Just think of everything that has sprouted from your remarks. Sure we get a few weeds and thorns as a result - but there have been some lively oddities, and beautiful blooms too.

This forum just wouldn't be the same without your fertile comments.

 

This service is also called "takkyubin".

 

This is a result of very poor planning on the part of the airport authority/government or the railways, or both.

IIRC, the last part of the line leading into NRT is not double tracked but actually 2 seperate single tracks of rail. One's operated by JR and the other by Keisei. The result is that trains for each company will run on its own tracks, vastly reducing capacity as there can only be one train on the track at any one time.

 

Welcome to Narita!

AFAIK there is no bottleneck at the NRT end of the line - certainly the JR train puts on a little spurt of speed in the section between Narita and Airport Terminal 2.

There are, however, very serious "capacity" issues on the sections between Shinjuku and Tokyo / between Yokohama and Tokyo and between Tokyo and Chiba. These are all very busy sections of the network which N'EX has to share with other JR trains. Innevitably, this makes a joke of the title "Express" for the N'EX. (For example, the N'EX takes much longer to travel between Tokyo and Shinjuku than a Chuo Line "Limited Express" train which takes a more direct route).

 

I would agree with this statement for the most part. Either I've been very lucky, or the run from NRT to Tokyo isn't that congested most of the time. I've only had one brief (3 minute) delay about halfway between NRT and Tokyo, and that was for track maintenance. IIRC (I'm usually asleep while on the NEX) the NEX uses so-called "Express" tracks for almost all of the way to Tokyo station.Quite right. Since I normally just have an overnight bag and laptop, I get off at Tokyo and take the Subway to Nishi-Azabu (Roppongi station on the Hibiya line).

 

I do not think that end section creates a bottleneck. Keisei is able to run a mixture of limited express and skyliner services per hour.
The Narita Rapid Railway in a few years will allow Skyliner services to get to Nippori in about 36 minutes.

Have you consider taking Keisei instead of JR for this route?
The Limited Express or Skyliner to Keisei Ueno Station, walk over to the Hibiya Line Station at Ueno Station right to Roppongi, plus you'll probably save 1000-2000yen.

 

Yes, that's them..

It's also a godsend when traveling with 3 weeks of clothes, gifts, duty free booze, etc :-)

my favourite is Yamato Kuroneko, for no other reason than the extremely cute "momma cat" logo

_m

 

Oh man!! I wish I had thought of this.. I ended up taking the Skyliner qute a few times, but never thought of taking the Hibiya line over to Ueno. I always ended up having to make several transfers.

..and to think i was coming from Daikanyama too!

Oh well, live and learn (the tokyo trains).. :-)

_m

 

I have no idea. I have never taken the bus, and never plan to. I only know I get there quicker and they arrive worn out. I can say the route the taxi drivers take is a lot of narrow, back neighborhood type of streets and not on the highway, so perhaps they can travel a route the bus cannot?

I will try and find an old receipt. It is not cheap - but I have also stayed in Shinagawa itself the past few trips so I am not exactly remembering the Ebisu - Shinagawa fare total in yen. I want to say in the $40 - $60 USD range? Since I was traveling for business I did not pay too much attention - I just remember the total for the cab + NRT was well with reason for my corporate travel policies.

 

Yeah, but I usually have a JR railpass, so it doesn't cost anything to take the NEX, and I get a monthly subway pass as well. Based on my railpass usage, I can't see how JR makes ANY money on me, but then again, except for special events like Yuki Matsuri, etc., there have been very few times that I've been on a full Shinkansen or other long distance train (Green cars, of course) .

 

Actually, I believe the more literal translation is "Black Cat", but it could be a "momma" black cat Yamato pretty much has a stranglehold on courier service (those pink forms are everywhere) , although they are/were in a nasty fight with the post office which is trying to get a piece of the action.

 

I think it is still an alternative out there even if one had the JR pass, for example you can add an extra day on your JR pass usage (to travel more in your schedule) by not using the rail pass on the first day only from Narita Airport - Tokyo.

 

Thank you! ^

that was very helpful!

 

... there's also Sagawa (with the Edo-era hikyaku delivery guy logo) and Nittsu/Pelican (with the pelican logo).

 

This is the information I received directly from the Westin for a trip at the end of May (our first to Japan). We took the N'ex to Tokyo station (plenty of available seats and luggage space), connecting to Yamanote line to Ebisu during rush hour on a Thursday.

Do not make the same mistake I did and exit Ebisu at street level, the walk to the Westin is uphill all the way (no fun with luggage). Use the covered walkway with moving sidewalks on the upper level (nice if it's raining). Exit the walkway and cross the street to Yebisu Garden Place, which is essentially a planned mixed-use development (mall, retail, dining, hotel, office, residential). You will see the Westin on the far side of the mall.

We rode the limo bus back to NRT on Sunday. There were no more than 3 five minute stops on the way, and only about 10 people on the bus.

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TRANSPORTATION FROM THE NARITA AIRPORT TO THE WESTIN TOKYO

NARITA EXPRESS TRAIN

Please find the sign of JR TRAIN on arrival terminal which is located soon after out side the custom. Then, please take the JR Train, called NARITA EXPRESS (N�EX). The fare is 2,940 yen to Tokyo Station and 3,110 yen to Shinagawa Station.

To Tokyo Station, please allow 55bminutes, also allow one hour and 10 minutes to Shinagawa station. No reservation is required. Please see timetable.

After arriving at Tokyo Station
By Train
Yamanote line from track #5 to Ebisu Station. At Ebisu station, please take the escalator going up to East Exit, and turn right to The Westin Tokyo towards The Yebisu Garden Place.
By Taxi
It takes around 40-50 minutes to The Westin Tokyo. The taxi fare is around 4,000yen. Please show the map to your taxi driver.

After arriving at Shinagawa station
By Train
Yamanote line from track #2 to Ebisu station. At Ebisu station, please take the escalator going up to East Exit, and turn right to The Westin Tokyo towards The Yebisu Garden Place.
By Taxi
It takes around 15-20 minutes to The Westin Tokyo. The taxi fare is around 3,000yen. Please show the map to your taxi driver

AIRPORT LIMOUSINE BUS

Please be aware that traffic and road conditions may exceed your time travel, it would take around 2 hours to The Westin Tokyo. Advanced booking is not required. The fare is 3,000 yen. All counters are set in front of the exit of the Customs in the arrival lobby. Please see timetable.

PRIVATE CAR WITH MEETING SERVICE

Please see the price list. Please kindly send the following information by fax for your reservation, Advanced reservation is required. Please let us know your fax number and we will send an application form. The reservation would be confirmed after we receive it.

Thank you very much for your inquiry.



The Westin Tokyo
Concierge
Tel: 81-3-5423-7620
Fax: 81-3-5423-7600
[email protected]