Apr 14, 2014 Comments Off on Travel Information
Travel Information
General information
- Japan Travel Guide
- Guide to living in Japan (PDF)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs guide with lots of helpful information - JR East great deals
- Suica card
Getting to Shonan Village
The following instructions cover the common cases for a non-resident of Japan to move from Tokyo and its airports to Shonan Village. In general, first take trains to either JR’s Zushi station or Keikyu’s Shin-Zushi station, then take a bus or taxi. The Shonan Village Web site gives more information, but please do not hesitate to ask the organizers for help!
If you get lost
Railway staff (especially at ticketing offices) tend to speak some English and know about destinations. Bus drivers, maybe less likely.
Step 1 of 2: tracks
You can search for train schedules online. However, if using the “N’EX”, please focus on trains labeled “Narita Express” or “JR” and disregard the fares calculated.
From Tokyo’s Narita airport
Take JR trains to Zushi. JR is Japan’s “national” railway company. At the airport after exiting customs, go downstairs and find a JR office (not a Keisei office). Buy the N’EX
TOKYO Direct Ticket (One-way) (it saves you more than 2000 yen). Take “N’EX” (Narita Express) to Yokohama or Ofuna (better), then take the Shonan-Shinjuku or Yokosuka line to Zushi. The N’EX ticket will cover the JR train trip all the way to Zushi (about 2 hours) and, if you buy the round-trip N’EX ticket, back. Tell the JR representative that you’re going to Zushi and you know you have to change trains at Yokohama or Ofuna. The Narita Express train splits en route so board the car of your assigned seat.
From Tokyo’s Haneda airport
Warning! Trains in Japan do not run at night. Night buses are rare. If you come to Haneda airport at about 10pm (which is typical for many US flights), you will be stuck in Tokyo for the night and should plan accordingly (e.g., make a reservation for a hotel in the vicinity of Haneda or the Tokyo station — which is as far as you could possibly go.) It’s best to plan to arrive to Japan before 6-7pm.
Take Keikyu trains (not the monorail) to Shin-Zushi. Keikyu is one of Japan’s many private railway companies. At the airport, buy a PASMO or Suica card with about 2000 yen. (You might get a slightly better deal if you buy a PASMO card from a Keikyu ticket office and tell them you are going to Shin-Zushi.) Use the card to go to Shin-Zushi terminal (about 1 hour), possibly changing trains at Keikyu-Kamata and/or Kanazawa-Hakkei.
From central Tokyo
Take JR’s Yokosuka line (e.g., from Tokyo or Shinagawa station) or Shonan-Shinjuku line (e.g., from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, or Shibuya) to Zushi (about 1 hour). You can also take Keikyu trains (e.g., from Shinagawa) to Shin-Zushi.
Step 2 of 2: roads
A Keikyu bus departs once or twice per hour from Zushi and Shin-Zushi stations (bay 1) to Shonan Village (the last stop). It takes 30 minutes and costs 350 yen. The bus time table is online. The departure times from Shin-Zushi are 2 minutes after the departure times from Zushi.
Pay for the bus with your Suica or PASMO card by touching it to the blue “IC” panel when you get on (through the center door) and again when you get off (through the front door). It is when you get off that you pay, so don’t ask the driver for a ticket when you get on. After you get off, your destination building is right across the road (north, in other words).
A taxi from Zushi or Shin-Zushi station to Shonan Village takes 20 minutes and costs 2500 or 3000 yen.
Travel tips
Arranging for a ride together
Please add a comment to this post to announce your arrival information and arrange to share transportation. The comments will be deleted after the seminar.
Earthquakes
If you have never experienced even a small earthquake, you may wish to check the page “What should I do when…?” just in case (just as you should know how to evacuate in case of a fire even if the chance is very small).
Meeting points in Tokyo
Haneda airport, international terminal: after exiting baggage claim and customs, turn right and you’ll see the tourist information office to your right. There are plenty of seats in front of the office.
Narita airport: please see http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_29.html
JR Tokyo station, underground within the ticket gates: There are two meeting points. The “Gin-no-suzu” (a large silver bell) is traditional and next to many shops and services. It is on the first underground floor. http://www.tokyoinfo.com/guide/station/ginnosuzu.html Another place on the same floor is a big square in front of a relief steam locomotive structure. http://www.tokyoinfo.com/guide/station/#meet02
JR Ueno station: the ticket gates at the exit to the park, which is a good place to let daylight attenuate your jetlag. http://www.joho.st/tokyo/ueno/koen.php
