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Shane_Currie

Getting Around

Narita Airport to Tokyo

The train to Tokyo leaves the Airport from a station that is down stairs from the terminal - turn left as you exit through the customs doors and go down the escalator. There is a JR ticket window next to the escalator, but they don't exchange rail passes there.

The JR Booth is on the right as you go through the doors at the bottom of the escalator. This booth sells tickets and also has the exchange window for the JR Rail Pass.

The platform is down a level from the ticket booth, don't try and go through the gates to the left as you go through the 1st set of doors as this is the exit. Luckily for me, the electronic ticket was smarter than I was and wouldn't let me out.

The train from the airport the ''Narita'' Express has some space for luggage as you enter the car, but you should try to pack as light as possible.

These is a food service on the Shinkansen trains which consists mainly of Japanese cold drinks & snacks, we didn't recognise anything except for Coca-Cola (130yen). They also have space to storage luggage but substantially less than the "Narita" train. The station platforms have small food outlets that sell a range of snacks, including 'Bento' (which translated to Box Lunch), which are small pre-prepared lunch boxes that range in price from 700yen to 1,500yen.

JR Rail Pass

A JR Rail Pass is excellent value if you are planning to sight see using the railway - as opposed to the subway - network. It allows unlimited travel on JR trains & buses throughout Japan for the period of the pass; 7, 14 or 30 days. You need only present the pass at the JR ticket window at your departure station to receive your onward tickets.

There are two types of rail pass;

1. Ordinary - for travel in the non-reserved cars,

2. Green - for travel in the reserved cars. This pass costs more but ensures you have a seat, a blessing when the train is full.

We have purchased a Green pass on both our trips.  The 14 day green pass costs 61,000 yen, however if we had purchased the tickets we would have paid over 125,000yen, so it was definitely worth it.

You should carry your JR pass in an easily accessible place as you will need to present it to the attendant each time you pass through the station gates. This applies at every station you use the pass at to buy tickets. You will also have to show it to the ticket inspector on board the train.

Train Tickets

The tickets have the departure time as well as the platform number information, it you have a green ticket it will also show your seat number.

Be warned Tokyo Station is huge, very huge. Most of the signs are only in Japanese, so unless you know which train line you will be using it is probably quicker & easier to ask at an information booth.

Picture: Train Schedule Board

Subway stations are the same, it is definitely easier if you know the line you are going to travel on as both the line & station names are generally shown in English.

The tickets do show a "journey" number that can be found on the departure screens along with the platform number.
 

TIP: Pack as light as possible in the smallest case you can!

Japan Gallery

                        Click here to view the Japan Picture Gallery