Quick Answer
Quick Answer: Yes — Tokyo Station has trash cans near almost every ticket gate on both the Marunouchi side (west) and Yaesu side (east), on the 1st floor, basement 1st floor, and at the Keiyo Line gates. The one thing to know: platforms only have recycling bins for cans, bottles, and PET bottles from vending machines — there are no general trash cans once you're past the ticket gates and up on the platform. This guide shows you exactly where to find a bin at every major exit, floor by floor.
JR Tokyo Station — Trash can locations by gate (1F, B1F, and Keiyo Line)
Trash Cans on the 1st Floor (Marunouchi & Yaesu Gates)
Tokyo Station is one of Japan's largest terminal stations, served by the Tokaido and Tohoku Shinkansen, multiple JR commuter lines, and the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. The 1st floor has ticket gates on both the Marunouchi side (west) and Yaesu side (east) — North, Central, and South at each — and every one of them has a trash can nearby.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Floor map of trash can locations by gate
Marunouchi North Gate
The trash can is right next to the gate, against the wall — easy to spot as soon as you come through.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Marunouchi North Gate
Marunouchi Central Gate
Located beside the gate, underneath the departure board. This gate is IC-card only, so it moves quickly even when busy.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Marunouchi Central Gate
Marunouchi South Gate
The trash can is on the wall directly facing the gate, near the stairs up to Platforms 1–2. This is one of the busier gates — there's also a restroom nearby, so the bin sees frequent use.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Marunouchi South Gate
Yaesu North Gate
Right in front of you as soon as you pass through the gate — one of the most visible bin locations at the whole station. This gate is also near the Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket office and the closest exit to Daimaru Tokyo, so it's a high-traffic area.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Yaesu North Gate
Yaesu Central Gate
Just a short walk from the gate itself, you'll find it near the Midori-no-Madoguchi office by the Shinkansen South Transfer Gate, next to a departure board.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Yaesu Central Gate
Yaesu South Gate
With the gate at your back, look right — the trash can is just before the slope/ramp.
JR Tokyo Station, 1F — Trash can near Yaesu South Gate
Trash Cans on Basement 1F (Underground Level)
B1F is home to GRANSTA Tokyo, the station's underground shopping and dining area, plus the "Silver Bell" meeting spot — one of the busiest sections of the whole station. Trash cans are located near the Yaesu Underground Central Gate, GRANSTA Underground North Gate area, and both Marunouchi Underground gates (North and Central). The Yaesu Underground Central Gate and Marunouchi Underground Central Gate bins see the heaviest use.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Floor map of trash can locations by gate
Yaesu Underground Central Gate
Just inside the gate, on the left, in front of the restroom — a convenient spot since you're likely stopping there anyway.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Trash can near Yaesu Underground Central Gate
Near GRANSTA Underground North Gate
A short walk from this gate brings you to a rest area called "Square Zero." The trash can here is right by the seating, so it doubles as a good spot to take a break.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Trash can near GRANSTA Underground North Gate
Marunouchi Underground North Gate
Beside the gate, under the departure board. This gate connects to the Marunouchi Line and Otemachi Station, so it's popular with commuters transferring lines.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Trash can near Marunouchi Underground North Gate
Marunouchi Underground Central Gate
From inside the gate, head left toward the Underground North Gate — you'll see it on your left. This isn't an ordinary bin — it's the newer "Recycling Station" (see below), which sorts waste into more categories than a standard trash can.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Recycling Station near Marunouchi Underground Central Gate
Marunouchi Underground South Gate — No Trash Can
There is currently no trash can near this gate. If you need to dispose of trash in this area, use the Recycling Station at the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate instead.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Marunouchi Underground South Gate (no trash can)
The New "Recycling Station" at Marunouchi Underground Central Gate
JR East introduced the Recycling Station — a more detailed waste-sorting system than Japan's typical trash cans — for the first time at Kawasaki Station in November 2022. It sorts waste into five categories, from left to right: newspapers/magazines, cans/bottles, PET bottles, plastics, and paper/wood.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F — Recycling Station: 5-Way Sorting
According to JR East, the rollout expanded from Kawasaki to Tokyo and Osaki Stations (December 2022), then Ebisu and Ikebukuro (March 2024), and Yokohama (April 2025), with improved sorting rates reported at each location. As of December 2025, Tokyo Station has only one Recycling Station, near the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate — though further expansion is possible. Because of its larger footprint, it's unlikely to replace standard trash cans at every gate; expect it to remain limited to select high-traffic locations for now.
Reference: JR East Environmental Access — About Recycling Stations
Trash Cans at the Keiyo Line Gates
The Keiyo Line — the line most visitors take toward Maihama Station for Tokyo Disney Resort — sits a bit apart from the rest of Tokyo Station, on B2F. Both of its gates have a nearby trash can. This area also connects to the Tokyo International Forum via the Keiyo Underground Connecting Passage (BayRoad Passage), so it's a useful shortcut if that's your next stop.
JR Tokyo Station, B1F Keiyo Line — Floor map of trash can locations by gate
Keiyo Underground Marunouchi Gate
If you're arriving from the Yurakucho or Tokyo International Forum direction, this is your gate. With the gate at your back, the trash can is on the right — easy to spot.
JR Tokyo Station, Keiyo Line — Trash can near Keiyo Underground Marunouchi Gate
Keiyo Underground Yaesu Gate
Coming from the Shinkansen or regular JR lines toward the Keiyo Line, you'll pass through here. The trash can is just before the escalator down to the Keiyo Line platforms.
JR Tokyo Station, Keiyo Line — Trash can near Keiyo Underground Yaesu Gate
Reference: Official Tokyo Station Floor Map (PDF, English)
What to Do If You Can't Find a Trash Can
Tokyo Station is one of Japan's busiest transit hubs, so it's normal to end up somewhere with trash and no bin in sight. A few practical tips:
- If you're on JR lines: use the trash cans near any ticket gate — this is the most reliable option.
- If you're on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (including at nearby Otemachi Station), note that these platforms generally don't have general trash cans — only vending-machine recycling bins for cans, bottles, and PET bottles. If you're planning to transfer to JR anyway, wait until you're past the JR ticket gates.
- Eating at GRANSTA Tokyo? Most restaurants and cafes will take your trash for you if you dine or order there.
- Still outside the gates with nowhere to throw trash? In that case, carry a small plastic bag and dispose of it at your final destination — this is common practice among experienced travelers in Japan, where public trash cans are less common than in many other countries.
FAQ
Are there trash cans on Tokyo Station platforms?
No — platform-level bins are for cans, bottles, and PET bottles from vending machines only. General trash cans are located near the ticket gates, not on the platforms themselves.
What's the easiest trash can to find at Tokyo Station?
The one at Yaesu North Gate — it's directly in front of you as you pass through the gate, making it the most visible option at the station.
Is there a trash can near Marunouchi Underground South Gate?
No. This is the one gate area without a nearby bin — use the Recycling Station at Marunouchi Underground Central Gate instead.
What is the Recycling Station at Tokyo Station?
It's a newer, more detailed sorting system introduced by JR East, currently located near the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate. It separates waste into five categories instead of the usual two or three.
Why doesn't Japan have more public trash cans?
Public trash cans became less common at Japanese stations after security concerns in the 1990s, and the practice of carrying your own trash home (or to your next stop) is now a widely accepted norm — one every visitor adjusts to quickly.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Tokyo Station's platforms have no general trash cans — only vending-machine recycling bins.
- Every ticket gate on the 1st floor (Marunouchi and Yaesu, North/Central/South) has a trash can nearby.
- On B1F, the only gate without one is Marunouchi Underground South — use the Recycling Station at Marunouchi Underground Central instead.
- Both Keiyo Line gates (for Tokyo Disney Resort travelers) have trash cans, and this area also connects to the Tokyo International Forum.
- No bin in sight? Carry a small bag and dispose of it later — a useful habit anywhere in Japan, not just at this station.
We walked every gate at Tokyo Station in person to confirm these locations — see our related video walkthrough [link] for a visual guide.
これは日本語版へのリンクです
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東京駅のゴミ箱はどこ？駅構内図を元に設置場所を写真解説｜JR各改札口にあるゴミ箱をまとめて紹介
JR東京駅は新幹線や在来線が多数乗り入れる日本最大級のターミナル駅です。 駅構内が広大なためゴミ箱を探すのに苦労する方も多いのではないでしょうか。 実は東京駅のゴミ箱はほぼすべての改札口付近に設置され ...
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About the author: I'm Mori, the writer behind rekichiri — I also cover Japan's train stations in Japanese on the main site. For this guide, I walked every gate at Tokyo Station in person to check trash can locations firsthand, rather than relying on secondhand reports.