Few questions before my trip

[Kama]

I'd like to ask you some questions.

* Are there any Tokyo pass (for travelling around Tokyo)? Where do I buy them ,and how much are they?

* Are there any storages for leaving the luggage for one day, or few hours, or sth like this? More importantly, are they on central stations/airoports?

* What is the cheapset way to go from Tokyo to Okinawa ? Where can I find Japanese cheap airlines?

 

[karlyboo]

Quickies:

Cheapest way to Okinawa would be an internal flight, Expedia.com might be a good point for looking into carriers.

The Tokyo subway is very cheap, very efficient and goes everywhere. I was able to get anywhere I wanted to go (return) for about $2. I'm sure passes are available (where I'm not sure tho, my apologies).

Tokyo has several main stations but Narita airport is a good hour/hour and a half out of Tokyo by train.

Sorry I can't be more help

 

[pipokun]

* What is the cheapset way to go from Tokyo to Okinawa? Where can I find Japanese cheap airlines?

ANA and JAL offer you special discount tickets.
Be sure that you cannot buy them in Japan.

Tokyo Metro 1 or 2-Day Tourist Open Ticket may help you.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/e/open_ticket/index.html

 

[ullvarg]

And major staitions have lockers for between 300-900yen a day depending on size of the locker

 

[Kama]

Ullvarg, great to hear.

 

[ifjames]

Also I've heard about Suica and Pasmo cards which allow you to use Tokyo subway as well as JR lines (eg Yamanote) and can be used like a debit card at convenience stores in the stations: could be worth looking into: Google them: loads of info. Have fun!!

 

[nice gaijin]

Pasmo and Suica (they perform the same exact service) are definitely worth the convenience of the 500 yen deposit (refundable upon returning the card). The debit functions aren't all that useful, but it's still a plus.

 

[Kama]

I'm not sure if I understood correctly. Pasmo is generally Kanto region (including buses and underground) and Suica is JR and underground?

If I'd like to use a Suica credit card, where I can get it? Is it also vending machines that sell regular Suica cards?

And how do you return the card?

 

[nice gaijin]

no, it's exactly the same thing. Pasmo and Suica are interchangeable now, they are just sold in different places (Suica can be gotten at JR stations, Pasmo at Tokyo Metro). There are normal fare machines from which you can purchase a card and charge it up.

You can return it at the offices in the station/midori no madoguchi, I'm not sure if you can return them to the machines themselves.

 

[tigermilk]

Google is your friend - "tokyo subway pass" yields Access and Transportation

I've used the subway pass before. The subway is a great way to get around Tokyo and the pass is well worth it. The trains just don't get you to all the places you may want to go.

 

[Dekamaster]

If you're going through a lot of sights at Tokyo, the 2-day pass might be a breakeven investment. I recently went to Tokyo last year and bought the 2 - day pass. Although actually going around Tokyo, I found out that I actually used more of the JR line (notably Yamanote) than any Tokyo Metro. I might have saved a little by not purchasing the pass. So I suggest you check out first where you want to go. If this is your first time to visit, the pass would be helpful. Spares you the queue and the initial confusion on how to work out the automated ticket dispenser. =)

 

[Kama]

Thanks for help. I see that I'll use Yamanote line for sure (Shinjuku/Shibuya/Harajuku) but I will also wamt to check few places that are exactly in the middle of Yamanote line route. Is there underground to Tokyo Tower and Roppongi? It looks like I'll be staying longer than week in Japan, so I'll be a week in Tokyo alone. Are there only 2 days pass? Or is there something for a week with discount?

Sorry, if these are trivial questions for you.

 

[undrentide]

Within Yamanote line, Tokyo Metro network is very convenient.
You'll find a lot of information at their website.
(You can download the map of the metro network in pdf format, too.)
http://www.tokyometro.jp/e/index.html

This site (Tokyo Tourism Info) might be also useful.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/index.html

This site is great, showing the places of interest in Tokyo with details.
Tokyo

Enjoy your trip!

 

[ArmandV]

Thanks for help. I see that I'll use Yamanote line for sure (Shinjuku/Shibuya/Harajuku) but I will also wamt to check few places that are exactly in the middle of Yamanote line route. Is there underground to Tokyo Tower and Roppongi? It looks like I'll be staying longer than week in Japan, so I'll be a week in Tokyo alone. Are there only 2 days pass? Or is there something for a week with discount?

Sorry, if these are trivial questions for you.

If they help you from getting lost (easy to do), then they aren't trivial.

There's some subways near Tokyo Tower (all require some walking, but not much): Toei Oedo Line, Toei Mita Line and Hibiya Line. I've never used a pass for subway travel, so I can't help you there.

 

[Chi65]

When I was there, they sold certain 10 ride bunches (I think the distances were also limited, but yet cheaper than bying every one extra)for some companies in the vending machines, and since I also walked a lot and often changed my mind, it was pretty helpfull. I never used any kind of pass, also because I was kind of on and off in Tokyo, thus never even asked.
Nice to know, there are other regulations now.

Yes, and the locker situation is relatively easy, one was and surely still is a big area for all sizes in the back of the central Tokyo station, also for more than one day. I used it a lot!
Smaller ones are even around many other stations (particularly at cross points or important locations around), or with also local traffic ones, since there are often market centers or the like around. Very convenient indeed.

In many other bigger cities the situation is pretty much the same.

There is another possibility, that we successfully tried several times: some Shrines or Temples had nothing against our kind question to leave our things there in the reception or the like for a while. In Korea it was also the habit and very nice, when you are travelling just for sightseeing from one place to another one. So we tried also in Japan, with success! Its wonderfull, saves you forwards and backwords just for your bags, and yet you can do the visits with empty hands, while your bags are in safe hands.
It also helped during big and small festivals! They never minded and were always friendly.
Give it a try and maybe additionally spread a few nice little presents. Then you will always be welcome again.

 

[tigermilk]

Follow my advice earlier and stick with a subway pass. You can get to just about everywhere you need to with it rather than the Yamanote Line and the pass for a day is around $10.

If you go to Tokyo Tower, you'd have a 15-20 minute walk from Hamamasuchou Station on the Yamanote Line. Yet there are a couple of subway exits just 5 or so minutes from the Tower. You've got stops in the heart of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku as well. The subway is faster and more convenient.

 

[BlueThunderKuno]

My travel agent told me that JR Pass now covers the Tokyo Subway is this correct?

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

My travel agent told me that JR Pass now covers the Tokyo Subway is this correct?

JR Pass is not usable on a subway.
JAPAN RAIL PASS | ジャパン・レール・パス

 

[undrentide]

My travel agent told me that JR Pass now covers the Tokyo Subway is this correct?

The answer is NO, as Nagashima san indicated.
Maybe your travel agent mixed up the JR Pass with Suica. The latter is a prepaid card by JR, which can be also used on Tokyo Metro and most private lines in the Tokyo area.

 

[Dekamaster]

Thanks for help. I see that I'll use Yamanote line for sure (Shinjuku/Shibuya/Harajuku) but I will also wamt to check few places that are exactly in the middle of Yamanote line route. Is there underground to Tokyo Tower and Roppongi? It looks like I'll be staying longer than week in Japan, so I'll be a week in Tokyo alone. Are there only 2 days pass? Or is there something for a week with discount?

Sorry, if these are trivial questions for you.

Yes. Tigermilk is right in saying that there are Tokyo Metro stations that would be nearer than JR stations for some destinations. In Tokyo Tower, I suggest that you take the Hibiya Line and get off at Kamiyacho station. You just go straight and there's a little alley where you can see Tokyo Tower. You turn there. It's just around a 5-7 minute walk.

It might just be that I find Yamanote more convenient than the Metro because I have to transfer to another line(s) to get to my destination.

In absence of a 3 or more day pass, I think you could buy a number of the 2 day passes at the airport (they only sell these at the airport). If I remember correctly, their validity is based on the day of first use, so you could start using another one on the third day and another one on the fifth day...

Hope you enjoy ypur stay =)

 

[Kama]

Thanks for the replies, now know a bit more. Sadly, my trip became a bit postponed.


Am I blind or they sell Visit Japan tickets only in USA? I need locations in Europe.