TennisNoob

Sorry for my confusions.

Sounds like I should stick with N'EX will go from NRT on N'EX TO HR to drop stuff off am check in. Than get dinner and walk around akihabara.

Any restaurant suggestions nearby akihabara. Either upscale sushi restaurant or hibachi.

evergrn

That sounds good, if you want to check in first at the hotel and freshen up (personally that's what I like to do). Otherwise, you could do what Newbierunner suggested and first go directly to Akihabara from NRT (by taking Skyliner and transferring at Nippori for a short ride on Yamanote), since going to Shinjuku then Akihabara is a bit of backtracking.

teemuflyer

I will pine in one more time. I have nothing against the NEX, but most of the time you save getting to Shinjuku vs. the Limo Bus will be consumed in exiting the station (during rush hour) and then finding a taxi/ hotel shuttle to get you to the Hotel while dragging your luggage through crowds. Now, I've done both, and it is much more exciting to do the NEX route, but for convenience, the limo bus is much better.

Also, I'm not sure that you gain too much going to Akihabara vs. just staying in the Shinjuku area. Tons of restaurants, check, electronic stores, check, neon lights, check.. etc.. You'll just spend more time in transit with little difference from an experience perspective.

TennisNoob

Thanks for the info.

For Shinjuku do you have any suggested places I should be going to spend 6 hours at? (including dinner)

I could probably skip Akihabara since it doesn't make sense direction-ally wise.

teemuflyer

Well, on the NW corner of the Shinjuku station, you have the Yakitori Alley if you want experience a different type of dining (very small restaurants). Otherwise head under the tracks to the NE corner and then head North. You'll see a plethora of restaurants of all types there and great place to wander about and see the organized chaos Tokyo can be.

A little further east is the Golden Gai, which is another eccentric area of the city. 100's of tiny bars with equally many themes. Some are set up as private clubs so you can't get in, but many welcome tourist to join for either Karaoke, or a libation or two.

Another option for dinner is on the West side of the station where you'll also find the local Pachinko parlors and more shops.

Anyway, enjoy. Easy to spend 6 hours in Shinjuku without getting bored!

evergrn

It's probably good idea to stay put in Shinjuku and not trek back to Akihabara. There's a huge Bic Camera store near HR which should be more than enough to get your electronics fix. For other shopping, Sanchome area is worthwhile but since you don't have much time, just go to Times Sqr Takashimaya and the Tokyu Hands next door. Go to the top of Metro Govt Bldg for the view of Tokyo. There're many theaters and live houses in the area, although that may not be up your alley. It might be interesting to stroll through Kabukicho at night just for the experience, although I personally avoid patronizing most businesses there.

If you want hassle-free but still very decent food, head to the restaurant arcade floors of Odakyu Dept store (the main Odakyu, not Halc). Tons of selections including Wako (tonkatsu), Tensuke (sushi), Chinese, shabushabu, Italian, unagi. Keio, Takashimaya and other dept stores also have restaurant arcades. Odakyu's might be the best, but Takashimaya probably more extensive.

1Newflyer

I see the first Narita express hist the airport at 7.18. Am I looking at the schedule wrong. And will that be enough for me to catch the flight at 9 to ICN?

AlwaysAisle

evergrn is talking about any express train, not just Narita Express.

Keisei SkyLiner No.1
Ueno- 5:58
Nippori- 6:03
Airport Terminal 2- 6:39
Narita Airport- 6:42

NewbieRunner

Arriving at the airport at 07:18 is enough to catch a flight at 09:00.

1Newflyer

I understand it now.

Thanks, good to know

1Newflyer

In Tokyo now. Monday is expected to be wet. Staying in Ginza area near the Tokyo station. Any ideas for that day.

teemuflyer

I'd find my way to the Tsukiji fish market early (I mean real early) in the morning. Fascinating experience.

If the rain holds off, the imperial gardens to the west of the Tokyo station are a nice place to spend an hour or two.

Of course, a walk around the Ginza with all the luxury stores, the department stores and their incredible basement food markets is another way to spend some quality time.

For something a little eccentric, and seemingly incongruous, try out the Ginza Lion Beer Hall.. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ure_Kanto.html

1Newflyer

Thanks
Saw the beer hall by chance walking the street close to trafic on Sunday. Englishman exiting the premises confirmed the quality of beer to be had. May try it out tomorrow. Seen the fish market close to theater. May need to convince my partner to part take in both. Is anything going on at the market later in a day as early visit may be out of the question.

TennisNoob

Just finished the super short trip. Thanks for the advise prior to traveling. I emailed the hotel prior to flyertalk, they were pretty useless.

I ended up taking N'EX to Shinjuku, ate at Kurumaya Bekkan, and walked around for an bit. Department stores closed earlier than I had expected though. The staff at HR Tokyo was very robotic, unhelpful, and really lacked speaking english.

Narita is so far from the city! >.>

AlwaysAisle

But their English was far better than your Japanese, wasn’t it? And you were in Japan…