Travelling in/around Tokyo

[Kangol]

So I'm going to Tokyo next week for a short trip.. taking QF21 to NRT and staying in a hotel quite close to Takaracho subway station.
The work conference I'll be going to is in the Tokyo International Forum, Marunouchi which looks to be within walking distance.

A few questions:
1) Regarding transport to and from the airport, is the Narita Express (N'EX) the quickest and cheapest option?
About N'EX | Narita Express | JR-EAST
Looks like one way is 2940 yen (~A$29.40)

2) I wouldn't mind doing a day trip to Kyoto - is the bullet train the best option in getting there? I haven't done a lot of research on Japan but I might only have one or two days to sightsee.

3) I've been told that Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku are nice to visit/shop/have a look round - would I just need a normal subway ticket to get around to those places?

4) Do many places take credit card? I will have my 28 degrees card with me, but will also get some Yen. Not sure how much I will need but I will be there for 6 days.

5) Looks like I will need to get a power adaptor as my US three-prong one won't work - any recommendations for universal power adaptors?
I might look into getting something like this, where there are several pins that slide in and out meaning you only need one for wherever you go:

Compact Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter (AU/UK/US/EU) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

Finally, if anyone has some recommendations for places to go, visit, eat at, etc then please let me know!

Thanks

 

[serfty]

Rail travel in japan can be surprisingly expensive.

However, there are three good savings options available to you with this:

Suica 'Nex - return Narita Express travel with ¥2000 Suica card (stored value ticket) for ¥5500 all up.

JR East Pass - Multi day travel on all JR East lines (Tokyo and Central Japan) (Four days ¥20000 or three day special ¥15000). See belue for map of JE 'East" Region.

JR Rail Pass - Multi day travel on all JR lines thought Japan. (Must be purchased before arrival into Japan)

The latter option is only of value should you go to Kyoto.

What works best for really depends on how long you intend to stay. The 'East special' can be used on any three single days of your choice during the 10-day period from the day the pass is issued.

 

[LadyC]

Hey Kangol

I was in Japan last month so can offer a few comments/ideas

1) NEX - we didn't catch that, for convenience we caught one of the many airport limousine buses. I'm not sure how it compared price wise but it took us door to door

2) Kyoto is great - if you have time I would definitely recommend it. Check out here for tickets.
http://www.japanican.com/special/shinkansen/

3) Normal subway ticket is fine as long as you stay off the JR lines. You need a different ticket for them I think. The subway is very good in Tokyo, inner city has lots of different lines and stations in close proximity (it reminded me of the Paris metro except nicer!). We bought either single tickets or day passes whilst in Tokyo.

4) Credit cards at large department stores/hotels/restaurants is okay but cash is king at the smaller ones.

5) Not sure on the adaptor, we managed to borrow one at the hotels we stayed at.

 

[amaroo]

We booked last minute for a day trip to Kyoto - cost was around $250 pp return. I'm sure if you book early & take advantage of deals you can get it for less.

Highly recommend going to Kyoto - absolutely beautiful!

I did a TR http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ip-photos/hong-kong-tokyo-day-trip-44095.html might be of interest.

Regarding your questions.....

1. Yes, train to Kyoto. We got the Nozomi which is the fastest service (limited stops) of all the Shinkansen

2. Use the rail/subway network.....really easy to work out & the hot tip - they have a ticket adjuster at every exit.....just buy the cheapest ticket & then use the adjuster at the other end.

3. No worries with CC.....they take everything.

 

[serfty]

BTW - the power sockets are the same as US two prong ...

...
3) Normal subway ticket is fine as long as you stay off the JR lines. You need a different ticket for them I think. The subway is very good in Tokyo, inner city has lots of different lines and stations in close proximity (it reminded me of the Paris metro except nicer!). We bought either single tickets or day passes whilst in Tokyo.
....

Suica (JR) / Passmo (not JR) cards are effectively the same these days and work on almost all modes of public transport.

e.g. You can use one or the other on any companies lines.

...
1. Yes, train to Kyoto. We got the Nozomi which is the fastest service (limited stops) of all the Shinkansen
...

FWIW The cost of a Nozumi return on the Tokaido line to Shin-Osaka is ¥28,100. That's "Ordinary", the green car is another ¥14880 on top of that.

 

[Kangol]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback - will look into all those points.

Will look into your TR, amaroo, should be able to get a spare day to go to Kyoto.

Have posted in another section about the travel adaptor (FWIW):
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....versal-travel-adaptor-skross-world-50323.html

 

[amaroo]

FWIW The cost of a Nozumi return on the Tokaido line to Shin-Osaka is ¥28,100. That's "Ordinary", the green car is another ¥14880 on top of that.

I'll have to go & find the tickets. We had reserved seats - can't remember the class. From memory the price was around A$1,000 for the four of us.......two kids, so that might have skewed the PP charges.

 

[casanovawa]

Probably go to Japan for about a week in August, planning probably to look at Tokyo, maybe climb Mt Fuji and see Osaka... Might squeeze in Kyoto, meant to be quite nice and survived pretty much unscratched from the WW2 bombing didn't it??? So also intersted in any tips...

Thinking about looking at some of these low cost carriers that are springing up in Japan and see whether they are competitive with the trains... I know you might get a better look at the ground ont he train, so might try it on one leg, but if the flights are cheaper i'll probably go that way...

 

[Daver6]

From the airport, I used the limo bus. Its just a regular bus, but door to door. What I found a little annoying is both the train and limo bus required waiting around for them. Ie the QF flight was the first to arrive in the morning. Flying J I was off quickly and through customs etc and then had to sit around waiting for ground transport. At least the airport had free wifi.

In Kyoto, the best form of transport is the bus system. Roughly $5 will get you a day pass.

Credit cards are not widely accepted, especially in cheapest eating places. Ie train stations. It wasn't quite as bad as I was lead to believe. So assume cash and if you can use a card, great!

Yes, two pronged US style plug is required. I just purchased a $2 one of ebay and worked just fine.

If you want to save a bit of money to Kyoto, don't reserve a seat on the train. Just make sure you are at the track 20-30 minutes before departure to ensure you are near the front of the queue. You shouldn't have a problem finding a seat.

 

[amaroo]

FWIW The cost of a Nozumi return on the Tokaido line to Shin-Osaka is ¥28,100. That's "Ordinary", the green car is another ¥14880 on top of that.

I'll have to go & find the tickets. We had reserved seats - can't remember the class. From memory the price was around A$1,000 for the four of us.......two kids, so that might have skewed the PP charges.

Found the tickets - purchased by PHT concierge 30/9/12

Shinagawa - Kyoto - Shinagawa

Nozomi - Green First Class

Adult return fare - JPY 27,040
Kids return fare - JPY 13,520

All up for the four of us JPY 86,776........in todays money around AUD$270/adult.

Kangol if you decided to do a day trip, I would recommend getting a guide with car to show you around Kyoto.....they pick you up from the train door & drop you make at the station. IIRC the guide we had cost around $250 and was worth every cent.....PHT arranged the fellow for us & he was very good, great english & ensured we achieved the maximum from our time in Kyoto.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks everyone, got back yesterday.
Didn't end up going to Kyoto - not enough time. Next time I'll spend more time down that way instead..
Got the Suica/N'EX combo for 5500 return. I had ~900 yen credit left after using the subway and got a refund on my Suica (your remaining amount + 500 yen deposit, less 210 yen admin fee).

All in all it was a nice trip. Very eye opening and different, not in a bad way... the culture there is very.. soothing? I can't pick the right word for it...
Had no idea the language barrier was so great :shock:
Had no idea the food would be so great

On the way, I managed to change to an earlier MEL-SYD at no cost even when on a restricted sale fare (girl at check-in had to ring a supervisor for permission) that was "catering not assured" but I did end up with the refreshment.
Spent the afternoon and evening in the SYD F lounge and almost ate everything on the menu
Came pretty close to 2 bottles of Bollinger
The config on QF21 changed during the day so my 40C wasn't a bulkhead any more

On the way home, I got to NRT early (about 2.30pm), was HLO and QF counters weren't going to be open until 5pm.
Went to the JAL F/OWE check in, told them my story and had my BPs printed (I had done OLCI the night before but wasn't able to print them) on QF ticket stock
Went through fast track security and over to the satellite terminal.
JAL F lounge on level 3 was nice, very quiet - there were 2 people when I arrived. I got the 10 min back massage (it was a choice of either head, upper body or feet) which I must say was exceptionally good.
Good whisky selections even though I'm not a whisky fan, the Remy and Courvoisier XO went down nicely.
Automatic beer machines were pretty cool too.

Went for a shower (same counter as for the massage) at just before 5pm and was asked by the new staff member if I would be interested in a massage. Went for the foot option but the masseuse was there and told them that I already had one earlier
Got told off because you're only allowed one

Food selection was OK but maybe I've been spoilt by QF F lounges...
JAL beef curry was sensational!

Place got "busy" between about 3.30-5.30 then quietened out, I was the only person for the last hour or so when it closed at 7pm. I was told on arrival that it would close at 7pm and at 6.45pm another attendant came to remind me.

At 7pm I went over the QF J lounge, or zoolounge. Pretty busy with not a lot to offer (for an int J lounge). Oh, except grape fanta on tap. Mmmm, grape fanta!