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Coming to Tokyo in September

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Tanny J

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Hi Everyone

I'll be in Tokyo for a week in mid-to-late September for a vacation (as well as the Dreams Come True concert at the Olympic Stadium ^_^). This would be my third time in Japan, but the first time I've spent any real time in Tokyo proper.

(I flew into Narita last time...but took the Shinkansen from Tokyo station to Kyoto soon after. I know, I know...flying into Tokyo instead of Osaka? Not my idea ^^)

I'm very rusty Nihongo-wise, but I can manage getting a point cross...assuming I can remember the appropriate word. I also became pretty comfortable with the Japanese train system (from Osaka & Kyoto)...

All that being said...I hope those of you wiser than I could be kind enough to answer a few questions

1) I plan to take the Keisei Skyliner from Narita to Ueno and then take the Ginza line to the station near my hotel.
---Would anyone recommend reserving a seat before I get to the airport?
---Should I reserve a round trip on the Skyliner? (Is that possible?)
---Is there much of a walk from the Keisei Ueno station to the Ginza line nearby?

2) I plan on staying on Tokyo the entire time I'm there (with the exception of the train to and from Narita).
---Both Suica and Pasmo card/passes work on all subways/trains in the Tokyo area, right? Which one would you recommend?
---Is it possible to get one of these card/passes at Narita?

3) Does anyone know if the ATMs at Citibanks in Tokyo also run on the STAR and NYCE networks (in addition to the common ones, "Plus", "Cirrus", etc)?
(I know about the ATMs in Post Offices & 7/11s...it doesn't look like they have access to either of those networks )

4) Are there unique things to see in Tokyo that only happen on certain days?
(Like all the costumed folk near Harajuku station on a Sunday...)

5) Is that famous Fish Market really worth it? (and that early too?)

6) Can anyone recommend some good hip-hop clubs? (Maybe something in the vein of Osaka's "Sam and Dave's"?

7) Is it necessary to buy an adapter if you don't have any three-prong items to plug in?

8) Could anyone recommend any good Ramen/Udon places?

Thanks for all your help!

-TJ
 
1)
- Don't know
- Don't know
- The Ginza line station should be nearby the JR station(i think), and if you arrive by keisei line, JR station is nearby. If I remember correctly theres an underground passage directly to JR station and the metro. The distance between the station isn't that far, only a few mins apart

2) - Those 2 are the same now in terms of subs and train. I'm not sure about suica, but pasmo can also be used for busses. Seems tho the theres alot more shops that accepts suica. But quite frankly, I don't really use those card other then from train commuting. So I would recommend either of them.
Tho, suica card seems easier and faster to get using the card machine 'probably' located in all the yamanote line stations. Had a hard time with my PASMO, only the selected station have those card sold. (Seibu line in my case. Don't know about metro.)
- Probably, if theres a JR counter/machine in the airport. I'm not really sure if Keisei line sell PASMO or not.

3) ht tp://w ww.citibank.co.jp/ja/bankingservice/branch_atm/kanto/index.html
ht tp://w ww.citibank.com/locations/ap/jp/jp/tokyo/tokyo.htm
I personally use the one in shinjuku. Sorry no idea what you mean on the STAR and NYCE network.

4-8) I'll leave this for others to recommend. I don't know much when it comes to this kind of subject.
 
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I myself am also travelling to Tokyo in late September (small world eh) and am aware there are a few ways of getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo. What is recommended? Price over speed
 
riisa-san said:
I myself am also travelling to Tokyo in late September (small world eh) and am aware there are a few ways of getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo. What is recommended? Price over speed
Click to expand...

It really depends on where in Tokyo you're going to, but if the price is your first priority, take express train (not Skyliner) of Keisei line from Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno.
It costs JPY1,000. It takes about 1 hour 15 min.
For Keisei Skyliner you'll need additional JPY920, and it takes 1 hour 10 min.
Narita Express (JR line) also takes 1.5 hours and costs JPY3,100 or so.
Limousine Bus costs JPY3,000 but the journey could be longer than 1.5-2 hours depending on the traffic conditions.
 
I wouldn't worry about reserving a seat on the Keisei Express. There's generally plenty of seats.

If you have a Rail Pass, go with the Narita Express. Otherwise, I would take the Keisei Express or Skyliner.
 
I'm going to Tokyo in September also! Can't wait!
 
I will be in Japan in sept too. Wow must be a good month to travel. I might actually hang out in Tokyo for a couple days before heading down to Fukuoka. Still trying to confirm the days.
 
7) Is it necessary to buy an adapter if you don't have any three-prong items to plug in?
Click to expand...
If you are from the USA, beware that there are only 2-pronged outlets here, and moreover, they accept plugs of equal size. Look at your plugs and see if one is larger than the other, and buy an adapter if necessary. Electricity


Otherwise, the USA operates on 60 Hz power, but Tokyo uses 50 Hz, so some things will not work as well. Clocks are slower, hair dryers take longer to work, etc.
http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

5) Is that famous Fish Market really worth it? (and that early too?)
Click to expand...
There is a thread I started on the Lonely Planet forum regarding how many foreign tourists visit Tsukiji fish market and are hated by the vendors there. Don't be one of those tourists. Respect the fact that it is a place of business. That means don't go behind the counters, don't get off the walking paths, and for goodness' sake don't hug the tuna to pose for a photo! Also, don't use flash when you photograph the vendors selling; it'll look like the stock market with hand signals waving about, and flash from cameras makes it hard for them to see well.
 
I went to Tsukiji and it was pretty cool. I say hug a tuna for sure!! LOL or even better find the strangest looking fish in the market and hug it. I agree with what said Glenski to a certain degree but it's not that extreme. You are a guest so act that way and you will be fine.
 
Hi, I'm new in this forum. I'm also going to Tokyo in September. What's the weather like? Is it warm? I've been there before but it was in April so the weather was still cool.
 
princessfiona said:
Hi, I'm new in this forum. I'm also going to Tokyo in September. What's the weather like? Is it warm? I've been there before but it was in April so the weather was still cool.
Click to expand...

Judge for yourself. Please use a tool called Google, you could search "Weather average tokyo september" or something like that. I could give you the link, but I just think you could do a little bit more by yourself.

Mauricio
 
Thanks, Mauricio, I know about Google I was hoping to get some feedback from people who live in Tokyo--better than getting data from a weather report
 
princessfiona said:
Hi, I'm new in this forum. I'm also going to Tokyo in September. What's the weather like? Is it warm? I've been there before but it was in April so the weather was still cool.
Click to expand...
If it is an average year,
The beginning of September is hot:atsui:
There is a day more than 30 degrees Celsius, too.
In the middle of September, temperature becomes low.
Because rain increases, there is a cold day.

However, a prediction is difficult this year.
The end of the rainy season was late, and the best temperature in August exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

In long-range forecast, September seems to be hotter than an average year.
 
Any of you September people attending the Tokyo Game Show? I know I will be!
 
Tokyo Game Show
http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/english/
 
Wouldnt a rail pass be better value?
Tanny J said:
8) Could anyone recommend any good Ramen/Udon places?
-TJ
Click to expand...
I can't remember the names to the ones I've went to. Just go into ones that are busy and you should be OK. They all tasted good to me. Its something I still crave about.
 
Nisei88 said:
Wouldnt a rail pass be better value?
Click to expand...

If one is just staying in Tokyo, the answer is no. There are JR lines in Tokyo, but the actual cost for in-city commuting is low. If you are planning to go out of Tokyo (to other cities, etc.), then the JR Railpass would be worth getting.
 
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Did you see the morning TV news with Mino Monta today?
Still hugging and touching tuna, and some tourists blatantly taking flash shots while they stood next to the NO FLASH sign. It was an icon, not words, so it was pretty darned clear that flashes were prohibited. And, lots of people milling about behind the counters where they didn't belong.

Be nice.
 

I didnt see any fish hugging but there were a few times I wanted to yell at tourists for being in the way. The workers were so patient.

When you say "behind the counters" do you mean the wholesaler's counters/cash register area or the entire wholesalers section?

Why don't they just ban tourists altogether if they are such nuisances? When the market is moved will it still be open to the public?
 
If you're going to tsukiji, you only need to go early if you want to see the auctions. I went around 9am and still had some awesome fresh sashimi, and even though it was crowded I didn't have to worry about getting in the way of people who had business there.
 
Well, at the rate we're destroying the fish populations in the oceans, there won't be a fish market for too much longer, so enjoy it while you can.
 

Oh thank goodness: I thought we'd have to be up at the crack of dawn: 9am is MUCH more civilized for (older!!) holiday makers!!! Tsukiji, HamaRikyu, boat to Asakusa: all doable in a day, anyone?
 
Fel1city said:
Oh thank goodness: I thought we'd have to be up at the crack of dawn: 9am is MUCH more civilized for (older!!) holiday makers!!! Tsukiji, HamaRikyu, boat to Asakusa: all doable in a day, anyone?
Click to expand...

I would think easily. I don't think you would spend more than an hour at Tsukiji and very close by Hamarikyu. I believe that Hamarikyu park has an exit that takes you directly to the boat.
 
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