Originally Posted by
abmj-jr
Or, take the less expensive Keisei Skyliner to Ueno and stay in a less expensive hotel. The area around Ueno station has some nice sights to see but for nightlife you should ride the Yamanote Line or the subway Ginza Line to a better area. Just be sure to get back to your hotel by midnight or so as the trains stop running around then.
Keisei has a Skyliner + Metro pass that will give you a day pass on the subway. Asakusa is 2 stops away, as is the Tokyo Station area.
Hi Smythe, I agree with abmj-jr on the train.
You can catch the Keisei limited express right from the airport, just follow the signs to the metro. Than get yourself a pasmo card from the metro ticket machine (don't worry they have an english translation button) and throw a couple thousand ¥ on it for the ¥1000 into the city and the ¥1000 back to the airport. There's a ¥500 deposit for the card but you can use the card on the JR (big circle line) and the metro so it will be your best friend for the day you're there. Keisei limited express is WAY faster than a cab from Narita and really cost effective. A taxi is the most expensive and slowest way into city. If you have money to burn and you travel in style, you could alway to get a MCAS helicopter directly into central Tokyo in about 30 minutes flat... but it costs about $400USD each way.
The subway map looks much more confusing than it actually is, and because you only have one day in the city you'll probably only be using one or two of the lines. They have english signs are pretty easy to navigate once you know where you want to go.
Tokyo has so much to offer so it would be tough to give you any itinerary suggestions for one day without knowing the kind of trip you're looking for (culture, food, shopping, bar hopping etc...) Each neighbourhood in Tokyo has something to offer and some are better suited for shopping, nightlife or food. For example Roppongi works for nightlife but if you are a shopper you would probably want Shinjuku. I also second the Tsukiji fish market if you're a foodie, the sushi was amazing, but it will eat up a big portion of your day. Anything you really want to experience?