"koneko" wrote in message
oups.com...
I decided that we'd schedule our own airport transfer to the hotel, so
we should have time to pick up our own shinkansen ticket after all! =)

Good. You should have no problem getting to the hotel, either -
there is a bus service that gives you to-the-door service to just
about all of the major hotels in the Tokyo area, for a reasonable
fee. There's also JR's "Narita Express" train, which can get you to
the major JR stations in the city (and from those, a taxi ride will
generally be your best bet). The Narita Express is quick, clean,
and very comfortable. The buses are clean and comfortable as
well, although you will be slightly more cramped and they will
generally take a bit longer to get into town. (Narita Airport is a
surprisingly long way from central Tokyo.) The bus fare, by
the way, will be around 3,000 yen (about $27), which, since it
goes right to the hotel, will be the best deal.


We confirmed our hotel is the Okura. Any idea what the taxi fare would
be like to either of the stations for the Shinkansen? (this might be a
bad idea for my wallet!!)]

OK - the Okura isn't right next to any of the major JR stations
(it IS fairly close to a couple of subway stations), but it's only
about a ten-minute taxi ride from Tokyo station. I haven't taken
a cab in Tokyo recently - perhaps someone else could chime in with
an estimate of the fare - but I'm guessing you'd spend around the
equivalent of $20, perhaps, to make that trip one-way. Keep in
mind, though, that there's no custom of tipping in Japan. Japanese
taxis are also unfailingly clean, and with helpful drivers. You may
run into a language problem, though, so if you can have the
name and address of your hotel (or other destination) printed in
Japanese, it would be a good idea. The hotel may have transportation
to the station, also - again, check with them once you're there, and
they will certainly give you good advice on the best way to get
where you're going!

Japan IS expensive, of course, as you are no doubt finding out,
but there are also a lot of things to see and do which will not cost
a small fortune. For example, be sure to get out of the hotel and
away from the Western-style restaurants for your meals - don't be
afraid to try the local cuisine, at the local restaurants. And, as we've
already discussed, the train and subway system is definitely the way
to get around, and it's a bargain (esp. when compared with the
taxis!).

I see you're going to be there in early April - too bad, as it's looking
like my next trip over there will be in LATE April! Would've been
fun to see how you liked it! :-)


Bob M.