FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Avoiding Getting Lost in Tokyo

Jan 13, 2015 | 2:25 am

#76

pudgym29

Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: Chicago, IL., U.S.A.

Programs: Global Entry · WN, UA, AS, DL, NH; IHG, Wyndham, Hilton, Best Value Inn, Marriott, Starwood, Ramada

Posts: 645

You will survive.

I am out of appendages on which to count for all the times I have gotten "lost" in Tokyo.
Although back in April 2014, I was actually lost in Yokohama. (The last Toyoku local train ran only to Yokohama. The J.R. had amazingly ceased running from Yokohama to Ishikawacho, so I couldn't ride that. What should have taken me 40 minutes to walk back to my hostel turned into a 120 minute stroll. But it was OK - just exasperating. Was not carrying much. My map book of Tokyo didn't have enough detail of Nishi Ward in Kanagawa.)

The next time I visit, I just might opt for the PASMO card.
But there are still some valuable deals on open tickets and special tickets. The reason you might not be familiar with them is because they are not sold by J.R. They are from the other private train operators.
I prefer to stay in central Yokohama. So a deal I like is sold at Keikyu ticket machines. It's the Tokyo One-Day Ticket. From Yokohama, it is ¥1,130. You get a round trip from Yokohama to Tokyo, and unlimited rides on the Toei subway lines {only those four lines}, but it also includes the Nippori-Toneri Liner, and the Toden Arakawa tram line.
For somebody who enjoys photographing trains, this has extra benefits.

A pamphlet I found in a Tokyo Metro station was called the "Navi". One of the elements it shows is (example) the yardmap of each Metro station (This is the Shinjuku-Sanchome station).
Jorudan was mentioned earlier in this thread. I know it. But I prefer the Hyperdia system (by Hitachi). If you have an idea of where you are going that day, add up your fares on this to see if using an open ticket will be less costly.
Kanagawa prefecture should have an English-language atlas similar to that sold for Tokyo. But it does not. I wound up buying this pocket-sized guide of Kanagawa as a stopgap. (I found it in a department store in Yokohama Vivre. But you can order it from Amazon.)

Reply