GGF17 10-12 May, 2006 in Tokyo Japan

Getting Around

General Directions:

When you arrive at the NARITA airport, NEVER TAKE A TAXI, as it will cost over $200 US. The definitive way to get to Tokyo - Yuurakucho - Shinbashi area is to use the JR Narita Express, and get off at Tokyo Station, and then taka a local train, a taxi, or simply walk. I also recommend NOT to take a shuttle bus, since NARITA express is much more convenience and wont get you stuck in the rushhour traffic.

As it was in my older guide, Narita Express is one of the two train company lines (JR and Keisei co.) that leave adjacent to each other from the underground stations at the Narita airport, both Terminals 1 and 2. The other line is Keisei Skyliner, which is cheaper and will make more sense if you are going to North of Tokyo, but not in this cae. There are various local, non-express trains that are much cheaper but unless you have been to Japan several times and know the Tokyo geography let's leave them out unless you are adventurous.

The first stop for the Narita Express is Tokyo Station, about a 50-55 minute ride. It arrives at the underground platform of Tokyo Station, 4 levels deep (very deep). BTW, most of the trains at Tokyo St., including the Shinkansen, leave from above ground-level platforms, so in most cases you have to find your way up to make your connection.

For details see: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/estation/e_tokyo.html Narita express arrives at the Sobu line platforms shown at the bottom.

For JR train maps http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf

Once you get off, if you are staying at Yaesu Fujiya, find your way towards the surface and walk to the hotel (outside of the top Yaesu Central Exit). It will be a fairly long walk from the platform (about 15-20 min), but you cant shortcut it much with a taxi since you will be making your way cutting through a huge station, and getting to a taxi stand is already a 5-10 min walk unless you know your way.

If you are staying near Yuurakucho/Ginza, take the option 2 below.

If you are staying near Shinbashi/Shiodome, there are two options:

Option 1 (recommended). The Southbound JR Yokosuka line leaves from the same level as the Narita express, and it's next stop is Shinbashi. One caveat is that there are two platforms / 4 tracks, and sometimes it leaves from a track on the other one so you have to climb up one level and come down again. This is a good strategy in any case since the # of lines of display on signboard on the platform is fairly limited, whereas if you go up one level there is a more comprehensive one. Or, you can ask a station master walking around in their uniforms.

At Shinbashi a few minutes later you will again arrive at a similar underground platform. Go up the escalators, and find your way towards Shiodome; there will be bunch of signs there. If it is not raining it may be easier to head to the surface and look for a Skyscraper cluster and what seemingly is an elevator walkway leading to them. Also, you could stick to the underground corridor which also is fairly easy as there will be lots of maps once you get to the corridors.

Option 2. From the Narita Express platform climb up a series of escalators to arrive at one of the three main concourses. The Southbound Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines are platforms 5 and 6 (towards Shinagawa). It will take about 5 mins to reach there. Hop on either of them and the next stop about 800meter away is Yuurakucho, and Shinbashi is a stop after that. During midday around 10:00-15:00 Keihin Tohoku becomes an express and will not stop at Yuurakucho or Shinbashi. Look at the electronic signboard and also the side marking on the train and if it has the red express mark dont ride on that. In case you end up in Hamamatsucho I have already outlined below for Villa Fontaine.

At Shinbashi, if you are heading towards Shiodome, there are two staircases. Climb down the staircase with a train connection sign to pink (Asakusa-line) subway and Yuri-Kamome (Skytrain) and Shiodome. If you see an orange (Ginza line) it is the wrong one. Again, if it is not raining, it may be easier to stay above ground by re-climing the escalators to the Yuri-Kamome (skytrain) corridors then going underground and possibly losing the sense of your directions (although there are lots of signs, and huge number of people walking around so you could ask).

For Dai-ichi Hotel the situation is opposite. It is fairly a short walk from the Shinbashi station thru a busy shopping/nightlife district, which will seem like a different world c.f. Shiodome which is clean and futuristic.

Japan Cellular Phone Survival Guide for Foreign Visitors

1. Preface

2. General Knowledge of the Japanese Cellular Phone System

http://euc.jp/misc/cellphones.en.html

3. The Ultimate Selection: To Roam or Not to Roam

4. Techniques to lower your cost

5. Useful Links

// Algorithm for deciding to Roam or Rent

If you have a contract with a SIM card 
Then 
Decide_roam()
Else 
Rent_Japanese_phone()

Procedure Decide_roam()
	family_charge = international_calling_charge(your country, Japan)
	roam_charge = roam_send_charge(your carrier, Japan)
+ roam_recv_charge(your carrier, Japan)
+ family_charge
	If NOT (you own a 3G handset)
roam_charge = roam_charge + 3G rental_charge
	
	rental_charge = Japanese_handset_rental_charge
		+ domestic_rental_send_charge  //receive is free
		+　intl_calling_card_charge //incl. access charge
+ family_charge
	prepaid_charge = Japanese_prepaid_handset_charge
		+ domestic_prepaid_send_charge //receive is free
		+ intl_calling_card_charge  //incl. access charge
+ family_charge

If you absolutely need to be contact contacted via your phone number
		Then Roam();
Else If your business is paying for the roam charge
and family_charge is small thus roam_charge < tolerance
Then Roam();
Else If you expect infrequent calls and thus roam_charge < tolerance
	Then Roam();
Else If roam_charge < rental_charge
	Then Roam();
Else if prepaid_charge comparable to rental_charge 
and you frequently come to Japan
Then Get_Japanese_Prepaid_Phone();
	Else
		Rent_Japanese_Phone();
End Procedure;

Figure 1: Algorithm for deciding whether to roam or rent a phone in Japan

Places to eat

There are zillions of restaurants to eat around the Ginza/Yurakucho/Shibashi/Shiodome area.

http://www.bento.com/ra-ginza.html

has a fairly good guide, including around TIF and Shiodome.

TIF has so many good and quick restaurants around esp. for lunch, I suggest people go outside to dine.

For folks staying @ Villa Fontaine looking for inexpensive dining, Pedi Shiodome 2nd floor (next building), Caretta Shiodome B2F, as well as Shiodome Center building B1F, 1F, and 2F offer a variety of food courts and restaurants. If you dont drink alcohol expect budget of 1000-1500 yen for a reasonable dinner. If you want to venture to the west side of Shibashi station then there are zillions of small down-to-earth Japanese food places, also applicable to folks staying in the Shinbashi area.

If you really want to go really economical, but want to dine Japanese, visit the Oo-toya restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Pedi Shiodome building. There you could get a whole dinner menu for 700 yens or so, in a pleasant atmosphere. Many of the office workers dine there and is very clean. I sometimes take my family there when we need to dine quickly. Another recommendation is Katsukura @ B2F of Caretta, where they serve good Japanese-style pork cutlette dish for less than 1000 yens. There are also other very good ones. Most economical restaurants have menu pictures and/or samples outside, so you could wander around and pick & choose easily. If they dont then chances are they are expensive.

If you want to go upscale, climb to the top floor restaurants of any of the skyscrapers. The food and the view would be superb; expect 1000-2000 for lunch deals, but 5000-10,000 yens for dinner. I frequent the Caretta (the red turtle) building where my favorite Japanese noodle Kaiseki restaurant "Issa-an" is on the 46F, but others are also quite recommended.

Of course there are also convenience stores with good bento boxes for about 500 yens, as well as the McDonalds, Subways, and Stabucks. The last thing you could do is to starve in the general area.

Things to see and do

GPS Waypoints of Interest

(label, lat, lon, comment)

JP-VILLA, 35.6623, 139.7600, Hotel Villa Fontaine
JP-TIF, 35.6766, 139.7643, Tokyo International Forum
JP-TOKSTN, 35.6819, 139.7661, Tokyo Station
JP-NRT, 35.7642, 140.3851, Narita Airport Terminal 1

Do's and Don'ts