Japan Travel Guide

Do you know Narita SKY ACCESS Line? Maybe you don’t know this new line, because Service on this line has just started on July 17, 2010.

The whole line is operated by Keisei Electric Railway, while some parts of the line are operated by other companies as well, such as Hokuso Railway. The new line is used by Skyliner services operating at up to 160 km/h using new Keisei AE series EMUs.

The project involved the refurbishment of 32.3 km of existing track on the Hokusō Line, as well as the construction of 19.1 km of new track to Narita Airport, partly using disused rights-of-way originally planned for the cancelled Narita Shinkansen project.

Trains also utilize the Keisei Electric Railway’s Main Line between Keisei Ueno and Keisei-Takasago. Trains run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h, thus completing the run from Nippori to the airport in 36 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the current 51 minutes. Trains also run towards Haneda Airport from Narita Airport via Keisei-Takasago using Toei Asakusa Line, the Keikyu Main Line and the Keikyu Airport Line.This makes it possible to connect the two airports around 65 minutes, as opposed to the current minimum of 106 minutes. Fares for the route will be ¥2,400 from either Nippori or Ueno stations.

photo credit: jetalone

I recommend you to use Odakyu line.

Check the Odakyu’s website:

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/enokama_01.html

From Shinjuku Station

If you want to use JR Line as follow.

From Shinjuku

• JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line (connect to JR Yokosuka Line)
  • Price : ¥890
  • Duration : 1 hour

From Ikebukuro

• JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line (connect to JR Yokosuka Line)
  • Price : ¥890
  • Duration : 1 hour

From Shibuya

• JR Yamanote Line &  JR Tokaido Line & JR Yokosuka Line
  • Price : ¥890
  • Duration : 1 hour
  • You have to change trains at Shinagawa from JR Yamanote Line to JR Tokaido Line, and at Totsuka station change to JR Yokosuka Line.

photo credit: y_katsuuu

If you get to Misaki, you should buy one-day, or two-day pass at Keikyu Shinagawa or Yokohama Station.

• Misaki Maguro Pass ( Misaki Tuna Pass) [recommend!]
  • one day pass
  • Adult ￥2,980 / Child ￥2,240 (from Shinagawa)  | Adult ￥2,880 / Child ￥2,190 (from Yokohama)
  • You can buy this pass at Keikyu Shinagawa or Yokohama Station
  • Includings as follow
    • Round trip ticket from Shinagawa to Misakiguchi
    • Free ticket for Keikyu Bus (*Misaki area)
    • Lunch Voucher Ticket (*You can select the list, check the list http://www.keikyu.co.jp/train/img/maguro.pdf sorry Japanese only, if you want English menu, give us your comment on this article)
    • Spa Voucher Ticket  (*You can select the list, check the list http://www.keikyu.co.jp/train/img/maguro.pdf sorry Japanese only, if you want English menu, give us your comment on this article)

• Miura Peninsula One day Pass
  • one day pass
  • Adult ￥1,900 (from shinagawa) / ￥1,400 (from Yokohama)
  • You can buy this pass at Keikyu Shinagawa or Yokohama Station

• Miura Peninsula Two day Pass
  • one day pass
  • Adult ￥2,000 (from shinagawa) / ￥1,600 (from Yokohama)
  • You can buy this pass at Keikyu Shinagawa or Yokohama Station

From Shinjuku

• JR Yamanote Line and Keikyu Line
  • You have to change trains at Shinagawa from JR Yamanote Line to Keikyu Line.
  • From Shinjuku to Shinagawa : ￥190(*You should buy Free Pass Ticket at Shinagawa Station)
  • Duration : 20min( to Shinagawa)　/ 70min(from Shinagawa to Misakiguchi)

From Ikebukuro

• JR Yamanote Line and Keikyu Line
  • You have to change trains at Shinagawa from JR Yamanote Line to Keikyu Line.
  • From Ikebukuro to Shinagawa : ￥250(*You should buy Free Pass Ticket at Shinagawa Station)
  • Duration : 30min( to Shinagawa)　/ 70min(from Shinagawa to Misakiguchi)

From Shibuya

• JR Yamanote Line and Keikyu Line
  • You have to change trains at Shinagawa from JR Yamanote Line to Keikyu Line.
  • From Shinjuku to Shinagawa : ￥160(*You should buy Free Pass Ticket at Shinagawa Station)
  • Duration : 12min( to Shinagawa)　/ 70min(from Shinagawa to Misakiguchi)

This is Tokyo Rough Image Map

Tokyo’s train and metro is so complex that make it more simple for nonnatives. Check this map, and figure out Tokyo Rough image, before you come to Tokyo.

You can find out following things easily.

• Shinjuku is terminal for Tokyo’s excursion
• Nippori is terminal for Narita Airport
• Shinagawa is terminal for Haneda Airport

enlarge the map

• Map legend
  • Green Line and Arrow : JR Line
  • Blue Arrow : Private Line
  • Black Line : Tokyo Metro and Toei Line

photo credit: eerkmans

The most convenient and budget way to travel inside Tokyo is by train or metro. Buses and taxis are very slowly and expensive because of heavy traffic jams.

But Tokyo has many trains as follow. Check the train in advance.

[Quick Review]

Inside Tokyo

• JR Line
  • JR Yamanote Line : For Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, Nippori, Tokyo, Ueno, and other Major Tokyo’s spots
  • JR Chuou Line : For Shinjuku (From Tokyo to Shinjuku about 15min)

• Metro Line
  • Marunouchi Line: From Ikebukuro to Shinjuku via Tokyo
  • Ginza Line: From Shibuya to Asakusa via Ginza

• Toei Line
  • Toei Asakusa Line: Asakusa, Shinbashi and so on.
  • Toei Oedo Line : Roppongi, Ryogoku, Tukiji, Tsukishima and so on.

you can check your transfer : http://tokyo-subway.net/english/index.html

Outside Tokyo (for excursion)

• JR Line
  • JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line : For Yokohama and Izu
  • JR Keiyo Line : For Maihama and Makuhari

• Private Line
  • Keio Line : For Hachioji, Chofu and Mt Takao
  • Keisei Line : For Narita-Airport, Haneda Airport, Yokohama and Misaki-guchi
  • Tobu Line : For Kawagoe
  • Seibu : For Hannou, and Nagatoro

photo credit: *yasuhiro

You know, Tokyo is megacity. There are more than 50 commuter trains and subway lines running in, out and throughout the city. Trains on these lines have around eight-ten passenger cars and run at regularly-scheduled times.

How to use Tokyo’s train more budget? Use one-day ticket, for your purpose. If you have no idea, we recommend to buy Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway, because you can go every Tokyo’s main place more reasonable.

• Tokyo Metro One-day Open Ticket

Adult: 710 yen, Child: 360 yen
An unlimited one-day pass valid within the Tokyo Metro service areas. Can be purchased by any passengers. Advance ticket and day ticket are both available.

Where to purchase:
Available at a ticket office at any station on the Tokyo Metro Lines (except Nakano Station and Nishi-funabashi Shibuya(the Tokyo metro Fukutoshin line)Station). Valid for 1 day within six months from the date of purchase.
Available through ticket vending machines at any station on the Tokyo Metro Lines. Valid only on the date of purchase.

more info : http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/oneday.html#oneday1

• Common One-day Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway

Adult: 1000 yen, Child: 500 yen
All Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.

Where to purchase:
Same day tickets: Ticket vending machines at all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway stations
Same day tickets (large-size): Ticket vending machines at all Tokyo Metro stations (except Kita-senju (Hibiya Line), Naka-meguro, Nakano, Yoyogi-uehara, Wakoshi, Shibuya (Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines) and Meguro stations).

more info : http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/ticket/oneday.html#oneday2