rwoman

Hello from AA 87 to ORD! The journey towards Tokyo begins!!

Circumknowitall

Yes, its a 5 minute walk.

penegal

After revisiting the NEX schedule, my arrival time will be very dependant on the exact arrival time of my flight and whether I can get organised quickly enough to get a seat on the earlier train, or if I have to wait for the later train (there is approx a 1hr gap between services to Shinjuku).

kpc

Only it you walk very quickly.....with luggage I say it is a leisurely 15 minute walk. It can be done all underground, but for the first time it may be better to do it at street level Make sure you bring a map....

serfty

For sure, this will work - if most of one's travel involves non JR routes.

For those not going to Nagano, the Keisei line can be a way of saving significant ¥ - if they are planning little other train travel around Tokyo.

NewbieRunner

I also wondered about it but since the website doesn't specifically say rail passes may be purchased at the ticket office when the Travel Service Center is closed I suspect you cannot. Not very helpful for people who arrive in the evening.

DHalltheway

If you want to take the shuttle to the hotel, go to exit B17 on Shinjuku Station west side.

There is a bus stop located up the stairs of exit B17 (left hand side, on the right is Odakyu Department Store), where the shuttle bus will arrive. It departs for the hotel at the 10th , 30th, & 50th minute of every hour. There is usually someone there announcing the buses in Japanese. When you hear "Hyatt Regency Tokyo", that is your cue to look around for the bus. You should see a (90% of the time) grey bus with hyatt regency on it. This service is free.

NewbieRunner

You can walk but how long it takes depends on where you are starting from. The hotel's own website says it takes about 9 minutes to walk from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station.

DHalltheway

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_sp/purchase.html

The JR EAST PASS SPECIAL can be purchased in Japan at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Tokyo Station and major JR East stations. For further details, see the list (refer to link) of exchange and sales locations below.

Notes:

Present your passport to the pass office staff. You will receive a pass after confirmation of eligibility.
The pass is valid for three days of your choice during a 10-day period from the day it is purchased.
Only one JR EAST PASS SPECIAL can be purchased in Japan per stay in Japan.

Of course that is JR east

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en005.html

The JR Pass (for all rails) is only available outside Japan.

Berrenger

Did anybody else get a ¥4280 seat charge for each leg of the Nagano trip? Since this is significantly cheaper than what was discussed in thread #555, I'm trying to figure out whether this is just part of the total charge or I somehow got a steal of a deal.

Also, anyone know the best exit to use to walk from Shinjuku Station to the Park Hyatt? I've heard that trying to find the hotel shuttle is something of a pain so walking may be easier. Thanks.

eightblack

Its not as close as you think - its a decent trek especially with luggage. I always catch a cab - its cheap and quick and I dont have to stuff around trying to find the bus. Use the bus to get back to the station though...

NewbieRunner

Sorry I didn't make myself clear. SQ421 and I were wondering if it was possible to purchase Suica & N'EX at a ticket counter (Midori no madoguchi) in NRT rather than at the JR East Travel Service Centers which close at 20:00 (T2) and 19:00 (T1).

The actual text on the website is:
"Suica & N'EX is available at the JR EAST Travel Service Centers located in Narita Airport Terminal 1 and 2. They are not available for purchase overseas. Please purchase your package after arriving at Narita Airport.

Note: Tickets are available for purchase at JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-madoguchi) even when JR EAST Travel Service Centers are closed."

DHalltheway

can't comment about the trip to nagano.

The location of the shuttle.

I would say west side shinjuku any exit if you want to walk. But I would suggest cab instead of walking.

NewbieRunner

Registration to attend the tuna auction takes place at the Osakana Fukyu Center (おさかな普及センター　Fish Information Center) at the Kachidoki Gate (勝どき門) of Tsukiji Market (Shijō) at 6-20-5 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045. (Google Map, Google Street View)





It would be best if we don't try to meet as a group before joining the queue unless sharing a cab or walking together from one of the nearby hotels.

Tickets are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis starting from 5:00am (or earlier if there is a long queue). A first group of 60 visitors will be admitted to the auction between 5:25 and 5:50, while a second group of 60 visitors will be admitted between 5:50 and 6:15.

Do organisers or anyone else will not be able to reserve tickets and the only way to be one of the first 120 is to get there early. As there will be no public transport to get you to the market before 5am, the only options would be to take a cab or to walk there. A cab from the Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku to the Kachidoki Gate of Tsukiji Market including early morning surcharges will cost about 5,840 yen. From the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi it will be about 3,050 yen.

Procedures (courtesy of the Japan-Guide) are described in the first post. According to various reports the vast majority of participants are not Japanese. It might not be easy to spot other FTers unless you already know them.

General public who are not part of the two groups cannot wander around as they are not allowed into the wholesale area before 9am. However, it will be possible to visit one of the informal small restaurants for sushi breakfast or to visit the outer (public) market.

An official multilingual guide to Tsukiji Market is recommended.

DHalltheway

Oh!



I have no idea if the Midori-no-madoguchi is the same ticket counter or not. But if you look at the imagine above (Narita Station), you will see a green man in a reclining chair on your left beside the ticket gates. There is a ticket counter in that area where you can buy the Suica & N'EX too.

Just say Suica / N'EX, show them your passport, say if you want one way or round trip, pay, and you are good to go.

The ticket vending machines don't sell Suica & N'EX.

Hope this helps