you want to chop your legs off at the pelvis.
My recommendation: Choose your ending station based on where you want to eat. For example, you can time your trip to end at Takadanobaba for a large bowl of roast beef ramen. Or Uguisudani for Cafe Den and its delicious gra-pan bowls – bread bowls filled with stew or curry .
Eat as much as you want. You’ve earned it.
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第６３回 山手線一周ウォーク 東京ウォーキング協会
