Originally Posted by jib71 (Post 37384182)

It all depends where you're heading, but the difference in journey time is often less than that - unless you're comparing door-to-door taxi from HND vs. public transit from NRT, which is not entirely unfair since few people are willing to pay taxi fare from NRT.

Originally Posted by aresef (Post 37384758)

I was staying in Asakusa and took Skyliner in, super idiot-proof.

Originally Posted by stut (Post 37385302)

Ah yes, one of my early trips to Japan and I did similar - though I used the SkyAccess direct to Asakusa. That was less idiot-proof as, being an idiot, I hadn't used luggage delivery, didn't check for where the lift to street level was, and ended up putting my back out carrying two massive suitcases up a ridiculous (probably actually quite tame when you're unencumbered and not jetlagged) staircase.

Originally Posted by Jinxed_K (Post 37385552)

Reading this, Ueno felt a lot more accessible with escalators to ground level, but the walk from the Keisei station to hotel was a bit convoluted since I couldn't walk directly across Showa-dori without climbing the steps to the pedestrian crossings. Ended up walking around to the JR side for a ground level crossing by the konbini.

Originally Posted by stut (Post 37386244)

To be fair, Asakusa does have a lift to street level, right on Kaminarimon-dori where I needed to be, I just didn't find it in my jetlagged state.

I did stumble on Keisei-Ueno station on my last trip, trying to get to the pandas at the zoo before the crowds descended. It's in an odd position (but I guess private railways take what they can get in a city this busy).

Originally Posted by stut (Post 37385302)

Ah yes, one of my early trips to Japan and I did similar - though I used the SkyAccess direct to Asakusa. That was less idiot-proof as, being an idiot, I hadn't used luggage delivery, didn't check for where the lift to street level was, and ended up putting my back out carrying two massive suitcases up a ridiculous (probably actually quite tame when you're unencumbered and not jetlagged) staircase.

Originally Posted by view-with-a-room (Post 37431860)

Hotels near NRT are cheap and easy. I often book 5 nights at the Sheraton via point (5th night free) but arrive one day early and overnight at an airport near the airport for cheap and easy. Arrivals at NRT are less problematic. Arrivals at HND are more in line with a train station. HND is better for departures if the hotel is in Tokyo and the flight departs prior to noon. NRT is difficult for morning flights due to the transit from Tokyo to NRT.

Originally Posted by rbAA (Post 37454670)

I've never had problems with a morning departure from either NRT or HND, except once I lost my son to some evening entertainment in the Roppongi, he showed up at the GH about 6:30am, but we still made our flights that morning out of NRT.

Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer (Post 37364651)

I pick the the airport that has the flight schedule that suits me for the specific trip.
A positive for Narita is that it is usually far less crowded than Haneda. Haneda T3 seems to be bursting at the seams.

Originally Posted by pudgym29 (Post 37375176)

It was probably somebody I heard on an English-language travel podcast about Japan who uttered what I have since adopted when planning to go to Japan.
Select your hotel first.
Selecting your hotel lets you inspect what train lines are in the area. If this is your first jaunt to Japan, and the cheap flight deal for the days you chose land you at Narita Airport, I can suggest Looking for hotels in Ueno. You could opt for the Keisei Skyliner direct to Keisei-Ueno, and walk to a standard hotel there. (splice - This was the hotel I booked- https://s8d8.turboimg.net/sp/03e02d3...an2025-368.jpg ) Plus, there is an option for you to have your baggage shipped from NRT to your Ueno hotel. You can dismiss all the airport buses and taxis, saving thousands of yen which can be better spent. {I recognize you are not me. I would cheap-it-out and ride the Keisei Main Line there for ¥1,060.} (I did cheap-it-out. It was close, but I made the 18:30 Keisei Main Line train from Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno.)
Once you're in central Tokyo, you can flit all around Tokyo and, if you are sufficiently adventurous, notice the private train line operators serving cities farther from it, including Kawasaki and Yokohama. Many of their trains through-run onto Tokyo Metro or Toei subway lines.

Originally Posted by Jinxed_K (Post 37385552)

Reading this, Ueno felt a lot more accessible with escalators to ground level, but the walk from the Keisei station to hotel was a bit convoluted since I couldn't walk directly across Showa-dori without climbing the steps to the pedestrian crossings. Ended up walking around to the JR side for a ground level crossing by the konbini.

Originally Posted by stut (Post 37386244)

To be fair, Asakusa does have a lift to street level, right on Kaminarimon-dori where I needed to be, I just didn't find it in my jetlagged state. https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/st...sakusa_all.jpg
I did stumble on Keisei-Ueno station on my last trip, trying to get to the pandas at the zoo before the crowds descended. It's in an odd position (but I guess private railways take what they can get in a city this busy).

Originally Posted by pudgym29 (Post 37464421)

The secret you can use to avert that is: Ride the Keikyu train back to Terminal 1! Then cross over to the outbound platform. No mobs storming the doors. {If there were, they're already on the train.}

Originally Posted by pudgym29 (Post 37464421)

The secret you can use to avert that is: Ride the Keikyu train back to Terminal 1! Then cross over to the outbound platform. No mobs storming the doors. {If there were, they're already on the train.}

Originally Posted by AlwaysAisle (Post 37482334)

To do that, passengers need to buy/pay an additional round-trip fare of Haneda Airport Terminal 3 station and Haneda Airport Terminal1/2 station, which is 300 yen. Cannot do such a thing by simply buying a 330 yen ticket from Haneda Airport Terminal 3 to Shinagawa.