Transfer from Skylinear to JR line
 

Hi

I am thinking of taking the Skylinear train from Narita Airport to Nippori station and transfer to JR line to Ikebukuro.

For such a transfer, do I need to get 2 tickets - one for the Skylinear at the airport and another at Nippori station when I exit?

I will be arriving Tokyo in the morning, does changing to a JR Yamanote line pose a problem for one piece luggage?

Was thinking of taking Narita Express, but Skylinear seems to be a cheaper option as there is savings of about 1,000Yen per trip.

For the return trip to Airport, can I buy the Skylinear ticket in advance at the airport?

As I am on budget trip, any experience is greatly appreciated.

To really save money, do not buy the Skyliner but instead the Kyuuko (express) train which also leaves from the same platform. It is only 1,000 yen all the way to Ueno (or Nippori for that matter), and it gets you into Nippori ony about 20 minutes later than the Skyliner. ^ The only downside is that it is a standard subway-type car as opposed to the nicer seats in the Skyliner. But Narita Airport is the beginning of the line (especially if you are picking up the train at Terminal 1), so you will no doubt get a seat.

Tell the agent at the counter what JR station is your final destination and she will issue you two tickets-- one for Keisei railway and the other for JR. Put them both in the entrance gate machine and then again both together once you get up the stairs at Nippori during the transfer to JR. At that point you will only have ONE remaining (the JR ticket), as the Keisei ticket will be taken.

The Nippori transfer is no big deal with one suitcase. Escalators take you upstairs to the entrance gate machines, but you will have to carry the bag down stairs at the JR platform.

Most stations in Tokyo are becoming very friendly for the disabled traveler, so this bodes well for those with rolling suitcases too... elevators are popping up all over the town nowdays :)

Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you need more detail.

Thanks for the info. As we are coming in from an overnite flight, would prefer to get a seat rather than standing on the train throughout the hour. Also, we are boarding from Terminal 2, which may not give us the chance to get a seat on ordinary train.

For the trip to airport, I will be taking JR at Shinjuku station, can I check what will the procedure like for getting the skylinear ticket and JR ticket together? Is it advisable to make advance reservation for the Skylinear ticket? I am taking the 1pm train.

I totally agree on xpacific' opinion. You do not have to pay 920yen for skyliner. I put the timetable below, so check the other line information. (L:tokkyu, R:kaisoku)
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetud...ei_us/top.html

You can buy a ticket in advance. 'Click on How to buy a ticket'. :p

As pointed out by xpacific, the transfer to JR at Nippori is much easier than at Ueno, where the Keisei and JR stations are physically separated.

I have never seen a Keisei tokkyu remotely full ex-Narita, except at the end of national holidays and weekends. Many passengers on these trains get off before Ueno, as the Skyliner usually makes very few stops.

I understand budget, but at some point you need to factor in quality of life and time in Japan. Sure the Keisei Limited express for 1000 yen to the Yamanote on the way to Ikebukuro makes sense.
But for about 3000 yen vs 1210 (maybe) jumping on the NEX at Shinjuku for a straight, efficient, and easy shot to Narita may be worth the extra $15.

Scho

The only problem with the Keisei limited expresses is that not all of them go to Nippori, and for a first time visitor, ending up somewhere strange would be awkward. All Skyliners go to Nippori and Ueno, however, and -- let's be honest -- they are more comfortable. This would be the fastest way to Ikebukuro.

In the afternoon, when most international flights arrive, only every other Narita Express train goes to Shinjuku, so that's only once per hour. But BACK to Narita, there are Narita Express trains every half hour in the afternoon.

It is uncommon for these trains to sell out, but on my arrival in Tokyo last time, the Narita Express had sold out. This has happened to me twice in about 30 trips to Japan. I don't think I'd book in advance since if your flight is early or late, you are stuck with your ticket converting automatically to a standing room ticket.

You are arriving on which flight? On a week day or weekend?

I do not recommend taking a regular 'tokkyu/kyuko' from NRT, be it T1 or T2, in the early morning on a week day. It gets so crowded and if you have big baggage, you will be frowned on. These trains will be jampacked as it nears Tokyo (and early morning trains don't go to Nippori.)

Early morning Skyliers are non-reserve seat 'morning' liners but I think they are better than regular trains.

You can just go to a ticketing counter for Keisei and buy a ticket through to Shinjuku. Just tell them that you want to change trains at Nippori and go to Shinjuku.

Two up escalators are available at Nippori. No down escalators for Yamanote Lines. But transfers at this station is very easy, as other posters say.

Hi Chiangi

Thanks for the info. I am arriving from SIN on ANA. As such, I should clear immigration at abt 8am, which makes the Skylinear the earliest train that I can take to Ikebukuro.

In that case, just avoid taking a Yamanote line train before 9am, as the bulk of morning commuters must be in their offices by then.

When I have a bulky suitcase, I aim for the frontmost/rearmost door on Japanese commuter trains, as those have some more space next to the conductor's compartment, not to mention less passengers in the Yamanote line's case (not too many station exits at the ends of platforms).

The 8:35 a.m. departure is Morning Liner and should cost less than Skyliner.

But it arrives in Nippori at 9:05 a.m..... This is rush hour... Maybe you would want to spend another hour in Narita and take 9:25 a.m.?

hclee01:

Not to sound like a heathen or any thing but...
Just take whatever train you want. If the doors open to a crowded car, turn you back to the throngs and politely make space (a.k.a. push, shove) for yourself and you bag as you back into the train.

The only thing that is not acceptable is to push, bang, bump, knock passengers with you bag. However it is perfectly acceptable to clear some space for yourself using your body.

If it is really tight, you can resist those pushing back against you by placing your hand above the door once you have gotton just inside the train car.

Lets face it folks, people push their way on and off trains in Tokyo everyday. And every day their are people boarding trains with large packages or bags. Maybe not every train in every car, but it happens every day 100's of time without fail.

People on the trains in Tokyo "frown" upon those who's cell phones ring on trains as well. When it happens, those receiving the call to their best to the minimize their transgression and those the "frown" get over it. You should do the same.

I'm not saying to be a jerk about it, I'm just saying that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and waiting at Narita for an hour to save a frown or two is not something worth considering IMHO.

Have fun.

FYI

Narita has many package delivery companies. They are on your right when you exit customs. It cost about 1,500 yen to send a 70 pound suitcase to Tokyo.

You can also send luggage back to the airpost the same way.