The world's busiest train station serves 3 million mega city passengers every day

When someone thinks of a busy train station, a few places come to mind. In the UK there's London St Pancras or Paddington, and in Europe you might think of Gare du Nord in Paris, Roma Termini, or Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof. But none of them come close to a massive railway station in the heart of Tokyo, Japan - the biggest mega-city in the world.

Shinjuku Station holds the official title of the world's busiest train station, with around three million passengers passing through its gates every single day, according to Britannica. It's the main gateway into central Tokyo and presents a huge logistical challenge in keeping people moving safely and efficiently.

The station is made up of 35 main platforms, with another 17 connected via underground tunnels to nearby satellite stations.

It also has over 200 exits, all serving one of the busiest and most crowded cities in the world, according to the Shinjuku Station Transportation Guide.

According to Britannica, one of the keys to keeping Shinjuku running smoothly is a research project led by the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI).

Located just outside the city, the RTRI studies crowd behaviour using computer simulations. Researchers like Norii Tomi analyse how thousands of people move through the station each day and how new stairs, escalators or signage could help reduce bottlenecks and prevent chaos.

"First of all you need to collate the data you have on how many people are in the station at any given time," Tomi told Britannica.

"The tricky part is using the simulation to predict how crowd behaviour might change in response to additional features inside the station."

Tokyo's train network is so complex that even long-time commuters can find it confusing.

That's why the RTRI has also developed a talking navigation system for blind and partially sighted passengers, using yellow floor tiles fitted with sensors that transmit location data to smartphones and create spoken directions.

The main Shinjuku Station is operated by JR East, but the wider complex includes several other stations such as Odakyu, Keio, and a number of subway lines. The Yamanote Line, one of Japan's busiest railways, runs right through it.

Outside the station, the surrounding district offers everything from shopping malls and gardens to Tokyo's red-light district.

To the west, you'll find office blocks like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, and the iconic Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

There are also giant electronics stores like Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera, where tourists can shop for the latest gadgets.

To the east, the station opens into Higashi-Shinjuku, an area packed with ramen shops, pubs, karaoke bars and department stores. This side of Shinjuku is known for nightlife and entertainment.

Nearby, there is also the Kabukicho district which is famous for neon lights, cinemas, arcades, and tiny bars.

If you're looking to escape the crowds, there are peaceful spots hidden around the station too.

The Shinjuku Southern Terrace has boardwalks and gardens, while the nearby Shinjuku Gyoen park offers a traditional Japanese garden and seasonal cherry blossoms.