Tokyo Transportation Tips by AusPinay

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The best way to get around Tokyo is to use the train and subway system. However you have to familiarise yourself with the different train lines servicing the city. Most of the attraction are serviced by the JR line.

Make sure you get a TOKYO HANDY GUIDE to tell you where to get on and off and where to exit as the stations are huge and crowds go past the trains the whole day. There is really no off peak hours in Tokyo as we experienced. The trains are always full but not unpleasant as Japanese people are courteous and do not push in! They are also mostly quiet inside the trains and are contented to stand or give way for you. Also the use of mobile phones are common but the sound is turned off so it never annoyed us and the Japanese rarely speak loud in trains as we observed!

Don't worry if you get lost, there is always help at the exit gates. A train staff is always present near the exit where the machines are for the tickets put in before leaving the station.

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Website: http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: As previously noted, Tokyo (and Japan in general) seem to have a very efficient and oganised transport system. Whatever mode of transport we used was always clean, on time and user-friendly. The tickets are also cheap, especially if you get a Day's pass which cost about 730 yen and you can ride in any of the trains around the pink area in the Tokyo map you get from the info tourism desk at any station.

I recommend this or get the SUICA card which you can always replenish/recharge so you don't have to keep buying tickets every time you want to go out. With my young family we usually go to one to two areas as the places cover a wide are of walking ground!

There are maps, signs and numerous ways to help the average traveller get around the city.

However, it can still be tricky as it has a complicated system of subway, monorail, train and buses network. The best thing to know is there is always help at hand. One must not hesitate to approach a transport staff for help.Even ordinary Japanese commuter/s are willing to help even if they cannot speak English well! They are very polite and helpful people!

English is not widely spoken but most staff know a little English enough for you to get by. I shall have a separate post about commonly used Japanese/Nihongo for the average tourist with little or no grasp of the Japanese language.

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Website: http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Don't worry if you are lost or make a mistake re tickets fares, etc. There is always help available as mentioned. That is even when you are using a ticket machine (for buying tickets or fare adjustment).
Once we thought we made a mistake getting off in an unfamiliar station and had to go and make fare adjustments. So we went to the machine (our tickets were not accepted in the exit gates machines so we couldn't get out of the station) for fare adjustment but to our dismay, the machine just "swallowed" it.

A more surprising thing happened, as we were frantically pressing cancel, a human head suddenly popped out of the little window near the machine! He told us no need to pay and pointed to the far end of the exit gates where another train staffer was manning them so he could let us out!

Another problem averted!

So when in Tokyo, no worries, there is always someone to help!

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Website: http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp
Other Contact: Japan railways website

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: A very important and cost-saving way to go to/from Tokyo and Narita Airport for us was to ue the Airport Limousine Bus which should normally cost around 3,000 yen for adults one way and half price for kids under 12 y.o.

However, we saved on the fares to and from the airport to our hotel in Tokyo for more than AU$200 . How did we do this?

Before we left, in my researches about Japan and Tokyo, I discovered our Asia Miles frequent flyer memberships have been offering rides on the Airport Limousine Bus to and from Narita Airport and Tokyo using the mileage points. Hence, I know we have about 13,000 points sitting in each of our accounts from a few years' back from our trip to Hongkong and Manila so I redeemed them for those rewards.

It took just under two weeks to get the redemption letter which we showed to the bus office at NArita plus our Asia Miles cards.

The only tricky part was explaining about them at the bell services of our hotel. The staff was not very familiar with the scheme but after my polite insistence and suggestion that she ring the airport office as I have previously enquired about it and it is fine to use them from the hotel. I asked if I should redeem/book there for our trip back to the ariport but was told the bell services will book us a day before we leave.

So another tip here is, be insistent without being rude as sometimes if a hotel staff is new or young, etc, that person my not be well versed about certain rules/schemes.

I am determined as I wasn't about to pay extra as each bus trip cost us 5,000 points!

This bus is very convenient as it took us straight to the doorstep of our hotel!( Some needed to ride a taxi near their hotel after getting off at Tokyo Prince!)

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Website: airportlimousinebus.co.jp
Other Contact: Narita ticket office, terminals