They will only sell you a one-way version that starts at NRT or a round trip that starts at NRT. So I think this is a non-starter.

Better for the OP to get one for herself and her husband gets a SUICA from a railway station - without any special deals.

That's a lot of questions for one post.

First of all, the stops are so close to each other only if you're looking at a schematic map. The Tokyo-Yokohama subway system covers a much greater surface area than either the London or Paris systems.

If you have time, I suggest buying either the Kodansha Tokyo City Atlas (not updated since 2004, but the basic landmarks are mostly the same) or the more up-to-date and pocket-sized Bilingual Atlas of Tokyo, which appears to be available only in Japan.

You may have heard of Tokyo's decidedly non-Western addressing system, based on a series of progressively smaller named and numbered units: wards (ku), neighborhoods (cho), areas (chome), blocks.

Both these atlases manage to cram bilingual versions of all these designations plus the names of major buildings into a series of area maps, so if you want to wander around the Ginza, there are close-up maps of it in both books. They clearly show the subway and surface train stations, and the Kodansha atlas even shows which numbered exit to go out of to reach your destination, although there are also bilingual signs inside the stations that give these directions.

Once you are in a subway station in central Tokyo, there is a map on the wall that shows only the central subway lines, with color-coded lines and numbered stations giving the fare to each destination. I've taken a number of first-time visitors on their first subway ride with transfers, and they have been surprised how easy it really is.

I'm not sure, but I think that if you are coming to Tokyo from elsewhere, you can't buy a Suica/N'EX ticket. Since I haven't taken the N'EX to Narita for a few years (I usually take the Keisei Skyliner), only from Narita, others may be more up-to-date. However, in the grand scheme of things, a N'EX ticket isn't all that expensive, and you can buy a Suica at any JR Station (or its sister card, PASMO at any subway or private rail station) from bilingual vending machines.

I was advised not to take the bus by a member of this forum. I did not see many buses in the streets, and I was not going to wait at the bus stop during the much humid september climate when I was in Tokyo. Having said that, I don't mind taking the bus since you can't see much of the city taking the subway. Perhaps, for my second trip, I will muster the courage and ride the bus and see more of the city.

I did take the sky bus tour which was a joke. They drove around the imperial palace for fifty minutes and the tour guide spoke nonstop. They did have the English translation.

Not close to being somewhere I'd recommend for your itinerary. Having said that I have been tempted there myself thanks to $30 a night point breaks deal. If the rate is good enough you can certainly make the location work for you. I'd only actively advise you against this location if you were in a wheelchair, yet it's still plausible under those circumstances.

Live and learn, I guess.

It turns out there's something called a "ICOCA & HARUKA" card for 3,000 JPY which includes a one-way Haruka train ride from KIX to Kyoto and 2,000 (500 deposit) ICOCA which apparently can be used in Tokyo JR trains.

http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/tr.../icoca-haruka/

If you follow the signs, even if you can't read Japanese, it is hard to get lost. Yes, it is crowded and overwhelming, but I found neither Shibuya nor Shinjuku stations intimidating.

If you get lost, don't panic. Coolly stand aside, observe the signposts, and eventually you will figure it out. Remember, Japan is a highly organized and structured country.

Not sure if you're saying this to reassure her. Or if you really thought Shinjuku Station was easy to figure out your first time there, then good for you.

I've been going to Tokyo few times a year for many years now and use Shinjuku Sta each time. I read Japanese, too. But I get confused each time I'm back there. Things seem to change all the time, too. Azusa to NEx transfer went from reasonable to taking forever to, again, fairly reasonable.

The Japan Forum gift shop inventory is growing nicely, alongside "The Ginza for shopping, Rappungi has the night life" embroidered tabi, we now have the:

Tokyo "Keep Calm" poster

Never had any problems finding a correct platform in either of them. However I've had some challenges finding correct exit in Shinjuku station. Nothing major though and only way to avoid those is not to go to Shinjuku at all.

Of course, arriving at Shinjuku or Shibuya stations requires some preplanning. I took the Tokyo Atlas Guide: A Bilingual Guide with me. It has all the exits numbered and listed for each of the stations on the map. Again, each of the exits at the stations have exit numbers, making it easier to find your way out.
It will be intimidating for the first time traveller arriving without any preplanning.

That's a good idea. Google Maps also shows exit numbers at each station, and of course there will be maps within the station as well.

For Shibuya, Google maps would be a better bet. The Tokyo City Atlas (A Bilingual Guide) was last updated in 2004 and won't feature the new developments in Shibuya - such as the Hikarie.

Last few times I was in Shibuya I've experienced a little difficulty locating the bus back to Azabu Juban, but this is because of building works outside of the station. I had hoped that these would have been completed by now but saw mentions in this thread suggesting that this remains an ongoing problem. However, it is hardly insurmountable, the majority of other passengers are very helpful.

I've been to Tokyo a few times including a trip each of the last 3 years--at first I neither spoke nor read any Japanese (mind, I'm not much better at either now).

For me, having previously experienced public transport in Paris and London, the actual train/subway piece was no big deal. Having a plan of where to go--where you are, where you are going, which train/subway lines go between, and where can you transfer between them--works just like everywhere else. The experience of being in Shinjuku or Shibuya station and navigating in and around, I was not prepared for <mind blown>.

I think getting the Suica card is the single best thing a first time (or any time) visitor can do to improve the experience. By eliminating the issue of figuring out the fare for each trip, you only have to focus on getting there.

Now that almost all stations seem to have signs in English as well as electronic signs in the trains showing the next stops (Yamanote line has these anyway), it is quite painless.

Unless you are in a hurry, and it is rush-hour.

I've never had an issue navigating around shinjuku station as once you get an understanding of the basic layout it's pretty easy. Shibuya however I just can't get the hang of, I don't know what it is but I can take the same train, same carraige, be trying to get to the same exit and sometimes it takes me 5 minutes to get out and other times it seems like it takes 15. I've just put it down to the fact that its shibuya reminding me that I'm really far too oyaji for it and I should go back to shinbashi.