A train trip to Shinjuku from Haneda by Keikyu train

I will explain how to go to Shinjuku from Haneda airport by Keikyu train.
Using train is one of the most economical way, however you need to bring your baggage by yourself through crowded trains and stations.

The entrance of Haneda Airport International Terminal station of Keikyu train is located on the same floor as arrival exit (2nd floor).

There are some Keikyu staffs.

They will kindly assist you to buy your ticket in English.

It costs 610 JPY for Shinjuku (2014/07/12)

If it is Saturday, Sunday, Japanese public holidays, or days specified by Tokyo monorail, it is cheaper than Keikyu line to use Monorail line's "Monorail and JR Yamanote line discount ticket".

It costs 500 JPY for Shinjuku and other Yamanote line stations.

For further detail, please refer to officiail web site.

Ticket vending machines of Keikyu line support 4 languages (Japanese, Chinese, English, Korean).

You can choose your language by touch panel.

I recommend to buy "PASMO" to avoid buying ticket every time.

PASMO is a kind of pre-paid IC card for public transportation.

It is also the same as "Octopus card" in Hongkong, "Youyou card" in Taiwan, "EZ-link card" in Singapore.

PASMO is available for not only Keikyu train but also most of buses and trains including JR lines.

It is equivalent to SUICA provided by JR line.

After getting a ticket or PASMO, you can pass a automated gate machine by putting your ticket into it.

Please notice that there are two kinds of automated gate machine. 

One is for both paper tickets and IC cards and the other one is for IC cards only.

If you buy a paper ticket, do not enter IC card-only gate.

Then go down to the platform using an elevator or escalator on the underground floor.

The destination of the next train is displayed on the monitor screen.

Keikyu train have two destinations, Shinagawa and Yokohama.

If you go to Shinjuku, you have to get on the train for Shinagawa ("Three boxes and three lines" in Chinese character "品川").

So you need to check the destination carefully.

This is the first trap for a foreign traveler.

A Keikyu train car is designed for local passengers.

There is no shelf for a big baggage.

English instructions are available in the train.

It takes about 20 minutes from Haneda airport to Shinagawa.

Actually, Shinagawa is not final destination for the most of Keikyu train..

Don't miss getting off at Shinagawa station.

If you successfully get off at Shinagawa, you need to transfer from Keikyu line to JR Yamanote line for Shinjuku.

You need to climb up a escalator from the platform of Keikyu line to cross over the railways.

Shinagawa station is big and complicated.

And go down the stairs.

Escalator is also available.

You can find a transfer gate to JR line.

You can pass a gate if you have an appropriate ticket, PASMO or SUICA. 

After pass the gate, you need to go down several steps.

Then you enter JR lines area.

The nearest platform (NO.1 and 2) is JR Yamanote line.

The color of Yamanote line is green.

Go down the stairs again.

You may find a elevator to go down in other place...

For Shinjuku, you have to ride from platform No.2.

Yamanote line operates every about 3 minutes.

Even if you miss a train, the next train will be coming soon.

Many local passengers use Yamanote line every day.

Especially, from 7AM to 9AM in working day it is too crowded to ride on with your suitcase.

It is rush hours for people who travel to working place.

English instructions and announcements are available in the Yamanote line.

It takes about 20 minutes from Shinagawa to Shinjuku.

Finally you can arrive at Shinjuku station.

Shinjuku station is biggest station in Japan.

The number of passengers who use Shinjuku station is more then 3 millions per day !

You need to check the location of your hotel in advance.

Is it on the west or east side of the station ?

Since Shinjuku station is very very big, and many lines are concentrated on, it is very hard to cross the railways.

Have a nice trip !

"Escalator rule" in Tokyo

2014/07/06
When you step on an escalator, which side do you stand on?
Right side or left side ?

In Tokyo, people stand on the left side of a escalator.
And we need to make space on the right side for the persons who climb up the escalator,

Such as:.

Basically, in the east part of Japan including Tokyo "Stand on the left side rule" is applied.

On the other hand, in the west part of Japan including Osaka "Stand on the right side rule" is applied.

I wonder where is the border of these two rules.

According to my experience, other world's cities have the rules below.

・Hongkong : Stand on the Right Side rule

・Germany : Stand on the Right Side rule

When I went to Berlin, Germany last year, I stood on the left side of the escalator as usual in Tokyo.

I was told off by a Germany old man, "Stand on the right side !".

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

When in Tokyo, do as the Tokyo citizens do.

Have a nice trip!

How to access Haneda Airport from Oi-machi by Keukyu limousine bus

If you go to Haneda airport from Oimachi, you can directly arrive at the airport by using Keikyu limousine bus.
The bus stop for Haneda Airport is located on west side of Oimachi station, in front of "Ito Yokado.

"Ito Yokado" is one of the major supermarkets in Japan. 

There are some bus stops in front of Ito Yokado.

Several local bus lines depart from these bus stops.

The bus stop No.3 is for Haneda Airport.

It may be difficult for foreigners to find it.

Small "For Haneda Airport" letters are the only signs.

So I have never seen English-speaking passengers using this limousine bus.

We need to improve...

"Airport bus information" indicates the duration from here to Haneda Airport.

The above photo shows that it takes 35 minutes for the previous bus to Haneda Airport.

This is a Keikyu limousine bus for Haneda airport.

Please be careful not to get on other bus.

(This bus stop is not only for Haneda Airport...)

It costs 580JPY from Oimachi to Haneda Airport.
You don't need to buy a bus ticket in advance.
You can pay a bus fare directly to a driver.
Transportation related IC Card (Suica, Pasmo) is also available.

And, if you use limousine bus to go to Airport, you need to have enough time to spare since the bus may delay depending on traffic conditions.

Please refer official website for more detail and accurate information such as timetable, fares, and where to board.

Have a nice trip!

How to access Haneda airport from Yokohama station by Keikyu limousine bus

This article is about how to go to Haneda airport from Yokohama station by limousine bus.

Using limousine bus is more convenient than using trains because :

(1) You can reach the airport directly without any transitions. 

(2) It is surely to sit diwn. (Standing is prohibitted in a bus traveing on a highway.)

(3) You can store your baggage into the trunk in the limousine bus.

However, you need to be careful to delay due to trafic conditions.

The bus stop for Haneda airport (YCAT) is located at the east side of Yokohama station, near the Yokohama SOGO.

If you go to the bus stop from JR Yokohama station, you need to go through the underground mall PORTA,and then you can reach Yokohama SOGO.

Turning right, and get on the escalator to go up.

Following this sign, you can reach the bus stop.

"YCAT" represents Yokohama City Air Terminal which includes the bus stops for Haneda and Narita airport, and ticket office.

YCAT is located next to Starbucks coffee shop.

It is about 10 minutes walk from JR Yokohama station. A little bit far...

Prior to getting on the bus, you have to buy your bus ticket in advance using a vending machine.

Vending machines are near the bus stop No.3. You can see an instruction in English. The price is 560 JPY (about 5.6 USD, 2014/03/25). 

You can ask a staff to store your baggage into the trunk room inside the limousine bus. 

The buses for Haneda airport depart every 10 minutes in a day time, but for international terminal depart every 20 minutes. Please confirm the destination before boarding.

Please refer official website for more detail and accurate information such as timetable, fares, and where to board.

Have a nice trip!

Beach volleyball court appeared on the public street

2014/03/16
Beach volleyball memorial event is held in my home town, Oimachi Shinagawa-ku Tokyo on 16th March 2014.
In Tokyo Olympic Games which will be held in 2020, it was decided that beach volleyball games are held in Shinagawa-ku.

Celebrating this decision, this event was held in Oimachi, Shinagawa-ku and some Japanese top beach volleyball players performed their exhibition matches.

In this event, many Shinagawa citizens enjoyed the performances of the top-level Japanese players.