Tokyo Transportation Tips by salisbury3933

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The Narita express is a great way to get from Tokyo station to Narita airport. It costs about 2700 yen and departures are frequent.

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Website: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Tokyo's subway system is not the most beautiful in the world by any means, but it is one of the most extensive, and is pretty cheap as well, with journeys beginning from 160 yen (less than half of what you'd pay in London for example).

It's a great way to get about the city once you learn to navigate your way around.

There are 13 lines, run by two separate companies.

You can either buy day passes for one or both companies, or buy a passnet pay as you go card which you put into the wicket as you go, meaning you don't need to buy a ticket for each individual journey.

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Website: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/util/english/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: This is the loopline that goes around Tokyo, and stops at most places of interest. Tokyo station, Ginza, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Shibuya and Shinjuku in particular.

There will be plenty of times when the subway or one of the other lines is a better option, but just about anyone who spends any length of time in Tokyo will spend some time on the Yamanote line.

If you wanted to go the whole way around, it would take about an hour.

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Website: http://www.japanrail.com/

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: In addition to the Narita express, the Keisei company offers the Skyliner to Ueno station and is somewhat cheaper than the Narita express.

It may be more convenient depending on what part of the city you are going to.

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Website: http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/html/skyliner.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The Subway in Tokyo is operated by two Separate companies.

Tokyo Metro, who operate the Ginza, Marunouchi, Tozai, Yurakucho, Hibiya, Chiyoda, Nanboku, Hanzomon and New Line, and Toei Metro who operate the Oedo, Asakusa, Mita and Shinjuku lines.

Tokyo Metro's day pass is 710 yen, and Toei Metro's day pass is 500 yen. Alternatively you can buy a 1000 yen pass which covers both systems.

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Website: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/util/english/

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Tokyo station is a very busy station indeed, as nearly all long distance trains leave from here, most notably the Shinkansen headed north south and west.

Its design is of interest in itself, and the building itself is like a vast labyrinth, with the various local and long distance lines, and plenty of places to eat.

It was built in the early 20th cenury roughly based on the Central Station in Amsterdam.

Plenty of local lines stop here as well.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The JR local trains are all colour coded, which helps in making sure you are on the right one.

Yamanote line=light green
Chuo line=Orange
Keihin Tohoku line= light blue
Sobu line=yellow

and so on.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The local train on the Keisei line is the cheapest way into Tokyo, costing 1000 yen. It goes from Ueno all the way out to both terminals of Narita airport.

If you don't have a JR pass, and time is not an issue, it may well be worth getting.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: There are plenty of buses going from various parts of the city to Haneda, but I like to avoid the inevitable traffic jams and use the monorail from Hamamatsu-cho station. It's 470 yen to either of the two terminals, and Hamamatsu-cho is easily accessible.

Hamamatsu-cho can be reached on either the Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku lines, or the Oedo or Asakusa subway lines (Daimon station).

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Website: http://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/english/