needtoescape

I took a taxi from the Tokyo station to the Conrad a couple of weeks ago (one person with two pieces of luggage if that impacts cost). The driver ran the meter and it was 1400+ yen (I think between 1410 and 1450). My trip was on a weekday around 5 pm or so. There was traffic, but it was moving.

b8b

Good point, NickW. Thank you for that insight. We will be arriving into NRT at 6:00 AM on a Friday from BKK, returning to NRT on Sunday.

Thank you also Bamboola and Needtoescape. Unfortunately, the N'EX appears to cost 2940 Yen, so I wouldn't be saving over the limo bus, and that's what I'm trying to do.

So for the wife and kids, it looks like it will set me back 10500 Yen (13 y/o will be charged "adult" rate, so 3 x 3000 + 1 x 1500) - $138 each way, $276 r/t just to get from the airport and back for two days' visit - that just seems like a LOT!

At least it sounds like you can get some free metro use out of it (does it matter where/how you buy the limo bus ticket)?:

It appears JDiver's second option is perhaps the most affordable then? if so, not by much (2450 Yen total, per adult, 650 Yen savings):

If anyone has any advice for my situation (family and frugality), please feel free

bamboola

FYI - in March 2011, I paid 5500 Yen, which included RT on the N'Ex, 1500Y on a Suica card, and a 500Y deposit. Thus, the RT N'Ex ended up costing 3500Y.

b8b

Sounds like the Suica & N'Ex might at least partially (for me) be the best route;
unfortunately, "Suica & N'EX is not being offered for children at this time"

I'm still considering the least expensive method:
Take the Keisei Limited Express from Narita Airport to Nippori Station (about 75 minutes, 1000 yen) and transfer to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to get to Tokyo Station (10 minutes, 150 yen).

Since you are transferring to either the Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line at Nippori Station, couldn't you just take one of those to Shinbashi from Nippori Station?

We won't have much luggage, and it might be an interesting cultural experience to see the commute traffic - at least the commuters are not likely to stink like in some countries

If that can be done within tolerable conditions (or would it be like you've seen on news reports where people barely fit when the doors close?), that would make the cost only 1150 x 3 + 575 (if children are half price) = only 4025 Yen each way!
___________________________
What about This alternative?:

By JR Sobu Line
Direct, 90 minutes, 1280 yen, 1 connection per hour
"The JR Sobu Line (Rapid Service) is the slower but cheaper JR alternative to the Narita Express. The one way trip takes roughly 90 minutes, costs 1280 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass. There is about one departure per hour."

NickW

Right - that's what I meant - you'd ride the train straight through Tokyo station and on to Shinbashi.

Based on 2007 data, the Keisei Mainline is up to 151% utilized during peak periods. 100% utilization means every seat is occupied, plus every strap and every bar in the door area is being used.

JDiver

"Interesting cultural experience" and riding the Tokyo metro during rush hour are an oxymoron - unless you feel like having your face squashed against the glass or steel, being tightly compressed in a mass of people that make sardines look carefree and isolated from each other... People lose their shoes, can't get off at the desired stop, are often pushed in by helpful attendants with white gloves (think of TSA to the third power), becoming separated from family, occasional "sekku hara" groping of (especially foreign) women - I am not kidding, this is not for novices. I've been traveling in and to Japan since 1965 - I won't do it.

Typical:

and this composite from Japan Today:

or

jenpdx

Hi: I'm hoping someone can describe the physical environment of the hotel. I am considering a stay here and would like to find out how "barrier free" the surrounding area is. I'm looking for advice on the built environment surrounding the hotel, not accessibility features of the rooms. Advice from able-bodied travelers is highly welcome; just think of features like ramps/elevators/curb cuts (good) vs stairs/escalators (bad).

Specifically, how easy is it to get to Shimbashi station via the underground walkway? Is it possible to get from the hotel to the underground walkway? Is that walkway barrier-free? Is there an elevator into Shimbashi station (where)?

How easy is it to get out of the hotel and walk to Ginza or the Hamarikyu garden? Street level (typically easier for me) or elevated walkways?

Thank you!

LapLap

Hello,
Katja (one of our moderators) alerted me to your query.
Unfortunately, I've never stayed at the Conrad. The hotels I've stayed at in Tokyo as a wheelchair user have been the Strings Intercontinental next to Shinagawa station, the Sheraton Miyako and the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo near Roppongi. We never used taxis during this period, solely public transport.

One day my husband pushed me from Shinagawa station up to Ginza. It was a lovely walk until we encountered what was for us the worst area in Tokyo for accessibility. Unfortunately, this area was around Shiodome which is where the Conrad is.
The problem was due to a high number of express way car routes and the aerial footbridges pedestrians used to navigate them. Alas, most of the bridges involved steps and if there were elevator routes (which there may well have been) which could be used to circumnavigate the area they were not at all obvious.

I've heard that it is possible to get maps/software showing wheelchair routes of Tokyo. I've not seen these nor do I know where to find them. However, if you are considering the Conrad I would strongly advise you to contact the concierge of the hotel asking them to provide maps of wheelchair routes for the roads and walkways that surround the hotel. I can't over emphasize enough what a problem this area was and the ONLY way we were able to get across it was because I had a tiny amount of mobility and was able to get out of the chair and shuffle up some stairs whilst my strong husband carried the wheelchair. It was extremely painful and arduous and I still shudder remembering how helpless this part of Tokyo made me feel.

Another problem is with Shimbashi station JR line. There is wheelchair access to the platforms but it involves stopping everyone from using an escalator. Basically, the escalator is cleared by station staff, some buttons are pressed, a key is turned, and part of the escalators turn into a platform. You then ride up whilst escorted by staff. It's nifty, but not something you want to do when the station is very busy as it inconveniences so many fellow passengers. Thankfully, this kind of accessibility is rare with elevators being the norm (same system in use at Komagome station: http://bp3.blogger.com/_n1sjt7SfiAw/...escalator3.jpg ). I don't know what it is with this part of Tokyo as it is so newly developed but so badly geared towards the needs of those with disabilities. This is of marked contrast to the rest of Tokyo which we felt was extremely accessible, at least compared to any other city I know, for those of us who don't drive and use public transport.

Medeski

When I was last there (Feb 2011) I dont remember many ramps or elevators and lots of stairs. The elevated walkway into the Shimbashi station is easy to get to once you get to that level but getting out of the hotel entrance and up to that level might be tricky since the closest forms of level changes are escalators. I would assume there were elevators in the Shiodome station but again never looked for them.

The underground walkway has a few level changes ranging from 5 to 20 steps. I saw a couple of ramps but they werent what I would call user friendly or even user visible.

The garden is possible since the intersection to the NE of the hotel is at ground level. Might take you a bit to get across though as you end up needing to cross 3+ (plus because there is one crosswalk where you could get stuck in the middle) streets to get there. Once in the garden the paths are almost all pebble-based but still very wheelchair doable.

Ginza is easy if you can get down to ground level from the Shinbashi station. I'm not sure where the elevators are located but I do remember seeing at least one set of them when we were exploring that station.

Wish I could be more help

jenpdx

Thank you for the information, LapLap and Medeski (and Katja for looking out for me)! It's really surprising that the Shiodome area is so poorly designed. I visited Tokyo when I was able-bodied, and I remember the maze of expressways and pedestrian under/overpasses (that's why I've avoided Tokyo thus far). I wanted to stay near the Yamanote line, but it seems like Shimbashi is one of the few stations without elevators (the escalator contraption looks cool, but you're right that it's a huge inconvenience for other passengers, and I hate being a nuisance). So it sounds as though the Conrad Tokyo is not a good choice for me. I think I will go with the IC Strings instead, which is hard to beat in terms of access to transport.

LapLap

Transport options from Shinagawa are excellent. Don't forget about using the bus from here also. Toei buses are an experience in themselves as you are helped on and strapped in, but you do feel very secure (being 'nannied' is fine only when it's temporary as part of a visit).
There are some doors that are hard to negotiate at the Strings near the elevators but there is ALWAYS someone there to open them for you. I can't think of any other downsides, even the bathrooms are fully accessible with the shower being part of a large wet room. The floors of the streets around Shinagawa are ultra smooth, felt like I was gliding everywhere.
Hopefully you'll be as delighted as I was with Tokyo as a wheelchair visitor despite the abnormal step-barriered pockets such as Shiodome.
The Strings was our favourite hotel of the three I went to that year (2007). I've been a regular visitor to Tokyo since 2002 and was obliged to use a wheelchair and then a rollator for about 18 months.

Drek82

So I've been reading the posts in here trying to figure out the best way to get to the Conrad. I was going to just take the Limo Bus for convenience sake, but unfortunately my flight arrives at 8:50am and there isn't another limo bus for a couple of hours ... so that leaves the N'EX + SUICA option ...

I suspect that I will be able to get onto either the 9:48 train or the 10:18 train (worst case 10:48) heading towards Tokyo. Either way it puts me into Tokyo station between 10:46 and 11:48. With that time frame in mind, does it make sense to just follow what bamboola suggested and get off of the train at Tokyo station , stay at the same platform and wait for the next Yokosuka train (which is blue/white color??) and then get off at the Shinbashi station? Will there be room for my wife and me each with a rolling suitcase?

I'm not averse to taking a Taxi from the Tokyo station, but if its all as easy as bamboola suggested, I'd rather just save the money and spend it elsewhere.

Also, how is the tunnel that connects the station to the Conrad? Is it a ton of stairs? or is it just follow the signs and walk?? It will be our first time in Tokyo and we speak/read zero Japanese so if its alot of stairs or signage isn't clear it might just make sense to take a Taxi anyways.

And lastly ... Our onward flight leaves at 10:45am a couple of days later. I was thinking of taking the Limo bus back since it would be early in the morning and it picks us up straight from the hotel, but all the talk of traffic that early has me a little worried ... I was thinking of taking the 7:15am limo bus scheduled to arrive at Narita T1 at 8:45am. But, since its so early and it will be rush hour, does it make sense to just get a roundtrip N'EX ticket instead of taking the limo back? Does the Conrad have some kind of shuttle that would drop me off at Tokyo station? Or would i need to arrange some other type of transport? Suggestions?

Thanks all for your insight

Drek

bamboola

Drek - I'm at the Conrad right now and can offer some fresh insight. If you are getting into NRT that late at night, I suggest you spend the first night at the Hilton NRT. We did that last week. Our flight landed at 4:30pm, we caught the 5:20 Hilton shuttle, and we were in bed by 6:30.

If you are arriving at Terminal 1, exit the terminal and go to Station 16 (the second set of islands from the terminal). The following morning, you will wake up early due to jet lag. Breakfast at the Hilton NRT begins at 6:30. You can get an early swim before breakfast. We caught the 8:00 am shuttle back to Terminal 2 (first stop before Terminal 1), bought our NEX/Suica combo ticket and took the 8:50 am NEX. We were at the hotel before 11:00.

http://www.hyperdia.com/

Above is a handy link to figure out the train schedule. Upon arriving at Tokyo Station, not all trains to Shimbashi leave from the same platform. Do a search and pick one that suits your schedule and where the tracks are close by.

Upon arriving at Shimbashi, follow the signs to Ginza/Shiodome. You want Exit 7,8,9,10. Stay on the right side. Eventually, you will see a sign for the Conrad on the wall on the right side. You want the Tokyo Shiodome Building. Once you reach the building, take the escalator up, turn left and you will have arrived.

I remember only one short set of stairs. Otherwise, there are escalators. Enjoy. The Conrad has a new set of bears (the autumn ones) that includes a rare yellow bear.

YOWzer

I'm there right now and haven't seen it as bad, although heard, as described.

1965! Must be great to see the city develop over the years, how the heck old are you anyways?

Duhey2

I'm jealous! I was just there last month with my folks and had a WONDERFUL stay. The executive lounge was excellent.

Is this where there's a Starbucks and convenience store in the middle of the walkway? If so, after you pass the Starbucks, you're going to make a right. If you look down (the walkway is elevated about three stories) and see you'll pass over the Crown and Rose Pub, you're headed in the right direction. You'll then bear left at the crazy Tim Burton looking clock/monstrosity and then bear right, then bear left again.

We took a taxi from Shimbashi station considering it was Friday around 4PM. It was about 710 JPY for the short ride but worth it. Once we got our bearings to walk to Shimbashi station the day we left, it was no problem.