transportation

1. access to and from narita airport. www.japan-guide.com/e/e2027.html
   
   • JR Narita Express (NEX)
     About 3000 yen, 60 minutes to central Tokyo
     Departures every 30-60 minutes
     The Narita Express is a fast and comfortable airport train into central Tokyo (serving Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro Stations), the Tokyo Tama region, Yokohama and Saitama. All seats are reserved. Thanks to the NEX & Suica package, the Narita Express can also be a relatively economical airport access option.
   • JR Sobu Line (Rapid Service)
     About 1300 yen, 85 minutes to central Tokyo
     Departures every 60 minutes
     The Rapid Sobu Line is the inexpensive JR alternative to the Narita Express, connecting the airport with Tokyo Station and Yokohama. The Rapid Sobu Line is a normal commuter train, which stops at several stations between the airport and Tokyo and can become crowded during rush hours. Seat reservations are not possible.
   • Keisei Skyliner
     About 2000 yen, 60 minutes to central Tokyo
     Departures every 40 minutes
     The Keisei Skyliner connects the airport with Ueno Station in central Tokyo. It is a comfortable train for travelers to and from the airport. All seats are reserved.
   • Keisei Limited Express -> WE USED THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE CHEAPEST OPTION
     About 1000 yen, 75 minutes to central Tokyo
     Departures every 20 minutes
     The inexpensive alternative to the Keisei Skyliner, the Keisei Limited Express is the cheapest way to get from the airport into Tokyo. It is a normal commuter train, which stops at several stations between the airport and Tokyo and can become crowded during rush hours. Seat reservations are not possible.
   • Limousine Bus
     About 3000 yen, 60-90 minutes to central Tokyo
     Several bus companies offer connections to various places in the Tokyo area and neighboring prefectures, including direct connections to major hotels.
   • Taxi
     About 20,000 yen, 60-90 minutes to central Tokyo
     Because Narita Airport is located about 60 km outside of Tokyo, a taxi ride into central Tokyo is very expensive and not recommended to common travelers.
   
   
2. getting around Tokyo - subway.
   for our 4 days trip, we bought 2x two day metro pass. you will save a lot of money especially when your schedule is as tight as ours. here is the link to their site: www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/index.html
   
   it's best to print the english version of the network map since i found it hard to get it there, all they have is the japanese version. the network map may look confusing at first but after you get your hand around it, it's not that difficult. i really suggest you do your homework beforehand - plan which station you're going to start and end your journey, especially important if your destination does not have a direct line, i.e. you have to change line. on the metro map it is colour coded so you can see which colour you can travel on only using the metro two day pass.
   
   buy the ticket at: Terminal 2 – railway ticket counter, 1st floor arrival lobby.
   a two day ticket pass 980 Yen (this special price is only when you buy in airport)
   Tokyo Metro fares range from 160 to 300 yen depending on how far you travel. A one day pass for unlimited use of Tokyo Metro on one calendar day is available for 710 yen, but note that special passes for visitors are sold at Narita Airport for only 600 yen for a 1-day version and 980 yen for a 2-day version. www.japan-guide.com/e/e2375.html
   
   if you are deciding whether this pass will save you money or not, you should first plan your journeys, then you can check how much does it cost each way, go to: http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/
   ...then total your train costs for day 1 and 2, total it and see which one is cheaper, with or without 2 day pass.
   
   
3. if you plan to go to odaiba (www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html) - use the yurikamome line, buy the one day pass as well, bcos you will be hopping in and out of the train a lot, so it will save money.
   
   The Yurikamome is an un-manned, elevated train with rubber tires, which connects Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote Line with all of Odaiba's attractions and Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. A ride from Shimbashi to Daiba takes 15 minutes and costs 310 yen. If you ride the Yurikamome more than twice, a one day pass for 800 yen is likely to come cheaper than single tickets. (-> this was the kind of ticket we bought)
   
   
4. pasmo card - to be used for getting around tokyo in lines not covered by tokyo metro subway. rechargable, and you can use it to buy stuff in mini market with your balance. this is awesome! minimum top up is 1,000yen. www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html
   
   
   • PASMO can also be used on many buses in the greater Tokyo region.
   • How to use Suica/PASMO? When passing the ticket gates, hold the card close to the card reader (rather than inserting it into the ticket slot). The applicable fare will be automatically deducted when you exit through the ticket gate at your destination station. A card cannot be shared by multiple travelers at the same time.
   • How to recharge Suica/PASMO? Suica/PASMO cards can be recharged at vending machines in railway stations of Japan Railways and other railway companies in the Greater Tokyo region. The maximum amount to be charged onto a card is 20,000 Yen.
   • How to check the current balance? The current credit balance is shown on a small display whenever you pass a ticket gate. Furthermore, it can be checked at vending machines together with a usage history.
   • Shopping with Suica/PASMO. At an increasing number of shops (more than 10,000), such as convenience stores, kiosks and restaurants in and around railway stations, Suica/PASMO cards can be used instead of cash. Simply hold your card close to the card reader and you won't have to deal with change.