DUers who have been to/lived in Tokyo...

[wickerwoman]

Help!

I just realized I have a seven-hour layover in Tokyo in a few days. I hate, hate, hate Narita airport (my last two hour layover was up there on the top five experiences from hell in my life) and will feel really lame sitting there the whole time. What would you recommend for a fourish-hour tour of Tokyo? Is there a quick shuttle from the airport to the city center? Should I change some money to yen? How much? Do most places take credit cards? It will be from about 2 in the afternoon to 6 or 7. What's open? What's unmissable? Is it a really, really bad idea to try to see something of the city?

I know we have some Japan experts around here... any help you could give me would be massively appreciated.

Cheers!

[Kire]

1. I did a layover there once.

I was 12 and by myself, so I had no choice but to just sit there.

[Kali]

2. Ask here.

you'll have to register and you might want to try a few of the other branches as well.

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=19

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. I'd suggest not asking there

It's one of the questions they are most tired of.

[Kali]

9. OK do a search or just read there. sheesh

[qnr]

3. Amazing how these things work. Saw you at zero for a while, was

going to give a kick. While I was relaying your request to the Democrats Abroad area, everyone started replying :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=194x652

[wickerwoman]

4. Thanks!

I didn't know there was a Dems Abroad forum.

I figured some people were just taking their time with the reply.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Forget Tokyo--I have a better suggestion

I'm a Japanese-English translator and have been through Narita Airport many times.

I advise against going into Tokyo on a 7-hour layover, because the fastest train ride takes 70 minutes (i.e. 2+ hours there and back) and that's not counting immigration/customs (30 minutes minimum) on one end and security lines and flight check-ins (60 minutes minimum) on the other. So basically, you'd have all of three hours in one of the world's largest cities.

Besides, the train lets you off in a crowded, confusing part of Tokyo, so you'd just stand around and say, "Okay, I'm in Tokyo. Now what?"

But you are not doomed to sit in the airport for seven hours.

You can go visit the town of Narita. Simply get on the Keisei line train ( NOT the Keisei Skyliner) and ride for about 10 minutes until you reach Narita. It costs about 250 yen, IRC. There is an information booth at the station, where you can get a map that will tell you how to walk to the Shinshouji Temple. The walk takes you through the streets of a typical small city to a large temple complex. Aside from the main temple buildings, there are beautifully landscaped gardens to wander around in. It's all very restful after you've just come off a long plane ride. On the way back, you can have a Japanese meal and/or buy some souvenirs. Five hours is a nice length of time to spend there.

I think a jaunt into Narita would give you a much more pleasant, relaxing, and varied look at Japan than a mad dash into Tokyo and back.

[wickerwoman]

7. That's great!

Thanks Lydia. I was hoping to hear from you. It sounds perfect.

Are most of the signs in English? My memory of the airport was that it was totally disorienting and nothing was in English. (Of course, then I was coming off a 14 hour flight. This time it will only be two hours.) If I go to the temple, have a nice lunch and then go back to the airport, how much yen would you suggest changing for the whole trip? I don't want to get stuck with too much leftover.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. A helpful fellow has compiled everything you need to know

to make the most of your few hours in Japan. Enjoy!

http://www.mgnewman.com/narita/index.html#do

[mrbill]

10. been to tokyo for a day a long long time ago......

Was there in 1962 on a Boy Scout goodwill tour deal at the tender age of 14. The Navy picked up the tab.

Spent a month in Japan, but only one day in the Metroplex.

The Imperial Palace made a lasting impression. Nice house and landscaping. Almost spiritual in a way.

Too bad you don't have time to climb Mt. Fuji and get a cool branded walking stick.

Leave the airport, wander somewhere with goodspeed and yen.

on edit: spell check harpy.