Tokyo Transportation Tips by angelochka

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: of course the easiest way to get to Tokyo from Narita aeroport is to jump in a taxi, but not the quickest if it's a rush hour and quite expensive, it can cost you approx.200$. Best thing is to take a bus (Aeroport Limousine Bus), it's easy to find-just outside the arrival hall and it delivers you to downtown hotels, just check what time is departure of the bus which stops near your hotel. Downtown Tokyo may be reached in 60-90min depending on the traffic.
My mistake was to pay in Moscow at travel agency 200$ for escorted transfer till my hotel. I know it sounds reduculous, but i read that much about people lost in Tokyo, everything is written in kanji..so i decided better not to take such risk, besides i had only 3 days in Tokyo and i couldnt afford to waist this precious time, was counting every minute..
The guy who met me was russian, but studying at some university in Tokyo, he knew japanese but seemed to me didnt know the city very well...and guess what? He met me and we took this bus from ALB, which i could easily do by myself and to pay 25$, not 200$..
for these 200$ i could take a taxi:) at the end i was hoping the guy at least will tell me something interesting, i was trying to ask questions to him...like how much (approx.) would i have to pay for taxi to get till Asakusa...and he said to me..please show me this location on the map..I knew about Asakusa, and he didnt:)) and all the way till the hotel i had to answer his questions about how life was going on in Russia.
Please dont make my mistake!

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'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: This tip should be the most important, number 1!!! When taking a taxi never try to open the door, the door opens automatically and after you are in shuts automatically. Please dont make japanese taxi drivers upset trying to manhandle it yourself:))
i didnt because read about that "custom" in multiple travelguides and had the greatest respect from taxi drivers!

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: in travel guides it's written "taxis in Tokyo are shamefully expensive", in general it is..but i dont think it's more expensive than in London, i took a taxi from my hotel located in Shinjuku till Asakusa, the ride took about 1 hour with the traffic, though both locations are considered to be in the center, anyway that cost me 40$, i wouldnt say i was shocked, looked normal.
another thing with short distances, even for 2km ride you will have to pay 6$.
one of the evenings i was supposed to have dinner with friend at Park Hyatt, funny thing i could see Hyatt from my hotel's window and it seemed being not to far and i was planning to have a walk to get there...but things are not that easy as seem sometimes..when i got out i understood i couldnt do it, with all these multileveled roads in Tokyo, Hyatt was like located in another dimension...and i was thinking...common Angela, just pay 10$ for a taxi and forget about it..and i did it, tough taxi driver was quite amazed, pointing to Hyatt ahead of me, but he took me there:)

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