Hi all,

I'll be going to Tokyo for a week in August (18-25). I have read most of the threads in this forum and found heaps of relevant info. I had a few specific questions. Some background: It will be my first time in Tokyo, and I do not speak any Japanese.

1. My flight arrives at NRT on a wednesday at 2020 (from HKG in NH-C class). Is it fair to assume that I should be able to clear customs and immi in about 60 min after landing? I'll probably take the limousine bus. Would it run at that time?

2. It seems to make sense to stay at a airport hotel, and then go to downtown tokyo the next morning. Are there any hotels at NRT landside where you can walk / quick shuttle to?

3. In Tokyo, it seems that the main shopping area is GINZA and/or SHINJUKU. Individually are these compact areas where one could walk between the major stores/malls and to/from hotels?

(MOST CONCERNING ISSUE FOR ME IS) :
4. Which hotel would be the most suitable from the shopping and walking to shops perspective. Ideally, I would prefer a major chain 4-5* hotel, (and my first choices would be Starwood or the Intercontinental group, but pretty flexible in this regard.) I would like to pay not much more than $200 per night. How easy is it to 'hotel hop' within Tokyo, i.e. roughly how much would a downtown cab ride between hotels etc cost.

5. How safe is Tokyo generally, for a single, first-time, non Japanese speaking traveller ? And how friendly is it.

6. I shall be going to SIN & HKG before Tokyo. How would prices in shops in Tokyo compare to these places.

7. I have seven nights in Japan. I would ideally like to spend 3-4 in tokyo, and 2-3 nights in another place. Kyoto seems to be interesting option. Does this seem correct, or is their a better possibility.


thanks for all the help,
AJ