Bob Myers wrote:

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.

I emailed the Okura, and they confirmed that the bus service stops
there from the airport, so that was a relief! That saved us so much $$
since we will make the arrangements ourselves! =) Plus, we can take
that to the airport on our departure... yea!

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!

I think we might leave our suitcases in Tokyo, and take overnight bags
to Kyoto, to spare us the agony of lugging the luggage around, do you
think that will be feasible? (I read all the above, and I get stressed
just thinking about finding storage for the luggage on the
shinkansen... I am so Type A, I'd probably mow down everyone in sight
to get into the Shinkansen first, so I could get space for the
suitcase, and darn it, I'm on vacation, LOL!!) It should be feasible
to take a subway to Tokyo station then, right?

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! :-)

Awww! You're going to be going to Japan too?? I am so sorry that we
will miss each other, it would have been so neat to meet an internet
friend! Will you be there during the big vacation time? That ought to
be very exciting! May I ask if you are visiting for business or
vacation?

Thank you again! =)