We arrive in Tokyo the night before we need to be in Sendai.

Should we stay near Narita or should we go into Tokyo and poke around for the day....we need to be in Sendai by 9 PM

2nd Trip: We arrive in Tokyo Monday night and need to leave for Osaka Wednesday Morning....Where is the best place to stay for such limited time. We need to visit in the evening the area known as: Minato-Ku, Tokyo

Travelers: 2 Adult Parents/2 Adult Children

Rail: One adult has been living in Japan for two years. The other three want to purchase Rail Passes in the USA...to facilitate traveling from Tokyo to SEndai, Nara, Kyoto and Osaka. Can we buy a pass in Japan for the one traveler that is consistent with the pass we purchase? Is the JR pass recommended? We have a total of 8 travel days.

You have an airline ticket from Tokyo Naria airport (NRT) to Sendai? You are sure it is not Tokyo Haneda airport (HND)?

Sendai is just a short shinkansen ride from Tokyo. You could go into Tokyo spend the night and then take a train to Sendai the next day. Visit Matsushima near Sendai.

Or, on arrival day you could go straight to Sendai. Depends on what the rest of your itinerary is. List out your 8 days of travel. You'll need to figure out what days to use the 7-day JR Pass for. Are you flying out of Osaka or returning to Tokyo?

The one adult would be able to buy tickets for travel on the trains that the JR Pass holders use. That person could get JR West Kansai Area Pass to travel with you in the Nara, Kyoto, Osaka area.

Wed-4PM Arrive Narita

Thur-9PM Arrive in Sendai by train

Fri-Mon Various travel around Sendai...as far North as Morioka (This is where our son has been living so we have people he wants us to mee)

Mon-PM...Travel to Tokyo

Tuesday-All Day Tokyo...need to be in the Minato-Ku region of Tokyo by 6PM

Wednesday- AM Shikansen to Osaka/Nara

Wednesday & Thursday: Nara/ Osaka/ Kyoto?? Native friend has days planned.

Friday-Depart Osaka 4PM

sounds like a fun trip! The easiest part is getting to Minato-ku. It is an simple subway ride or two from any other part of Tokyo.

Mansions at Roppongi is in this area. Lots of happy posters have stayed here (including me).

From Tokyo station or the Ginza maybe 10-15 minutes. Maybe 60 minutes if you are really far out in the outskirts or have to make a bunch of transfers.

to determind travel times on the subway, check the subway schedule on the wall of whatever station you'll be leaving from, before you leave the station.

There will be a diagram with each station on that line and little numbers printed between them. they indicate the travel minutes. If you have to transfer, add in those as well. The Subway is very easy. If you can't find the diagram, ask the gate guard by the train exit. He may not speak english, but if you write down your destination, he'll either produce a schedule or walk you to a diagram.