Which railway station hosted Japan’s first railway opening ceremony in 1872?

Shimbashi Station hosted Japan’s first railway opening ceremony in 1872.

The original Shimbashi terminal stood in Tokyo’s Shiodome district and formed one end of Japan’s first railway, which connected Shimbashi with Yokohama. The line officially opened on 14 October 1872 after an earlier provisional service.

The original station building was later replaced, and the site eventually became associated with freight operations. A reconstruction of the historic station building now houses a railway museum and related exhibits.

The modern Shimbashi Station is not exactly the same terminal building as the original. It is a major Tokyo interchange, while the former Yokohama terminus is associated with present-day Sakuragichō Station.