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Getting There By Air:

Narita Airport (NRT)
Tel: (0476) 322 802.
Website: www.narita-airport.or.jp/airport_e/index.html

Narita International Airport is located 66km (41 miles) east of central Tokyo and is the main gateway to Japan, with over 60 airlines operating out of its two terminals. The airport handles mainly international flights, most domestic flights (and China Airlines flights to Taiwan) use Haneda Airport (see below).

Airport facilities: These include various bureaux de change, ATMs, travel agent, tourist information, numerous restaurants and shops (including duty-free shopping), left-luggage service, luggage delivery service, showers and day rooms (which you can book up to one month in advance online), children’s play rooms, two clinics, a hair dresser and beauty salon, dry cleaning, and post office. Copy and fax facilities are available at both the Business Support Center terminal one (tel: (0476) 300 035) and Leo Two in terminal two (tel: (0476) 346 015). Coin-operated Internet terminals are available at various locations throughout the passenger terminals.

Transport to the city: Japan Railway’s Narita Express (called ‘N’EX’) (tel: (0476) 331 630; website: www.jreast.co.jp) and Keisei Railway’s Skyliner (tel: (0476) 32 8501; website: www.keisei.co.jp) provide rapid, frequent and comfortable service to passengers traveling between Narita International Airport and Tokyo Metropolitan areas 0600-2200.

Both companies run regular services with a journey time of just over 50 minutes. Airport Limousine buses (tel: (03) 3665 7220; website: www.limousinebus.co.jp) run several times an hour 0700-2200, serving major hotels in central Tokyo, Haneda Airport, Tokyo City Air Terminal, and Yokohama. The journey time, depending on traffic and destination, is about 90 minutes. Taxis to the city center are notoriously expensive, costing about ¥30,000. The journey time is about 90 minutes, depending on traffic.

Haneda Airport (HND)
Tel: (03) 5757 8111.
Website: www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp

Haneda, Tokyo’s domestic airport, is conveniently located 16km (10 miles) south of central Tokyo. Confusingly, Haneda continues to be officially known as Tokyo International Airport, despite the fact that all international flights other than China Airlines flights to and from Taiwan and those carrying high-ranking official visitors from overseas, now use Narita Airport.

Airport facilities: Facilities include ATMs, post office, banks, travel agent, restaurants and souvenir shops, left-luggage service, luggage delivery service, information counter (tel: (03) 5757 8111) and car hire. There are no business facilities at the airport. A free shuttle bus is available between the terminals

Transport to the city: The Tokyo Monorail Co. (website: www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english) connects the airport to Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote loop line, the city’s major transport artery (journey time - 23 minutes). The monorail operates an average 12 trains an hour between 0521 and 2350.

The Keikyu railway (website: www.keikyu.co.jp/english/haneda/) runs to Shinagawa Station (journey time - 19 minutes) and other stations in the center of the city, operating daily 0530-2400. Airport Limousine buses (tel: (03) 3665 7220; website: www.limousinebus.co.jp) run to major Tokyo railway stations and hotels. Taxis to central Tokyo cost approximately ¥7,000.

Approximate flight times to Tokyo: From London is 12 hours; from New York is 14 hours; from Los Angeles is 11 hours 40 minutes; and from Sydney is 9 hours 30 minutes.

Getting There By Road:

Heavy traffic congestion tends to make traveling by car in Japan’s urban areas a slow and frustrating experience. Fortunately, excellent public transport makes driving in and between cities unnecessary. Hiring a car can, however, be an excellent way for visitors to explore the more remote country areas. Driving in Japan is not as daunting as might be expected - drivers are generally disciplined and courteous and major signs are in both Japanese and English. Expressways, which are all named (for example, The Tokaido Expressway), are toll roads that link the main cities; tolls are expensive at approximately ¥30 per kilometer. Other main roads are numbered (for example, Route 24).

Traffic drives on the left and the wearing of seatbelts is compulsory. The legal driving age in Japan is 18 years for a car and 16 years for a motorbike. An International Driving License is required, along with a minimum six months driving experience and basic travel insurance. Parking can be impossible to find and extremely expensive. The speed limit is 80kph (50mph) on expressways, and 40kph (25mph) in built-up areas. Driving after having consumed any amount of alcohol is illegal and penalties are severe.

The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (tel: (03) 3436 2811 or 6833 9100; website: www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm), provides an English-language ‘Rules of the Road’ booklet and JAF Road Service offers 24-hour breakdown assistance for both members and non-members. In the case of an accident, the police must be informed (tel: 110).

Emergency breakdown service:
JAF 8139

Routes to the city: Tokyo is linked by the Tomei-Meishin expressway to Kobe (via Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka), by the Tohoku expressway to Sendai and northern Japan, and by the Chuo expressway to Nagano and Nagoya.

Approximate driving times to Tokyo: From Nagano - 3 hours 30 minutes; Sendai - 4 hours; Nagoya - 5 hours; Osaka - 7 hours. Note that actual driving times can vary widely depending on traffic conditions.

Coach services: A number of companies offer a comprehensive network of long-distance bus services. Comfortable overnight coaches with reclining seats serve destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka and the cities of northern Honshu. Coaches leave from terminals outside Shinjuku Station, in Shinjuku, and Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. You can see timetable information and prices for JR network online at www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/mn/ceindex.cfm. Reservations for the JR Highway Bus Service can also be made at green ticket windows in major JR railway stations.

Getting There By Rail:

Japan’s extensive railway network is a traveller’s dream, offering efficient and punctual services that (other than at rush hour and on public holidays) is a pleasure to use. Most of these services are operated by the Japan Railways (JR) rail network. Subdivided into seven regional systems, trains in Tokyo and northern Japan are operated by JR East (tel: (03) 3423 0111; website: www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html).

Traveling on JR’s futuristic shinkansen (also known as ‘bullet trains’) is a highlight for any visitor to Japan. Clean, fast and punctual the trains crisscross the country and whisk visitors from city to coast, mountain or town. Shinkansen run to northern Japan, Niigata on the Japan Sea, Nagano in the central Alps, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, and Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu. But of the six shinkansen lines, the Tokaido-Sanyo line is the most popular. It takes travelers along the coast from Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. It is operated by JR Central (tel: (03) 5818 3510; website: www.jr-central.co.jp/eng.nsf).

There are three types of shinkansen trains; the ‘Kodama’ which stops at every station, the ‘Hikari’ which only stops at major stations and the ‘Nozomi’, which is the fastest journey of all. However at present the Nozomi is only available on the Tokaido-Sanyo line and carries a significant additional fee.

On both shinkansen bullet trains and selected express services travelers can choose between ordinary carriages and upgrading to ‘green car’ carriages. A surcharge buys visitors extra space and a more comfortable seat. Reserving a seat is always advised, and although it incurs a small surcharge, if you hold a rail pass it is free. Reservations for train travel of any kind on and around national holidays should be made well in advance - from a major station.

Long-distance rail travel is expensive but the Japan Railways Rail Passes (website: www.japanrailpass.net) offer outstanding value for money for those planning to make extensive use of the rail network. Passes offer unlimited travel in specific areas of Japan, or one pass allowing travel throughout Japan. A seven- and 14-day pass are available, allowing unlimited travel on JR-operated trains throughout the country. These passes must be bought before entering Japan, however, and are only available to non-resident tourists. For sales inquiries from the UK, contact the Japan Travel Center (tel: 0870 890 0360; website: www.japantravel.co.uk).

There is no national railways enquiries service and information on rail travel in Japan is provided by the individual stations and travel agents, which are equipped with the latest timetables.

Getting Around:




Public Transport
Tokyo has one of the most sophisticated and efficient public transport systems in the world - a combination of an extensive train network operated by a number of private companies, 12 underground lines, bus services and several monorails.

The complexity of the network and the sheer size of some of the stations can seem daunting at first, but navigation is remarkably easy. Most signs are written in English, there are numerous easy to use ticket machines and the clear color-coded underground map makes navigation simple.

Although a single journey from one part of central Tokyo to another is unlikely to cost more than ¥200, there are a variety of passes available designed to save travelers money. Frequent travel tickets offer 11 tickets for the price of 10. The Passnet is a pre-pay card, it won’t save you money, but will save you time, as you simply charge it up at the machines and swipe it at each ticket gate. Best of all for confused travelers, if in doubt simply buy the cheapest fare available at the ticket machine. You can then settle up at the fare adjustment machines at your destination without the risk of a fine. For information in English call the JR East Infoline (tel: (03) 3423 0111).

Note that Tokyo’s subway network is operated by two companies, the Toei Subways with four lines, and Tokyo Metro (formerly known as Eidan Subways) with eight lines. Some Tokyo Metro tickets and passes are not valid on the Toei lines.

With the number of Tokyo commuters, trains are uncomfortably crowded during rush hours (0730-0900 and 1700-1900), despite very frequent services. But now that the problem of women being groped by men in the morning crush has been eliminated by the introduction of women-only carriages, public transport is also very safe, even after dark, and staff and passers-by are generally quick to help confused foreigners.

Despite Tokyo being very much a 24-hour city, the service does not operate 24 hours - trains run from approximately 0500-2400/0100. Nevertheless, there are many 24-hour pubs and cafés in the city and waiting for the trains to start running in the early morning is a long established tradition among the revelers wishing to avoid ruinously expensive night-time taxi fares. The Tokyo Tourist Information Office (tel: (03) 3201 3331) can provide detailed service and timetable information for all the different service providers.

Taxis
Tokyo’s taxis are numerous and can be hailed easily on the street or found at taxi ranks. It is also possible for one to reserve a taxi in advance, from one of the many companies, such as Nihon Kotsu (tel: (03) 5755 2336 for an English speaking operator). Approximately ¥500 will be charged for this service. Fares vary slightly between taxi companies but are uniformly expensive at around ¥660 for the first 2km (1.25 mile), then ¥100 every 350m thereafter. Tipping is not customary and could offend.

Taxi drivers are very professional but rarely speak English, so it is advisable for tourists to have their destination written out in Japanese or to be able to point to it on a Japanese map. During rush hour, it is often quicker to take the train. Unoccupied taxis become scarce at around 0100, once the train services have finished. A peculiarity of all Japanese taxis is that the rear doors are operated automatically by the driver - visitors should not try to open or close the doors themselves.

Driving in the City
Tokyo’s public transport network and taxis are excellent and driving in the city is therefore not advised. Traffic is heavy, navigation is greatly complicated by the fact that streets rarely have names and parking is expensive and difficult to find.

Car Hire
The biggest car hire company, with 150 branches in the Tokyo area, is Nippon Rent-A-Car (tel: (03) 3485 7196; website: www.nipponrentacar.co.jp). Other companies include Toyota Rent-A-Car (tel: 0070 8000 10000) and Nissan Rent-A-Car (tel: 0120 004 123). You can also make discounts on bundles of car hire and train fares by booking at JR Eki Rent A Car, just look for the travel centers in every JR station (website: www.ekiren.co.jp).

Car hire in Japan costs from around ¥6,000 per day for the smallest class of car. Basic insurance is usually included in the price. Both a national driving license and an International Driving Permit are required. Drivers must have held their license for at least a year and the minimum age for hiring a car varies between 19 and 26, although is usually 21 years.

Bicycle Hire
SCS, 2-1-16 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku (tel: (03) 3827 5432 or 3815 6221; website: www.scs-tokyo.co.jp), arranges scooter hire from ¥5,000 per day. Bicycles often can be hired at suburban train stations for around ¥1,000 per day.

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