Are my jokes getting that bad that I need an interpreter ?.....Thank goodness I'm off on holiday soon, it looks like I need to get my mojo back

they only have small overhead storage, so if you're packing heavy there might be luggage storage issues. I'm always surprised when trains that make the airline run don't have room for baggage; this happens all the time on the Blue Line to and from ORD.

Also, I just assumed that a train as well-known and well-patronized as the N'EX would run all day long every 20 or 30 minutes. Lucikly I got lost in Tokyo Station one day and happened upon the posted N'EX schedule and discovered there was a big hole in the mid-afternoon when I had planned to just show up and get on board. Made me rearrange my whole trip to NRT schedule, and naturally I got to the airport ridiculously early with hours to kill. Lucky for me, the "amazing" beer machine at the UAL RCC filled the time.

The N'EX provides very large luggage storage racks at either end of every car which can handle the largest of suitcases. There are also spaces for bags in the "triangle" between some seats. There are also overhead bins with capacity for laptop bags etc. I rode this train at a peak travel time last week - all the seats were taken and several people were standing - but there was plenty of space in the racks for everyone's luggage.

Excellent advice - Check train timetables rather than assuming that a train will be "there" for you when you need it.

My view of the express train is that it is only quickest if you can catch it right after you arrive otherwise I have found the limousine bus to be consistently the fastest as they seem to depart relatively often. When you start adding up time waiting for the express train, the subway, walking up stairs etc.....I just never found it saving me enough time to take it instead of the limousine bus which drops me off right at the door of my hotel. Maybe it depends on which location you are going to.

It definitely depends on where you are going. If you are not staying at one of the expensive hotels that are on the limobus route, you have to add time to walk/take subway/take cab from wherever it drops you to your hotel. The train has always been my preferred method, since I am going to have to cover that last leg on my own anyway. The train - particularly the Skyliner - is just so much more comfortable than the bus!

JR

The Westin is my company's preferred Tokyo hotel, so stay there a lot. I always take the NRX to Shinagawa station and taxi from there (about 20 minutes). I take the taxi to the Westin vs. the circle line train to Ebisu station because of the long walk from the station to the hotel (long with luggage). I always beat my colleagues who take the bus by hours (i.e. it takes me 90 minutes total and them 3 hours+) and they always look really ragged when they arrive (like they have been dragged all over Tokyo!).

Could you clarify, becuse I don't understand.

I've travelled a few times from NRT to Shinagawa, and vice versa, by bus. It's only ever taken me an hour and a half. I completely understand what this can vary.

What I can't get my head around is how the route to Shinagawa (which is mostly freeway) can be congested and the roads between Shinagawa and Ebisu be clear - which they must be if your taxi ride takes you 20 minutes Doesn't quite make sense to me.

Anyway, could you let us know how much you are usually charged for the taxi ride between Shinagawa and Ebisu?
And also what the most you have been charged for this route has been. I'm personally very nervous about taking taxis in Tokyo, and this info would be extremely helpful!

Thanks!

I don't consider a train that runs between a city and its airport a "train," to me it's a "shuttle." Like a subway, if you will.

It would never occur to me to ask someone in Chicago or NYC for a "subway schedule." All you need to know is which platform to stand on, the trains come and go all day long every few minutes.

But perhaps there are times at Narita when there are no incoming or outgoing flights, so they don't schedule trains.

"Every few minutes" and "schedule" are wishful thoughts in this context. Subways do run on "schedule" in Japan, and I think that's great. Reminds me of the announcement they make on the Red Line in Boston about reporting any suspicious or unusual objects in the station, and some wag waiting for a train mentioning that he saw a train and thought to report it, given that it was such an unusual sight.

Huh?

A shuttle to me is a small 8 seater van/bus that takes you to the nearby hotel from the airport.

Since the Narita Express is a limited express service, and shares tracks used by other local services, a schedule is important to maintain.

Keisei mainlines terminus just happens to be terminal 1 airport station, I wouldn't call the trains that run on this line a shuttle, even though yes they do run between a city and it's airport, as both the Skyliner and Limited Expresss do serve passengers who's origin,final destination may not be the Airport.

Yes, but subway/mass transit lines are a little different. Certainly if I'm at x street station and wanted to go to Penn Station on the NYC Subway all I need to know is what platform to stand on and trains will come by to take me there. But if I wanted to get off at Penn Station to catch the next Acela to Newark, then I would definately want to know the train schedule.

As mentioned even the subways and other mass transit systems that operate in Tokyo and other parts of Japan do operate on a schedule, and unless the ground under the tracks are falling or some delay happens, trains will usually stick to their schedule.

I don't consider much of what you say on this forum as "advice", to me they are just "musings". Like "雄牛のうんち", if you will.

Sumimasen.

I just couldn't resist it!

I think a better translation would be "droppings" or "patties".

ROTFL

I'm sure you're much nicer in person, I'm sure of it

If you don't care to haul all your luggage around, there are plenty of cartage services at the airport that will deliver your bag to the address of your choosing the next day. I generally pack a smaller carryon with a change of clothes, and then my luggage comes by courier the next day.

Its been a few years but i recall that all i had to do was exit customs and turn left and walk to the end of the arrivals hall.

_m