It will take 5 minutes and cost about 1000 JPY by taxi. There is no tipping habit in Japan. Most Japanese do not speak English well. Be sure to speak slowly and clearly enough when you talk with store clerks, for example. Hotel employees speak English in most cases.
Highways are toll roads and the price is expensive.
Also most taxi drivers do NOT speak English. You should prepare print image of the venue name in Japanese letters. If you wish to find some gadgets or cool notebook PCs, visit Akihabara area or Shinjuku area. Note that most Akihabara PC shops offering competivie prices do not accept credit card. Also note that most of the note PC available in Akiharaba is equipped with Japanese keyboard, with which you will not be happy.