- 6/1/2025
Five separate train lines, almost three thousand passengers per minute and trains arriving every second. How can the people behind the scenes of the world’s busiest station overcome a traffic load like this every day?
The teams in this Giant Hub need a minute-by-minute precision, a constant control, a military discipline but at the same time always still a smile on their faces for the 3,6 million customers every day.
At 4:30 in the morning: The 200 doors to the world’s busiest station start to rise and they won´t close for the next twenty- one hours. This signals the start of the morning rush hour and requires a logistics process that is perfectly in sync.
Nobody knows this kind of challenge as good as Hidehiko Moriyama, he is the station master of the biggest train company of the city. His team are the eyes and ears of the entire station. Cutting-edge technology allows them to keep an eye on everything from behind the scenes.
When the day is almost over for some, another team is just about to start its shift. At night, everything happens at the same time. The teams work against the clock. The window in which there are no passengers or trains on the tracks is a mere three hours long.
Repairs and work on the tracks must not disrupt the traffic flow under any circumstances. This would cause too much chaos. So, before the first guest arrives back in the morning, any sign of construction work disappears completely. It’s as if nothing had happened.
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TVTranscript
00:01Tokyo, Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest, with over 3 million passengers flocking to the tracks here on a daily basis.
00:09This calls for maximum precision from the entire staff.
00:14Let's synchronize our watches.
00:18This is a station that never sleeps, be it day or night. Every hour is rush hour here.
00:26We have only three hours. We have to work high speed.
00:33The logistics behind this vast station require minute-by-minute precision and constant control in absolutely every situation.
00:45Here we detect everything 24 hours a day.
00:49Five separate train lines, almost 3,000 passengers per minute, trains arriving every second.
00:55We'll find out just how the teams at the world's busiest station overcome these challenges, now on Giant Hubs.
01:03With 36 million inhabitants, Tokyo is the largest city in the world.
01:04Around 25% of them live right in the heart of the city.
01:08On top of that, there are 11 million commuters, visitors and tourists.
01:09Tokyo is the largest city in the world.
01:11With 36 million inhabitants, Tokyo is the largest city in the world.
01:16Around 25% of them live right in the heart of the city.
01:21On top of that, there are 11 million commuters, visitors and tourists.
01:26Coordinating this mass of people is a daily challenge.
01:28Japan is home to 24,000 kilometers of railway tracks.
01:31A third of these are located in Tokyo alone.
01:32Japan is home to 24,000 kilometers of railway tracks.
01:34A third of these are located in Tokyo alone.
01:38Most of the tracks lead to one specific place, Shinjuku Station.
01:39It gets its name from the district where it is located.
01:40It is located in Tokyo.
01:41It is located in Tokyo.
01:42Most of the tracks lead to one specific place, Shinjuku Station.
01:43It gets its name from the district where it is located.
01:44The station stretches through the neighborhood and is one kilometer long.
02:13Right in the heart of Tokyo.
02:20The Giant Hub is a complex network of various train, subway and bus lines.
02:29Shinjuku Station is built over five main levels and has 20 platforms in total.
02:35These platforms welcome trains from five different railway companies all at the same time.
02:41On top of that, three subway lines link Shinjuku Station to Tokyo's public transport system.
02:48Its bus terminal handles 1,600 nationwide long-distant lines.
02:55Shinjuku Station is a city within the city, including stores, offices and places to eat.
03:06The giant hub's 200 doors gradually open between the hours of 4.15 and 7 a.m.
03:16Commuters, passengers to the airport and revelers heading home for the night are already waiting for the first train at 4.30 in the morning.
03:25Then, at ten past five, the door to the station's busiest platforms starts to rise.
03:40This signals the start of the morning rush hour and it won't stop until much later tonight.
03:46More and more passengers stream into Shinjuku.
04:01As the doors start to open, so too do the stores inside the station's entrance.
04:07Cafes, kiosks, small breakfast bars – they're all preparing for the oncoming rush.
04:17Just like every other day, today they're expecting 3.6 million train travelers.
04:23That's roughly equivalent to the population of Los Angeles.
04:34It's time to go.
04:35Now, an average of over 200,000 people an hour will make their way through the kilometers of walkways between the bus station, subway lines and train platforms.
04:46The halls and walkways of the world's busiest train station remain packed from now until nightfall.
05:04Getting from one end of the station to the other takes 45 minutes by foot, and that's the most direct route.
05:117.24 a.m. The morning rush requires a logistics process that is perfectly in sync and practically invisible to the passengers.
05:26Like Satoshi Kuwana, for instance. He heads to the giant hub of Shinjuku station at this time almost every day.
05:39The station is very big and important for me and a lot of people. I have to use it every day. It is my favorite station in Tokyo.
05:56Satoshi Kuwana has come to appreciate all the amenities that Shinjuku station has to offer.
06:03And that's despite the fact that the station is in the midst of full chaos at the moment.
06:09His first destination is the locker area, which is freely accessible to all passengers.
06:21Satoshi Kuwana tucks his backpack away into one of the many lockers.
06:26These lockers aren't just a saving grace for tourists, laden with luggage. They're crucial for locals, too.
06:34And that's no surprise.
06:36On average, Japanese employees work almost four hours of overtime a day.
06:42And then they have to go to after-work team-building events, known as nomikai.
06:48The lines between work and free time are blurred.
06:51So many Japanese people use the giant hub's centrally located lockers to store their non-work clothes.
06:57As it is traditional in Japan, service is given top priority, also at Shinjuku station.
07:05Even in the ticketing system, Satoshi Kuwana holds a ticket that can be topped up at any time.
07:14You can charge this card and travel with it with many lines.
07:17For example, the KO line, the Odakyu line, and all the JR lines.
07:22It's very easy. You just need to touch the card at the entrance and you can use every train.
07:28Otherwise, it would be very difficult.
07:33A single ticket for every line.
07:35As a result, all passengers are able to use the station with ease and without any unnecessary wait times,
07:42no matter how complex the railway system is.
07:46And there is no shortage of options.
07:48The giant hub is used by no less than five different railway companies.
07:55The largest of them is JR East.
07:58Then, there are Odakyu, Keio, Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway.
08:03With 16 lines, JR East alone transports 1.5 million passengers a day.
08:09That is the equivalent of 80% of all railway traffic in the city.
08:13Passengers only have to replace their electronic tickets every ten years.
08:20This is an essential factor when it comes to tackling the huge number of visitors
08:25who flock to the world's busiest train station every day.
08:31Another key factor is learning from past mistakes.
08:33For a long time, never-ending queues at ticket stands and permanently stressed-out staff resulted in a whole lot of chaos.
08:42Until a major update in 2012 introduced standardized chip cards for Tokyo's entire public transport network.
08:49Although the ticketing system has remained hassle-free since then, passengers at Shinjuku station still have to conquer one major challenge – finding their way around.
09:03I use this station every day, and that's why I know my way around.
09:08But for people who don't know Shinjuku, it can be confusing.
09:12In that case, they should be aware of the signs to see which way to take.
09:16They show you the direction, for example, to Odakyu or JR.
09:20In the worst-case scenario, a single wrong turn could cost you several kilometers in detours.
09:30That's why the signs follow a sophisticated yet complex system.
09:37To start with, the main train lines are color-coded.
09:39For instance, green stands for the Yamanota Line and leads to platforms 14 and 15.
09:53Then come the letters and numbers.
09:56These point out the routes to the various entrances and exits.
10:00In addition to the main southern, eastern and western entrances, there are dozens of other ways in.
10:06It's all pretty confusing to begin with.
10:09Getting to the right place in Shinjuku station is a particularly big problem for tourists and unexperienced visitors.
10:21Every day, the station's Twitter account is inundated with complaints from passengers,
10:26simply because they were unable to find their platform.
10:29The magnitude of the giant hub is quite hard to get your head around.
10:42A total of 200 different entrances and exits stretch across a distance of around one kilometer.
10:48And Shinjuku station is growing all the time.
10:51Architect Kesuke Tomura has been analyzing Shinjuku station for years.
11:02He and his university students are monitoring the station's ongoing growth.
11:07He has even gone as far as creating his own 3D model for identifying the problems this causes.
11:13First of all, there are many maintenance works all the time.
11:25New shops, new routes, and therefore the look of the station is changing.
11:29And people get lost.
11:34Especially people that usually follow their memory.
11:38They get lost because they don't look at the signs.
11:41There is always construction work going on, and it never stops.
11:47That's typical for the busiest station in the world.
11:50Particularly during the period known as the Golden Sixties.
11:53During this era, the Japanese economy grew at rocket speed, as did its logistical hubs and junctions.
12:00Shinjuku was built on a plain territory, so they were able to build parallel tracks.
12:06They started building one platform, and then they added many more.
12:09But the train business became bigger, and there was not enough space in Shinjuku area.
12:16That's why they started developing the underground tracks, and it went down to seven floors.
12:22This is a major characteristic of Shinjuku station.
12:26It took decades for Shinjuku to become as important as it is today.
12:33When the station opened in 1885, the area was still a quiet residential neighborhood.
12:42Expansion took place in stages.
12:45The district did not become Tokyo's financial and administrative center until after the Second World War.
12:51All of a sudden, the station became the city's most important junction.
12:57The most amazing thing? Its facade is almost invisible, despite the station's vast proportions.
13:04Completely the opposite of the magnificent stations you find elsewhere.
13:07The station practically disappears amongst the surrounding shopping centers.
13:12And this is yet another traditional feature of Japanese culture.
13:16Functionality and efficiency always come first.
13:20Another obstacle to finding your way around, despite all the modernity, many of the signs are only in Japanese.
13:25English isn't particularly widespread in Japan, even now.
13:34However, the MEGA station is working hard to resolve this problem.
13:44Information desks may be a common feature at lots of major train stations, but they are crucial in Shinjuku.
13:51They are located at each of the main entrances.
13:55Additionally, innumerable field workers spread out over the whole station.
14:04One of the employees providing assistance minute after minute is Yoshi Kawasawa.
14:10He helps people to get to their destinations, while also breaking up crowds and congestion,
14:16throughout the station's never-ending rush hour.
14:18Lost passengers keep him and his colleagues busy all day long.
14:23When I started working here, I was shocked because so many people were coming to look for help.
14:29I was asked many different kinds of questions. That's a big challenge.
14:34Yoshi Kawasawa's job is to let passengers know that the station is there for them.
14:40For employees, the huge station's customer-friendly image is more or less sacred.
14:45I always need to be visible like this so people know they can ask me questions.
14:52Also, there's a sign in my arm. I need to wear it at all times.
14:58On some days, Yoshi Kawasawa deals with up to 20 different nationalities.
15:03His goal is to provide them all with information in their native language.
15:10Despite his best efforts, however, he sometimes needs a helping hand.
15:15His talent translates questions and answers at top speed.
15:18When it comes to finding his own way around, Yoshi Kawasawa has to know the station's routes like the back of his own hand.
15:28Service staff and advisors. In the world's busiest station, this is a calling that takes a lot of passion.
15:48When a customer says, thank you to me, that's my biggest reward. I feel like working even harder then.
15:58Even experienced locals often place more faith in Yoshi Kawasawa's specialist knowledge than their own sense of direction.
16:05I want to go to Asakusa station. Which way should I take?
16:18Take the Chuo line on track 8 and set over at Kande station.
16:26Dutiful, friendly, efficient. Most people are familiar with these Japanese cliches. In Shinjuku station, they are a reality.
16:39Many people ask the service staff because it is so much easier than looking by yourself. They always know the best and fastest way.
16:47And yet, be it with or without assistance, when passengers arrive on the platform, they expect to experience one thing above all else.
16:59Punctuality. Just like at every other station in the world.
17:04The average delay for the station's largest train line, JR, is an incredible 0.4 minutes.
17:10If a train is delayed by 5 minutes or more, the conductor apologizes over the loudspeaker.
17:15Maximum courtesy guaranteed.
17:21Prompt and precise. A reputation that railway staff aren't willing to jeopardize any time in the future, either.
17:28Discipline means pride and honor. Even for the newest employees.
17:34That's why they carefully repeat the most important rules of their job every single morning.
17:38If there is a foreign-looking customer at the station, looking around and looking lost, how do you behave?
17:52I will ask...
17:55...to see if I can help.
17:59Yes.
18:03Newcomer Kota Ino's dream is to become a train driver one day.
18:10To get promoted to the cab, trainees have to graduate from a strict school, and also learn what matters most. Happy customers.
18:19Happy customers.
18:23Okay, the seniors have the word now.
18:26Please, managers, continue.
18:28A smile for our customers.
18:32A smile for our customers.
18:35Let's synchronize our watches.
18:38Okay, that's it. Let's go to work.
18:39Kota Ino's job today is to supervise the platform. It's a job with a great deal of responsibility.
18:59The number one rule here is, keep the tracks clear and the platform under control.
19:04And to do this, Kota Ino follows strict Japanese rules at all times.
19:10Back of the train? Okay.
19:13Tracks?
19:15Okay.
19:21A system that seems to work in Japan.
19:25Even Tokyo's largest railway company gets away with fewer than 200 accidents a year.
19:34The station's most important line alone invests over 1.8 billion euros a year in safety.
19:47The goal? To reduce the number of accidents involving passengers to zero in the future.
19:53It's an ambitious plan, and Kota Ino is proud to be a part of it.
19:56In order to avoid mistakes, I use my fingers, so I'm much more aware.
20:12Time? Okay.
20:15Departure?
20:17Okay.
20:18Kota Ino performs his duties to the fullest, regardless of whether there are two or 200 passengers on the platform.
20:33One time a customer fell on the track. Luckily, I saw it. For situations like that, it is very helpful that I check everything carefully.
20:49That's why we have to be very strict with our procedures.
20:51Accidents that don't involve passengers. Trains that don't run late. Absolute perfection.
21:01However, Kota Ino is not the only one fighting this battle.
21:05When it comes to safety, the world's busiest station also relies on an above-average number of surveillance cameras.
21:12And all their images are compiled here, in the station manager's control room.
21:28He and his team watch every second of what's going on in the station.
21:32As the station master, Hidehiko Moriyama bears more responsibility than most.
21:42I manage the whole station. Therefore, I have to coordinate with all the other stations in the surrounding areas.
22:03As Shinjuku Station is a district station, I have to match up the schedule of all the other stations.
22:10My job consists of three main things. I have to make sure that everything is safe, that the trains are running on time,
22:20and that everybody of the 380 staff members of the station is working well together all year long.
22:31One major problem. The area surrounding Shinjuku is also home to other stations, like Yoyogi Station,
22:39located a mere 800 meters away, balancing out delays between there and here as an impossible feat.
22:47That's why the stations liaise closely to keep their schedules in sync.
22:51This allows them to keep both delays and accidents to a minimum, no matter what the circumstances.
22:56We are checking for unusual things. For example, if a customer is injured or something suspicious is happening in the station area.
23:06If needed, we get all the information about it and act on it. Even if I am not here, they operate 24 hours in this room.
23:13Hidehiko Moriyama and his team are the eyes and ears of the entire station.
23:20Despite the Giant Hub's vast size, cutting-edge technology allows them to keep an eye on everything from behind the scenes.
23:28Meanwhile, there's a lot going on inside the station itself. The shops are now especially busy. Sales are already in full swing.
23:48At peak times, around 200 customers visit every store.
23:58Japan's private railway companies use their property for a range of purposes.
24:03Above their stations, they build things like shopping centers, office blocks, travel agencies and supermarkets.
24:10The whole area in and around Shinjuku station is a money-making machine.
24:16To make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible, everything in the Giant Hub is tailored towards maximum customer friendliness.
24:24Passengers like Satoshi Kawana can even pay using their train tickets.
24:29After all, this Giant Hub is a lot more than just a station.
24:33There is one name that most locals couldn't imagine Shinjuku without.
24:43Lunchbox Place, located directly en route to the platforms.
24:47Many travelers make a pit stop here before continuing their journeys.
24:52Things seem to be pretty peaceful for now.
24:54However, long-time employee, Hazuki Yamadira, is well aware that this is just the calm before the storm.
25:04Soon it will be very crowded because a popular train leaves. Then a lot of people will come. Therefore, we need many lunch boxes.
25:12We all have to work together in a team in order to manage the workload.
25:15Every day the kitchen worker prepares fish and vegetables just before the first throng of visitors is due to arrive.
25:28On a good day, 2,500 boxes pass over the counter here.
25:34The Japanese believe strongly in the importance of fresh food, even when they are traveling.
25:40Spices and oil are used sparingly.
25:42The intrinsic taste is what matters to customers.
25:51Passenger Satoshi Kuwana regularly picks up a lunch box.
25:55This traditional Japanese bento box contains rice as the basic ingredient,
26:01plus various vegetable, meat or fish toppings.
26:05Depending on what option you go for, each portion costs between 4 and 8 euros.
26:12Before Satoshi Kuwana reaches the platform area, he has to pass through one of the 104 fully automated control gates,
26:28which 3.6 million other travelers also pass through everyday.
26:31every day.
26:40At this moment, Shinjuku Station alone contains the same number of travelers as the total
26:46people who use the entire London Underground network in one day.
26:50And yet, there's not a single trace of chaos.
27:08Everybody is lining up correctly.
27:10Right now we have the rush hour.
27:12But because everybody is following the rules and stands on the right line, it doesn't seem
27:16like it is very crowded.
27:18That goes for every platform and every train, be it an overground or underground service.
27:34The most important tool for getting your bearings, floor markings.
27:38Every train stops at a precise point.
27:41Passengers wait patiently here, forming lines just out of the way from where the doors will
27:46open.
27:48Thanks to the Japanese tendency to follow rules, the flow of passengers remains constant.
27:55Passengers even get on and off the train at the same time.
28:01The doors open and close automatically within a set time window.
28:06With this system, it takes less than a minute for passengers to get in and out.
28:10This is what allows the train to depart exactly on time, right down to the last second.
28:18This wasn't always the case.
28:20For a long time, Shinjuku Station was famous for their pushers, people who helped to preserve
28:26the schedule.
28:27Their job was to squash the last few passengers into the train carriage.
28:32There was no sign of the civilized boarding process in place today.
28:41Nowadays, the train staff on the platform look after the finer details.
28:46They keep watch over the platforms and always have a kind word for their passengers.
28:59Welcome to Shinjuku Station.
29:01Thank you for traveling with us.
29:02Japanese travelers appreciate all their hard work.
29:12Around 80% of Tokyo's citizens use public transport.
29:22And there's another reason for this trend.
29:25Tokyo is vast and has almost no parking spaces.
29:28This complex and heavily overloaded public transport network, therefore, has to work seamlessly at
29:34all times, no matter what the circumstances.
29:38And it has to do all this in a country where earthquakes are a common occurrence.
29:44Japan had to learn the hard way what happens when the public transport system literally
29:48collapses.
29:54The memories of tragedies like the Kobe earthquake in January 1995 are never likely to fade.
30:01The earthquake, which registered seven on the Richter scale, paralyzed the entire infrastructure.
30:07Over 6,000 people lost their lives.
30:16In Tokyo, people live in constant fear of another major earthquake.
30:21According to the experts, there is a 70% chance of a quake of this magnitude occurring in the
30:27next 30 years.
30:31Were it to happen during rush hour, an incident like this could claim tens of thousands of lives.
30:44To make sure they are as prepared as possible, scientists are working on ways to eliminate weak points.
30:55At the Railway Technical Research Institute, Yoshitaka Morono and his team conduct research
31:00for giant hubs like Shinjuku Station.
31:07Their mission is to find the most effective ways for the infrastructure to withstand another earthquake.
31:21Here we detect which structures will be damaged the most, and we offer that information to the stations.
31:36After the earthquake has happened, we have developed an information system that tells the train companies,
31:41via internet, within five to ten minutes.
31:46How big was the tremor in each area?
31:49So it gives them an idea how to react to it.
31:59Employees at the Research Institute have been working hard for years to keep the effects of a disaster as small as possible.
32:07Using large-scale experiments, they find out how the track constructions will respond to quakes of varying severity.
32:24Their knowledge helps the railway companies to equip themselves for specific scenarios and increase the load capacity of their constructions.
32:32Sturdy columns and the best materials possible are designed to stop the country from collapsing, should worse come to worst.
32:45The Institute also provides all the country's stations with immediate updates and all tectonic movements.
32:51The stations suspend operations as soon as there is a threat of a dangerous earthquake.
32:57It was a big success when we heard about the latest earthquakes in Kumamoto and Tohoku.
33:04There were no big damages in the main structures, and it was because of our calculations.
33:12Shinjuku Station has also adjusted the mountings on its tracks to make sure it is equipped for any eventuality.
33:19Behind the scenes in the world's busiest station, employees put their all into making sure that traffic keeps flowing.
33:28Passengers like Satoshi Kuwana have come to rely on this.
33:40Anything that can be planned should run like clockwork, thanks to traditional Japanese discipline.
33:45One thing that cannot be planned, something referred to as passenger accidents.
33:54Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world, an average of 24,000 a year.
34:00According to the latest figures, 700 of these deaths occur in train stations alone.
34:06That means that, on average, there are almost two suicide attempts a day.
34:17From the perspective of a giant hub like Shinjuku Station, incidents like this don't just result in tragedy.
34:24They also mean delays, cancellations, chaos, and image problems.
34:29The only way to prevent something like this is to stay alert.
34:37As well as surveillance cameras, the station is also equipped with countless emergency call buttons.
34:43As a result, passengers and employees often spot people acting conspicuously, in time, preventing the worst before it can happen.
34:59Another effective tool, placing barriers in front of the tracks.
35:04Be it intentionally or accidentally, no passenger will ever fall onto the rails with these in the way.
35:11The barriers only open when a train has come to a stop.
35:14And yet, despite all of these technical precautions, staff vigilance is always the most important weapon.
35:32To make sure all workers do their bit, long-time employees like Fumio Taguchi review newcomers on a regular basis.
35:38Rail staff at the giant hub are subject to strict checks around the clock.
35:54I work at Saibu Railways since 35 years already, and I have been experiencing all the main jobs here, like station staff, office staff, and so on.
36:03The main concern in every position is always security.
36:07In order to make sure that all the customers get on the train safely, we check various security issues.
36:13For example, if there is something strange on the tracks.
36:16So every part of our job is important to keep the whole station safe.
36:24Trainee Kota Ino has to be ready for a surprise visit from his higher-ranking colleague at any time.
36:29Thank you for your hard work. Anything unusual to report?
36:35No.
36:37Are you following the instructions?
36:40Yes.
36:42Your uniform is okay as well.
36:44Well done.
36:45Well done.
36:46Well done.
36:48Komao Taguchi is happy with Kota Ino's work.
36:51His checks help to ensure that no employee deviates from the standardized procedures.
36:57Another typical feature of Japanese working culture.
37:01Rules are the most valuable asset.
37:04At this station, meticulous adherence to certain protocols is just one of the factors that guarantees that public transport remains on time and functional.
37:13As you want it.
37:16It is shooting.
37:18You can shoot.
37:21This station is shooting.
37:23You're shooting.
37:24You're shooting.
37:26You're shooting.
37:28All right.
37:30You're shooting.
37:32You're whoeng or you are not.
37:34You're fighting.
37:36We are fighting for a fight for your country.
37:38It is still a fight for you.
37:40Was all okay?
37:50Yes.
37:51Okay, please drive to Kamishaku-ji.
37:54Okay.
37:57Anyone working for Japan's most famous station cannot afford to make any mistakes,
38:03especially when they deal with over 1 billion passengers a year.
38:10During one hour, about 25 trains pass one track,
38:15so really a lot of trains are coming in and out.
38:20In order to deliver a safe and balanced schedule in that kind of situation,
38:25it is necessary to do perfect work.
38:31I make sure of that because it is so important
38:34that the employees continue performing in a very precise way.
38:40The station's minute-by-minute train schedule will only work if each cog is working perfectly.
38:528.14 a.m.
38:59Passenger Satoshi Kawana's train is also 100% on time.
39:05Travelers like him have no idea how much effort is put in behind the scenes.
39:10And that's exactly the way it should be.
39:12Trains and other transport services arrive at and depart from Shinjuku Station 21 hours a day.
39:2420 past 7 is the day's last big rush.
39:27Trains are now spitting out up to 500 passengers every second.
39:50To tackle this volume, station staff work round the clock in three separate shifts.
39:56Directions, small-scale construction work, safety precautions.
40:12There is always something to do in all areas of the giant hub.
40:16Even though concentration often tends to drop off towards the end of a shift,
40:21the machinery of Shinjuku Station will not work properly
40:25unless each individual department gives it their all at all times.
40:30Just before 8, the day slowly draws to an end.
40:43And the party hot spot of the Shinjuku district really starts to buzz.
40:47The bright lights of the countless bars, clubs, and restaurants
40:55draw in tourists and visitors looking for a good night out.
40:59At almost any time of day or night,
41:01up to 1 million people are on the move in this neighborhood,
41:05which covers just 18 square kilometers.
41:07As a result, things are still bustling in the station, too.
41:26Most of the shopping hubs close at around 10 p.m.
41:30Lunchbox employee Hazuki Yamadira has just about survived the evening rush hour.
41:40Today, she sold 1,300 bento boxes.
41:45That's 7,000 euros of revenue in a single day.
41:48When the customers are gone, I feel really relieved.
41:57It is very exhausting, but at the same time,
41:59I'm glad that everybody got a good meal for their journey.
42:05While the day is almost over for some,
42:08another team is just about to start its shift.
42:11170 members of the cleaning team are on duty around the clock.
42:20However, the most important part of their work happens at night.
42:25In typical Japanese style,
42:27the team boosts its motivation with a chant.
42:31Be nice to colleagues and avoid disasters.
42:35Be nice to colleagues and avoid disasters.
42:39Thank you for today.
42:41The cleaning squad works in small teams of up to 10 people.
42:4631-year-old Yoshimune Kobayashi has been doing the job for seven years
42:50and is now a team leader.
42:53The team leaders split up the work between themselves
42:56and distribute jobs within their teams.
43:05What is your schedule for today?
43:07Today, we have a group of cleaners going to do the middle square
43:11and corridor.
43:15Okay, I will meet you later.
43:19The team is preparing for the moment when the final guest leaves the station.
43:24Then, it's time to clean the windows and platforms.
43:27Even the last piece of chewing gum stuck to the floor has to go.
43:32The giant hub gets a thorough cleaning every single day.
43:37Between the last train in the evening and the first train in the morning,
43:42we only have three hours, so we need to work high speed.
43:451.23 in the morning.
43:49The doors to the world's busiest station are closing.
43:53It's time to go.
43:53When the trains have stopped rolling into the station,
44:12the platforms look a bit like ghost towns.
44:15The surveillance cameras stop recording the crowds of passengers.
44:19It's time to start work on all the jobs that the public never notices.
44:25For Yoshimune Kobayashi, the night begins with one of his favorite jobs.
44:47Recently, the cleaning squad gained a new member to help them clean the huge station area.
44:53A brand new robotic cleaner.
44:56The robot has saved the station's entire floor plan and works autonomously.
45:10In order to always have the newest cleaning system, we have imported this machine.
45:14It's the only one of its kind in the whole country.
45:23We are very proud of it, and it is my best friend.
45:28Really, who wouldn't want a robotic cleaner as their best friend?
45:34At night, everything happens at the same time.
45:37The teams work against the clock.
45:39After all, the window in which there are no passengers or trains on the tracks is a mere three hours long.
45:48Repairs and work on the tracks must not disrupt train, subway, or bus operations under any circumstances.
45:56This would cause too much chaos.
45:58So, before the first guest arrives back at the giant hub in the morning,
46:02any sign of construction work disappears completely.
46:07It's as if nothing had happened.
46:13At the same time, Yoshimune Kobayashi and his team are adding the finishing touches.
46:19Their job today was to clean ten platforms,
46:23several kilometers of corridor,
46:25and masses of windows.
46:26By the time he and his team head home,
46:29every last speck of dirt must be gone.
46:34Yoshimune Kobayashi is proud to have done his part
46:37to ensure yet another successful day
46:39at the world's busiest station.
46:46I had a very good day.
46:48The station is very clean,
46:50so tomorrow the passengers can come again.
46:53That makes me happy.
46:53The day has come to an end,
46:59and the rail staff are already waiting
47:01for the next few minutes to roll by
47:03before the doors go up,
47:05and everything starts all over again.
47:13The world's busiest station
47:15handles 3.6 million passengers a day.
47:18The only thing keeping it running
47:20is a perfectly coordinated logistic strategy.
47:22A complex system of directions.
47:27Hundreds of service staff.
47:32In the station itself,
47:35hundreds of stores and lunchboxes
47:37keep the crowd smiling.
47:40Meanwhile, behind the scenes,
47:42hundreds of surveillance cameras
47:44watch over every centimeter of the station.
47:46and strictly trained staff
47:50prevent accidents and catastrophes
47:52with the utmost discipline.
47:54They share a common goal.
47:56Perfectly timed trains
47:57arriving on a second-by-second basis
48:00in Shinjuku Station.
48:02quinaciti center.
48:05The studio that
48:13they can understand
48:14is a square-point
48:14and along the desk
48:15atement ofマ got out
48:15the clock after the installation.
48:16The studio to make it
48:18the same here as the vehicle
48:19You still have a great leader
48:20to watch the landing
48:22in the乍 явно.
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