Leaving in 2 weeks-last minute questions..!
Jun 14th, 2017, 07:13 PM
#1
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Leaving in 2 weeks-last minute questions..!
Leaving in two weeks: last minute questions....
Arriving at Narita at 2:30pm : airport limousine bus convenient and most cost effective and direct (staying at Westin Tokyo) vs taking train? Seems like bus may take a bit longer but with train, need to tfr at busy station to another line then walk a bit to hotel. Bus seems best bet? (no, we are not getting a JR pass for our trip)
Pasmo vs Suica card: looks like both need to be returned to the Tokyo area for refund on balance? We are flying out of Osaka to return home so any balance would be lost correct? Can we use this loaded card for train travel around kyoto and then to koyasan and back to osaka? is this the best card to get for 4 days in Tokyo?
Train travel from kyoto to koyasan on july 13 for overnight stay. I looked on hyperdia for times/routes. Where do I buy the tickets and do these need to be bought ahead of time or on day of?
Has anyone rented bikes in Kamakura to sightsee for the day? (can I also use the loaded pasmo/suica card for this travel route?)
Want to rent a pocket wi-fi-can you recommend a particular company?
Arriving at Narita at 2:30pm : airport limousine bus convenient and most cost effective and direct (staying at Westin Tokyo) vs taking train? Seems like bus may take a bit longer but with train, need to tfr at busy station to another line then walk a bit to hotel. Bus seems best bet? (no, we are not getting a JR pass for our trip)
Pasmo vs Suica card: looks like both need to be returned to the Tokyo area for refund on balance? We are flying out of Osaka to return home so any balance would be lost correct? Can we use this loaded card for train travel around kyoto and then to koyasan and back to osaka? is this the best card to get for 4 days in Tokyo?
Train travel from kyoto to koyasan on july 13 for overnight stay. I looked on hyperdia for times/routes. Where do I buy the tickets and do these need to be bought ahead of time or on day of?
Has anyone rented bikes in Kamakura to sightsee for the day? (can I also use the loaded pasmo/suica card for this travel route?)
Want to rent a pocket wi-fi-can you recommend a particular company?
Jun 14th, 2017, 08:18 PM
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The orange limousine bus can be the most convenient if you are staying at one of the hotels it stops at. But most cost effective? No - quite the opposite - it's the most expensive (aside from a taxi from Narita, which only an idiot would do). The cheapest would be the Keisei Bus or 1000 yen bus.
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
Another option is the Narita Express. The station closest to your hotel is Ebisu.
For the IC cards, see here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html
You don't "lose" the value on the card when you leave. It's still good for 10 years - but as you said, you can't buy one in Tokyo and refund the balance in Osaka.
For Koyasan, I recommend the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html
For getting around Tokyo, a 2-3 day subway pass unlike the IC cards can actually save you money.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/v...dex.html#anc03
For wi-fi, a lot depends on how much bandwidth you use and other factors. Look at various companies at the bottom of:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan
http://accessnarita.jp/en/home/
Another option is the Narita Express. The station closest to your hotel is Ebisu.
For the IC cards, see here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html
You don't "lose" the value on the card when you leave. It's still good for 10 years - but as you said, you can't buy one in Tokyo and refund the balance in Osaka.
For Koyasan, I recommend the Koyasan World Heritage Ticket.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html
For getting around Tokyo, a 2-3 day subway pass unlike the IC cards can actually save you money.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/v...dex.html#anc03
For wi-fi, a lot depends on how much bandwidth you use and other factors. Look at various companies at the bottom of:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan
Jun 14th, 2017, 08:36 PM
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The orange limousine bus does indeed stop at the Westin. If you look at this website, you will see that the Westin is one of the options, and then you can see the timetable:
https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bu...s/narita/index
I like taking the limousine because it's easy and relaxing. I tend spend more on transportation to and from the airport, but that's a personal decision, I suppose.
https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bu...s/narita/index
I like taking the limousine because it's easy and relaxing. I tend spend more on transportation to and from the airport, but that's a personal decision, I suppose.
Jun 15th, 2017, 06:59 PM
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I just got back from Japan and used Tep for pocket wifi. It was mostly great, a few smaller towns I had less than perfect reception. I would use again. Mailed to me prior to trip and postage paid return envelope provided. I think there are cheaper options out there such as renting one once you've reached Japan.
Jun 15th, 2017, 07:46 PM
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Whether a bike would be a good idea for Kamakura or not depends on what you want to see and do there. For example, I wanted to see places in both Kita-Kamakura and Kamakura, and would not have wanted a bike for that. I just walked, except for the little train to / from Kamakura to Hase (where the Hasadera Temple and Daibutsu are).
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Jun 16th, 2017, 07:28 AM
#6
>>airport limousine bus convenient and most cost effective and direct
Absolutely yes, for the Tokyo Westin. It is the most convenient and direct. You step outside, get on the bus, get off at the hotel.
The fare is only ¥3100 which is less than the Narita Express+JR locals. The JR option is just not competitive as far as convenience goes.
Cheap is not the same as cost-effective. There is a Keisei train to subway option for ¥1,520. But you will have to haul yourself and luggage through your origin, transfer, and Ebisu stations and then find your way to the Westin.
That is, you pay a lower cost in money but you pay a higher cost in terms of convenience and hassle.
I've done the trip on JR and it was a PITA. I did not appreciate the walk to the Westin. There are moving walkways for part and it was mostly covered, but I was in the rain for a bit. The limo bus schedule didn't work for me.
You can pay the cheaper train fare and you do the work or you can pay the higher bus fare and let the driver do the work.
That the airport bus goes there is one of the benefits of staying at the Westin and the convenience and simplicity is worth the extra $15 imo.
Absolutely yes, for the Tokyo Westin. It is the most convenient and direct. You step outside, get on the bus, get off at the hotel.
The fare is only ¥3100 which is less than the Narita Express+JR locals. The JR option is just not competitive as far as convenience goes.
Cheap is not the same as cost-effective. There is a Keisei train to subway option for ¥1,520. But you will have to haul yourself and luggage through your origin, transfer, and Ebisu stations and then find your way to the Westin.
That is, you pay a lower cost in money but you pay a higher cost in terms of convenience and hassle.
I've done the trip on JR and it was a PITA. I did not appreciate the walk to the Westin. There are moving walkways for part and it was mostly covered, but I was in the rain for a bit. The limo bus schedule didn't work for me.
You can pay the cheaper train fare and you do the work or you can pay the higher bus fare and let the driver do the work.
That the airport bus goes there is one of the benefits of staying at the Westin and the convenience and simplicity is worth the extra $15 imo.
