From: jroth@aegis.or.jp (Joel Roth)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Tokyo to Fukushima
Date: 7 Sep 92 08:07:52 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Aegis Society, Kyoto Japan


Daisaku Itasaka writes:

>>What I need is idiot proof instructions on how to:
>>       a) Get from Narita to downtown Tokyo.
>
> | trans.|  cost(yen)  |min.|   dest.    | company
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>1| train |  2890       | 55 | Tokyo Sta. | JR, NEX(Narita EXpress)
>2| train |  1740       | 60 | Ueno Sta.  | Keisei, SkyLiner
>3| bus   |  2800       | 75 | Tokyo Sta. | Tokyo Limo
>4| cab   | 17000~18000 | 90 | Tokyo Sta. | Tokyo Musen

There is an escalator on the ground floor of the Narita Airport building
that goes underground to the Keisei and JR lines. The luggage trolleys
are designed to ride on these escalators.

I always take the Keisei line, which terminates at Keisei Ueno station,
several minutes walk from JR Ueno station. However if you take a limited
express (TOKKYU, rhymes with 'thank you') instead of the Skyliner, the cost
is just 1,040 yen. It is better to get off at Nippori station, the stop
before Ueno, because the transfer to JR (Yamanote line) is easier.

If you travel by train, you have to be prepared to schlep your bags up
and down a few flights of stairs. Tokyo is still safe enough that you
can do it in two trips without fear of losing your bags.

Sensible people who want to avoid this strenuous labor take the
Limousine Bus (buses and Narita reservation desk marked with an orange
stripe) to Tokyo City Air Terminal (Hakozaki) or Tokyo station and
catch a cab (or friend's car) from there.

Another alternative is to send your bags by Takkyubin directly to your
hotel, and just take an overnight bag with you. I seem to recall that
hotels will forward your bags to your next destination. They arrive
the next day, so you can relax and enjoy your trip a bit more.

Perhaps someone can post Takkyubin prices from the airport, and confirm
my vague recollection that the hotel will forward the bags for free.

Rules to avoid getting lost:

1) Ask people for directions frequently. You'll be surprised by how helpful
   people are.

2) Don't place too much trust on the answers you get. Many people have no
   idea of the best way to do things, and can give incorrect or misleading
   information. Better to ask again, and check that the answers match.

3) Try to get the excellent English map of Tokyo available from the
   Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO). I think you can pick it
   up at the JNTO office near Yurakucho station.

Someone mentioned the JR rail pass available overseas. This is an *excellent*
value, and I recommend anyone visiting Japan to take advantage of it. For
comparison, a one way trip from Osaka to Tokyo by bullet train now costs
over US00 (about 13,000 yen).

And while we're on the subject of travel tips, you can generally get a
seat in the reserved cars of the Shinkansen, even if you don't have a
seat reservation, by just sitting down in a vacant seat and paying the
reservation charge when the conductor comes. This can be a lifesaver
if you're trying to travel during the holidays without a reservation.
Such seats are always available even if the ticket office says otherwise
because some passengers never show up. If yours does, however, be
prepared to move promptly with a courteous apology.

--
Joel Roth                  >> jroth%aegis.or.jp@unixland.natick.ma.us <<
Brahma Kumaris World          jroth@aegis.or.jp (within Japan)
Spiritual University          1-2-15-501 Nakamichi, Higashi Nari ku,
Raja Yoga Center, Osaka       Osaka, Japan 537, 81-3-971-7251