Transportation



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"General"

Transportation is well developed in anywhere in Japan.
The train system is especially well organized.
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 Japan Rail Pass

This is really good deal for visiters to Japan.
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must meet one of the following two conditions.
You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

Please check the above site if you have an interest..

Type:
Green
Ordinary
Duration
Adult
Child
Adult
Child
7-day
37,800 YEN
18,900 YEN
28,300 YEN
14,150 YEN
14-day
61,200 YEN
30,600 YEN
45,100 YEN
22,550 YEN
21-day
79,600 YEN
39,800 YEN
57,700YEN
28,850 YEN


Fare to Kyoto is 26,440 Yen by Hikari.
If you are going to visit more than two places like Kyoto, Osaka or Nikko, this would be really deal for you.


Link for Japan Rail Pass
http://www.japanrailpass.net/

From Narita Airport to Tokyo

There are several ways to Tokyo downtown.

If you land in Narita Airport and
you know your hotel is located close to the JR Station,
Narita Express is the easiest way to downtown.
The trains bound for

  • Tokyo JR Station
  • Shinjuku JR Station
  • Yokohama JR Station.


If you are carrying heavy language, Limousine service is recommended.
Your hotel may be far from the JR station with many stairs.

Fare for Downtown Tokyo
from Narita airport by Narita Express.

Destination

Fares (Yen)
Tokyo
3.020

Shinjyuku, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa

2,990

Yokohama

4,090

You can buy a special standing ticket when seats of the next train are sold out.
If you are in hurry, this is one choice.

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Limousine bus is a more economical way to your hotel. It takes you to the front of your hotel from the Airport.
It takes you to the major hotels directly.
If your hotel is listed on the route, you should use it.

Before you make a hotel reservation, it is one item which you had better to ask an operator.

For reservation of returning way, contact hotel bell captain or 03-3370-91156

There are several ways to your hotel.

Taxis tend to be a bit expensive, but if you are affordable, they are at your service from the airport to your hotel.

It may cost you more than 15,000 Yen from the airport to your destination in downtown in Tokyo.
If you are caught by trafic jam, it may take more than two hours and cost more.

Best price if your hotel is located in Ueno, Nippori area
2,470 Yen 40 Minutes to Ueno.




http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/accesse/index.htm



Also Express trains are available for Shinagawa and Haneda Airport.
Also if you can transfer to Yamanote line at Nippori, this is the cheapest way from Narita Airport.
For example, from Narita to JR Shinagawa Special express and JR costs 1190 Yen and 90 minutes via Nippori.

Stop and think before you rent a car or unless you can understand the following traffic signs. Roads are full of these Japanese characters

And more, you need to drive on the left side of the road.

Moreover, roads are full with thousands of pedestrians and bicycles.

 

 

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"Train"

There are three kinds of train systems in Japan. The first one is JR,( Japan Railways), used to be under governmental operation and
currently seven JR companies operate the train systems
in the each region of Japan.
The second train system is private company operations.
Metropolitan areas like Tokyo have several train companies.
The third system consists of subway lines. Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Sapporo and Osaka have subway lines and
trains run downtown area of big cities.

"Subway"

Eidan Chikatetsu (Subway) changed their name to "Tokyo Metro".


They have added new sign on each station.
The alphabet shows the line and the number means stattion name.
For example, M means Marunouchi line and 25 means 25th station. from west or south end

It becomes much easier to use subway system before.

Detail information for Tokyo metro,
this the Homepage address of Tokyo Metro.

http://www.tokyometro.jp/index.htm

 

Ticket Vending Machine

 

Insert coins then press the button which is listed on the price table.

If you don't know the right fare, just buy the lowest ticket and pay later.

 

 

This is a sample of the JR (Japan Railways) ticket.

The left side shows the issued date and the center contains the original station name and paid fare.

The backside of this ticket is normally black or brown that means data is stored in the magnetic layer.

Ticket gate.

Almost all train systems are using the auto ticket gate.

 

Enter:

This is an automatic ticket gate.

Just insert your ticket on your right side machine.

It will show up at the end of the machine. Pick up it

Exit:

Insert ticket then go through the path.

Your ticket will be in the machine.

If you have a transit ticket to other line, your ticket will pop up for your picking up.

 

Japan has the best Railroad system.


You can go anywhere using JR (Japan Railroad).
JR Information Service Telephone : 03-3423-0111.
In Tokyo area, the trains runs every 5 - 10 minutes.
Monday through Friday, 10 am - 6 pm (except national holidays)

 

But

The system is sometimes very unfriendly to foreigners
such as non-English fares table.

If you do not know how much to pay for your whole journey,
then buy the lowest denomination ticket.
When you reach your destination,
look out for

the fare adjustment (machine)

You can pay the difference using this machine before you exit.

High Tech Train Navigator

In the JR Yamanote line, you may find this high tech LCD panel over the doors.
It shows next station and entire root map of Yamanote line.
This system isn't installed all of Yamanote line trains.
If you can't find it, you have to check your location with your map.

 

"I-O card"(ee-oh card)

This is a convenient card for you if you use
JR, Japan Railroad, several times.
It is prepaid card.
Three types of IO card - 1000, 3000, 5000 Yen.
You can buy it at the ticket counter (you can ask for a receipt.)
or vending machine with this mark.
As long as the prepaid money remains you can use it.
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Get on Shinkansen

You know this is one of the fastest tarain in the world.
Maximum speed is around 280 km/h.
It is the best way to go to Kyoto from Tokyo.

This green mark means this car is Green car.
You have to pay extra fare in addition to normal fare.
This is Green car of Shinkansen.
There are four seats in a raw.
The seat is much wider than normal car set.
The fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 18,670 Yen.
This is regular car of Shinkansen.
There are five seats in a raw.

The fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,520 Yen.
If you are traveling withyour family, JR train sheet can be convertible to the face-to-face sheet.
Roll your mouse over right picture.

Eki Bento

Eki means "Station" and Ben means "Bento".
This is a sample of Eki-ben.
You can enjoy various local foods.

This Bento is called "Makunouchi".
Makunouchi means interval of the play of Kabuki.
Originally it was prepared to eat luch during the
interval of Kabuki.
The price is around 500 Yen - 1000 Yen.
Eki Bento is not only Japanese but also
European type meals.
The sandwitch is available.
The price is around 600 Yen.
This is called Sukeroku sushi.
This sushi uses only vegitables.
Fried Tofu and Kanpyo, kind of potato and seaweed.
The price is around 500 Yen.
Roll your mouse over right picture
If you have moreinterest in Ekibe,
you can buy a book at amazon.com.
Title is Ekiben.


Transportation Guide Site




This site is operated by Jordon.
Type in the nearest station and destination station and check arrival time or departure time, it will give you the best tranporation way.
It is really usefull site to find the transportation in Japan.

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

"Taxi"

You can catch a taxi anywhere. Plentiful
But remember taxi fare is pricey in the world..Still it is very convenient for short ride. One thing you should know about taxi in Japan.

The passenger door is opened automatically for easy getting on. A taxi driver manipulates the lever to open/close by his hand.

So you don't need to close the door.

I found the intersting sign in a taxi.
It said" DANGER. PLEASE LET THE DRIVER
OPEN AND CLOSE THE REMOTE CONTROLLED
DOORS.".

 

There is a sign like left picture around big stations and hotels.
Or just raise your arm in any place. A whistle is not popular for calling cab.

Red rectangular light in the front windows in a cab means that the cab is vacant and ready to
get the customers on.

Here is a fare table for your reference. It varies locally.

Basic Fare 660 Yen up to 2 kilo meter (around 1.25 mile)

Then 80 Yen will be added each 288 meter.

Survival tips again, most taxi drivers don't speak English.

Bring directions or address in Japanese.

 

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"Bus"

Bus system is complicated- route, fare, destination in Japanese.

Since drivers don't speak English, a bus riding will be a big challenge for you.

A bus is operating by only a driver.

Therefore various ways to pay fare.
1. Pay first
2. Get a tag when you get on. and pay proper fare when you get off.
The fare table locates in the front of bus.
If you don't have the exact change,
i) you need to exchange it to small changes with money exchanger in bus.
Then pay exact fare. ii) insert the coins to the machine then it will return the change.

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Trip to Kyoto

Many visitors want to go to Kyoto.
I"d like to explain how much it is to go to Kyoto.
So here is a table for the transportaion to Kyoto.

Various ways from Tokyo to Kyoto
Name Operation company Time Fare How often Comment
Nozomi (Shinkansen) JR Tokai 2h20m 14190 Two in hour Fastest
Hikari (Shinkansen) JR Tokai 2h 45m 13220 Three in hour Fast enough
Local trains JR Tokai 8h - 9h 7980 Many choice Transit over 4 times
You can enjoy it
Dream Kyoto JR Bus 8h 8180 2/day Red eye bus?
at 22:00 & 22:30

The fare is sunject to change.



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