Originally Posted by
LapLap
Well done, Pureboy! I’m sure your kids will be thrilled with their gifts.
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Keeping some flexibility and making the most of the unforeseen and unexpected is always going to be the best way to enjoy Tokyo.
Indeed! One thing I was more sensitive to this time around is how un-accessible Tokyo is to those wheelchair bound and with strollers. I've certainly read your posts about it over the years but it's one of those things you'd expect from a modern city. I would hope they're trying to improve it for the Olympics but didn't see any signs of that.
Originally Posted by
freecia
You now have some yen for your next longer layover so you don't need to stop at the ATM before leaving the airport. As you observed, a few minutes can make a difference when trying to catch the train at NRT (KIX, too). +1 for expert mode
Dulles has a currency exchange kiosk right at international arrivals so I managed to change back both currencies. My biggest problem was that DEL had only one (!) kiosk that would buy USD and INR and I got to it right at a 30 minute shift change interval. Not the worst inconvenience but felt silly boarding the plane home with two foreign currencies still in my wallet.
As for expert mode, definitely a plan I would only advise for someone pretty darn familiar with Tokyo and able to move quickly. I have to say I'm still amazed at how much a smartphone simplifies things. My first trip to Japan in 2000, I was armed only with a guidebook, JTB printouts and tourist maps and somehow did just fine but never needed to rush anywhere.