I'll be in Tokyo in late Feb. I'll now be staying in the Nippori area so N'EX + Suica is no longer a suitable option out of Narita, using Keisei instead.

A couple of doubts:

Is there a Keisei equivalent to Suica + N'EX?

At Narita, can I buy a PASMO along with a the Keisei ticket to Nippori?

Many thanks.

Yes and no.

Keisei offers a "Skyliner + Metro Pass." The Skyliner is, in my view, a far better train than the N'Ex for the trip in from NRT - IF you are going to Ueno/Nippori or that general area. I really like the Skyliner. The Metro Pass, on the other hand, is more limited than the Suica. It is pretty much only useful on the various Metro subways. You can get most places in Tokyo using Metro lines but have to be a little more creative.

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetud....../index.html

JR

Note that the metro pass is not good on 4 of the 12 metro lines either. You can still get where you have to go, it just sometimes is a bit more tortured.

I do wish that the Eidan Subway company hadn't renamed itself "Tokyo Metro". Trying to explain why a "Metro" pass is not valid on the entire subway is like trying to explain cricket to the heathens.

Yeah, I still call it the Eidan and that other, more expensive system the Toei. It's a real pain about not being able to transfer seamlessly.

Which Keisei train did you want to take?

The Keisei Limited Express for only 1000yen or the Skyliner for 1920yen? Either case, the PASMO card can be used.

At Narita Airport, if you buy a PASMO card from the PASMO machine, you can just go through the automatic gates, and get right on the Limited Express (no additional tickets required) to your final station.

If you take the Skyliner, you can use the PASMO card to go through the gates, and on the platform you can buy a Skyliner seat reservation from the Skyliner seat reservation machine, using a PASMO card as well.

But back to the main topic, if you plan on taking the Skyliner, then it doesn't hurt in my opinion to pay the few extra yen for the Skyliner and Metro pass. You can use it on 9 of the 13 - Thirteen "subway" lines in Tokyo that are operated by Tokyo Metro. For it's discounted price, its a pretty good deal even with that slight limitation. Though this package comes with a regular skyliner ticket and a metro pass, no PASMO, which means you'll probably have to buy a PASMO at the airport (and just not use it until later, or buy a PASMO and or Suica card later in Tokyo).

Or if you just want to save money, take the Keisei Limited Express for 1000yen.

Yes ... that would be the Toei subway.

Suica lets you travel pretty seamlessly.
Sure, you have to swipe out and swipe in again if you transfer from one system to the other, but the same card lets you ride both subway systems, and buses, and JR, and some taxis (KM and Nippon Kotsu last time I checked).

And when I was there in November 2007, the PASMO was pretty much the same, although I never tried to use it for a taxi. I was even able to replenish my PASMO card at a JR station, and when I realized I had a fair amount left on it at the end of my stay, I used it to take the �1,000 Keisei train out to Narita, a real bargain and only 30 minutes longer than the Skyliner.

I never tried to buy one at Narita, but if I can, that's a great deal for the next time I take a trip that's limited to the Shutoken.

PASMO and SUICA (for the Tokyo Metro area) are essentially the same thing with different names. Suica can be used on Pasmo and Pasmo on Suica systems, so if a any machine that says Suica accepted, Pasmo is accepted by default, and vice versa.

At NRT Suica is sold on the JR side, and Pasmo at the Keisei Side.

Excellent news. I will be sure to top mine off (I think I still have it) at NRT on my next trip. I've used it to travel as far as Tsukuba, Chichibu, and Kamakura.

To my mind, it's the best option for anyone whose travels will be limited to the Kanto Plain (or even, in the case of Chichibu, a bit into the mountains).

There are now three combo passes available for NRT->Tokyo/Yokohama travel available to foreign travelers: the JR/Suica, the Kesei/Metro, and the Limousine/Metro. I've used all of these on various trips heading from the airport to the city. However, has anyone bought two of these, one to use going into the city, the other for use returning to NRT?

It seems these are not valid in the opposite direction, i.e. from the city to the airport. Is this correct? Has anyone used the rail/limo portion to go out to NRT?

I don't know of anyone who has used these in the reverse direction, back to NRT.

Doesn't mean it can't be done but I'd say the odds are heavily against.

Five:
Skyliner + 1,000 yen coupon for Hato bus tours
Helicopter + Limo ride (available to locals too)

: the JR/Suica, the Kesei/Metro, and the Limousine/Metro. I've used all of these on various trips heading from the airport to the city. However, has anyone bought two of these, one to use going into the city, the other for use returning to NRT?

Helicopter + Limo is the same deal in both directions.

EDIT -- IT seems the limo bus + Metro deal might be available for trips to the airport
The blurb states that the limo bus ticket (and the metro pass) is for "one way" travel on the limo bus within six months of purchase - but it doesn't specify which way. The combo is on sale at Shinjuku, which suggests that "one way" could also be towards the airport.
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/discou...nedaypass.html

If you have a Pasmo/Suica with enough money on it, you can ride the Keisei Limited Express out to Narita.

Sure, at the regular price.