[Bullet Train Pointers]
1) The Bullet Train leaves on the Dot, so do arrive at the platform about 15 mins before departure!
2) Seat Reservations can be made for the Shinkansen (non-smoking/smoking cabins) at the JR counter at the various stations. If you happen to miss your train or you want to board an earlier train, but have no time to reserve the seat. You can hop onto an earlier/later train, but you are only allowed to seat in the un-reserve carriages. If the train is too packed(which happens often during rush hour), getting a seat maybe difficult and you have to stand all the way. So do try and reserve your train seats in advance.
3) Do not ever lose your JR Pass!
4) Food & Drinks can be consumed on board. Similar to a flight, the train stewardess will come round with her push cart filled with light snacks and drinks for sale! Bento Boxes and Drinks can be purchased from the station itself.
5) Maximising your JR Pass: 1) Use it on the stretch between the Airport to the city (Eg: Narita to Tokyo station and if possible from Tokyo Station to Narita) 2) It can be used for the Loop Line in Osaka and Tokyo, however it is only limited to JR trains and JR stops. I feel that the JR Pass is more useful for the loop line in Tokyo than in Osaka.
6) The difference between the travelling time of a Nozomi and a Hikari is just 20-30mins. The JR Pass does not allow you to travel on a Nozomi.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Japan - Tokyo Part 1
A quick search of the word "Attractions in Tokyo" on google provided a wealth of information. I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information which I had to digest. Planning a F&E trip to Tokyo includes research on not only the attractions, but also the transport system, food, lodging, climate etc. Therefore I have done a skeletal framework of categories from my experiences. Hopefully it will make your travel planning to the city much easier.
Airport Transfers
1) Narita Express - If you have bought the
* When you exit the arrival hall, please proceed down the escalator to the Japan Railway Ticket Office at the basement. That is where you can activate your JRP and book your tickets on the narita express to the city. Please remember to fill in the "activation form" which can be found along the side of the room.
2) Airport Limousine Bus - This is an alternative transfer which will drop you off directly at your hotel or at an area close to your hotel. The Limousine Bus is NOT covered under the JRP and the tickets can be bought from the counter outside the arrival hall. It takes about an hour to get into the city. It is a convenient mode of transport if you are travelling with huge baggages and your hotel is covered under the list of hotels.
3) Taxi - A highly expensive alternative
Cost Saving Tips - CONVENIENT VALUE ADDED TICKETS
1) Limousine & Metro Pass- A set of a one-way Airport Limousine bus ticket between Narita Airport and downtown Tokyo, and a Tokyo Metro 1-Day Open Ticket for one day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines.
Point of purchase - Limousine Bus ticket counters of Narita Airport, Shinjuku Station West Exit and TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) and Tokyo Metro Pass Offices (except Nakano, Nishi-funabashi and Shibuya (Fukutoshin Line) stations)
2) If you are planning to buy the metro pass, do purchase the 2 days or 1 day Metro Tickets at Narita Airport T1 or T2 instead of in the city.
Special 2-Day Open Ticket
Good for two consecutive days of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines.
Adult: ¥980, Child: ¥490
Special 1-Day Open Ticket
Good for one day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines
Adult: ¥600, Child: ¥300
Subway
1) With the JR Pass you can travel along the JR Metro Loop(JR Line and JR Yamanote Line) for free. Therefore to save cost you might want to book a hotel along the loop line.
2) A cost efficient way to travel around the city is to purchase the Metro Pass. The pass can be purchased from the subway stations or the airport. With the pass, travellers can board any of trains on the 9 Metro Lines FOC. The Metro pass covers many of the tourist destinations, therefore for a first time visitor to Tokyo, this pass maybe ideal.
3) An alternative pass is the Toei Pass, travellers can ride on the 4 railway lines under it FOC.
Accommodation
1) If you are only in Tokyo for a few days, you might like to check out this post for possible accommodations.
2) Perhaps if you are in Tokyo for a week, month or more. You might want to consider renting an apartment instead. We have heard horror stories of bogus apartment providers, who have swindled unexpecting parties of the down payment. I have used these two providers before and if you are looking for lodging in Tokyo, you might consider using them.
* Japan Stay Club
Before I decided to use that agent, I searched the net for reviews about that company. However I hardly found any! Many of us often worry about the Reliability of the agent. This is heightened by the highly publicised online credit card scams. We are often wary when a full pre-payment is necessary to secure the apartment!
In order to secure an apartment by JSC, full payment by credit card is needed prior to arrival. Above the rental fees advertised on the website, there are additional fees(cleaning,insurance and misc). After Booking three apartments from JSC, I have confidence in their reliability. The apartments I rented were clean and spacious (it beats staying in a squeezy hotel room). Their locations are convenient. Interior was exactly like the photos featured on their website. Maybe we were just lucky, leave a tag if you disagree!
*Akasaka Weekly Mansion
Airport Transfers
1) Narita Express - If you have bought the
Japan Rail Pass,you can travel on the narita express for free but PLEASE remember to book your ticket for the train at the ticket office. None of the carriages are un-reserved and you cannot get on the train without a ticket.
* When you exit the arrival hall, please proceed down the escalator to the Japan Railway Ticket Office at the basement. That is where you can activate your JRP and book your tickets on the narita express to the city. Please remember to fill in the "activation form" which can be found along the side of the room.
2) Airport Limousine Bus - This is an alternative transfer which will drop you off directly at your hotel or at an area close to your hotel. The Limousine Bus is NOT covered under the JRP and the tickets can be bought from the counter outside the arrival hall. It takes about an hour to get into the city. It is a convenient mode of transport if you are travelling with huge baggages and your hotel is covered under the list of hotels.
3) Taxi - A highly expensive alternative
Cost Saving Tips - CONVENIENT VALUE ADDED TICKETS
1) Limousine & Metro Pass- A set of a one-way Airport Limousine bus ticket between Narita Airport and downtown Tokyo, and a Tokyo Metro 1-Day Open Ticket for one day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines.
Point of purchase - Limousine Bus ticket counters of Narita Airport, Shinjuku Station West Exit and TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) and Tokyo Metro Pass Offices (except Nakano, Nishi-funabashi and Shibuya (Fukutoshin Line) stations)
2) If you are planning to buy the metro pass, do purchase the 2 days or 1 day Metro Tickets at Narita Airport T1 or T2 instead of in the city.
Special 2-Day Open Ticket
Good for two consecutive days of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines.
Adult: ¥980, Child: ¥490
Special 1-Day Open Ticket
Good for one day of unlimited travel on all Tokyo Metro lines
Adult: ¥600, Child: ¥300
Subway
1) With the JR Pass you can travel along the JR Metro Loop(JR Line and JR Yamanote Line) for free. Therefore to save cost you might want to book a hotel along the loop line.
2) A cost efficient way to travel around the city is to purchase the Metro Pass. The pass can be purchased from the subway stations or the airport. With the pass, travellers can board any of trains on the 9 Metro Lines FOC. The Metro pass covers many of the tourist destinations, therefore for a first time visitor to Tokyo, this pass maybe ideal.
3) An alternative pass is the Toei Pass, travellers can ride on the 4 railway lines under it FOC.
Accommodation
1) If you are only in Tokyo for a few days, you might like to check out this post for possible accommodations.
2) Perhaps if you are in Tokyo for a week, month or more. You might want to consider renting an apartment instead. We have heard horror stories of bogus apartment providers, who have swindled unexpecting parties of the down payment. I have used these two providers before and if you are looking for lodging in Tokyo, you might consider using them.
* Japan Stay Club
Before I decided to use that agent, I searched the net for reviews about that company. However I hardly found any! Many of us often worry about the Reliability of the agent. This is heightened by the highly publicised online credit card scams. We are often wary when a full pre-payment is necessary to secure the apartment!
In order to secure an apartment by JSC, full payment by credit card is needed prior to arrival. Above the rental fees advertised on the website, there are additional fees(cleaning,insurance and misc). After Booking three apartments from JSC, I have confidence in their reliability. The apartments I rented were clean and spacious (it beats staying in a squeezy hotel room). Their locations are convenient. Interior was exactly like the photos featured on their website. Maybe we were just lucky, leave a tag if you disagree!
*Akasaka Weekly Mansion
Mount Fuji
Caught sight of the "Majestic Grand Old Dame" from the train. Is it just my imagination or does it resemble Mt Fuji watching over the city!
Behind & Between Wires
Behind & Between Wires
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