Hey guys! I know lots of you have trips to the great nation of Japan coming up, and many of you will be going through either NRT or HND on your trip.

I have here some basic tips that probably most of you know, but still is good to remember:

1) Terminals.
NRT- Star Alliance and Skyteam is in Terminal 1. Oneworld is in 2.
HND: NH is Terminal 2, JL is terminal one. The domestic LCCs? Good luck, They change gates ALL THE TIME.
INTL flights are obviously in the new International terminal.

2) Getting to Tokyo
NRT- If you are going to the following locations, take the Narita Express train from the JR East gates. JR East Gates are marked in RED.
Tokyo/Marunouchi Area
Ginza
Shinagawa
Yokohama
Shibuya
Shinjuku
Any location on the Chuo LineI
If you are going to the following locations, use the KEISEI SKYLINER:
Ueno, Nippori, Northern edge of Yamanote Line, Saitama area, Ikebukuro- Note some NEX trains go to Ikebukuro and Saitama, but it's still easier to use the Skyliner from Keisei to get to Nippori, then hopping on the Yamanote Line.

HND - The monorail is easiest if you're going anywhere on the east side of town (Hamamatsucho, Keiyo Line, Marunouchi, Ueno, etc)
if you are using the Keikyu Line, it's really good for getting to Kanagawa. Some trains offer through service on the Asakusa subway line. If youre going that way, use the Keikyu train. For Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, it doesn't matter which service you use. You'll end up on the Yamanote Line somehow.

3) How to use the train:
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND getting a SUICA contactless IC card. This thing is rechargeable and can even be used at convenience stores and restaurants. When the sales tax rose back in April, there has been 2 fare brackets created. IC cards are usually cheapest. For example, Base fare on JR is 140 yen, using a paper ticket, but getting a Suica allows you to have a 133 yen base fare. Get your suica from the JR station ticket office (they speak english) at NRT, or the Monorail office at HND (they might not speak english! Be careful).

4) Best places to eat:
That's a tough one, but here's my top 3 favorite places to eat in Tokyo:
1) Yabaton, 2 locations in Tokyo- One in Ginza, one in Granroof Tokyo Station- Nagoya-stile Miso Tonkatsu fried pork cutlet.
2) Katsukura (various locations; the one I frequent is in Shinjuku Times Square) Kyoto-style fried port cutlet katsu
3) Nippon Shokudo- Old-style train canteen food restaurant in the basement of Tokyo Station. There's a strip of shops in the concourse of Tokyo Station, on the main floor. It's right there. Maroon building. I love it.

5) Shinkansen-
This is tricky. The Shinkansen is useful for certain areas, and there's 4 operators- JR East, Central, West, and Kyushu.
If youre going to Hokuriku, that area will be linked with a shinkansen in March.
You have to pay 3 fares- base fare, Shinkansen fare, and (if you book a seat reservation) reserved seating fare. Trip to Osaka is a little bit above ¥10,000 (100$)

last but not least: SPOTTING AT HND and NRT - TRICKY!
NRT is hard to access. Spotting places are difficult to find, and the rooftop spotting locales at NRT are always plagued with bad lighting. My favorite spot, if you can get there, is Sakuranoyama Park. Go to Narita Station on the Sobu/Narita Line from JR, and then walk to city hall, take the bus to Sakuranoyama. It's very complex. I know.

HND is a lot more spotter friendly. The roof at T2 is phenomenal.


Any questions? Please! Ask below! I'll answer them as much as I can, or surely some of the other Japan-based Anutters can do so as well.

Quoting PHX787 (Thread starter): Hey guys! I know lots of you have trips to the great nation of Japan coming up, and many of you will be going through either NRT or HND on your trip.

Hello and good day.

Did you read my mind, I was just about to post something asking for spotting tips at HND since I couldn't find anything recent.

It will be the repeat of my first ever long haul trip, 5 years ago.
I'm leaving AMS on the 25th of december and I land one day later early morning and I'm leaving January 3rd.

Quoting PHX787 (Thread starter): HND is a lot more spotter friendly. The roof at T2 is phenomenal.

I got a some (dumb) questions about that;
- Is it true that its open form 6.30 to 22.00, I read it on the airport site but can't find it anymore.
- Are tripods allowed? Can't find it anywhere.

Any chance of meeting some guys in that period @HND?

Thanks for the tips and kind regards,

Ramon Kok

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 1): Is it true that its open form 6.30 to 22.00

Hai. Some smaller airports in Japan charges 100 yen. I believe Okayama Airport charges and a bunch up in Tohoku area where I live.

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 1): Are tripods allowed?

Hai, tripods are allowed.

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 1): Any chance of meeting some guys in that period @HND?

Do you mean by spotters/photographers on airliners.net or in general? Chances are there will be someone there with a large professional camera. I've been shooting around at HND and NRT (and airports all over Japan) since 2007 and I only met up with 2 of my good friend from Finland and Australia (A.net photographers) and we spent the day in Tokyo and once at a Naval Base spotting F/A-18s. I personally have not met any a.net photographer/spotters while at HND/NRT but I'm sure they're out there. I'm a private guy and I'm usually with my wife and 3 year old daughter when we go to the airport for the weekend.

Quoting PHX787 (Thread starter): if you can get there, is Sakuranoyama Park

Easy way to get there is by private car. The spot is marvelous. Unfortunately, it takes 2 hours to drive to Narita from Yokohama and about $30-$40 one way in tolls. Tolls were basically free for us ETC users (weekends, holidays and after 2200) but not anymore after 3/11.

[Edited 2014-11-22 12:34:20]

[Edited 2014-11-22 12:36:23]

Hello PHX787

Thanks for the travel tips! Nice of you to spend the time compiling the info.

I've always wondered - is there any Suica-type card which gets you on any line in Tokyo including non-JR lines? (I'm right in assuming that Suica is good only on JR lines?)

I'm always looking for tips on eating. I've copied and saved your three recommendations and I'll check them out someday, although my next trip to Japan in February won't include Tokyo (going to Sapporo (snow festival!) and Kyoto/Osaka).

cheers!
yeo

Hello,

Thanks for the answers.

Quoting gocaps16 (Reply 2): Do you mean by spotters/photographers on airliners.net or in general?

A bit of both I guess, its good to know I won't be the only one up there  .

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 1): I'm a private guy and I'm usually with my wife and 3 year old daughter when we go to the airport for the weekend.

I understand, usually I'm alone, but sometimes my mom and sister will go with me.

Thanks again and kind regards,

Ramon

Quoting yeogeo (Reply 3): I've always wondered - is there any Suica-type card which gets you on any line in Tokyo including non-JR lines? (I'm right in assuming that Suica is good only on JR lines?)

JR lines and Tokyo Metro, so you really do not need anything else. I had some hard time adding value to it at some machines, but the people at the major stations usually speak English and can help. Those cards are amazing especially when you want to buy water or green tea at the vending machine and have no coins. I also paid for breakfast at the post office mall across from Tokyo Station.
The basement of the Tokyo Station is usually my hangout after a day of sightseeing as it has plenty of food options (really good ramen noodles) and most importantly free wi-fi with easy registration in English.

One thing to keep in mind that all places that offer free wi-fi require registration, but few in English.

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 4): I understand, usually I'm alone

If I go shooting all day, I will usually go alone usually if I shoot around the perimeter fence around NRT.

My best advice. Get an international drivers license (very easy to get) and rent a car if you are in Japan. It is cheaper then taking a taxi and if you want to go to the best spots. The spot around the perimeter fence parallel to RWY 16R requires a fairly tall ladder/stool. I wouldn't recommend driving to Tokyo unless you are familiar with the rules of the roads there and a GPS is a must. I still use a GPS when I drive around large cities in Japan. Oh yea, rent a Skyline.

Quoting WROORD (Reply 5): JR lines and Tokyo Metro, so you really do not need anything else...

Thanks!   

yeo

Quoting gocaps16 (Reply 6): Oh yea, rent a Skyline.

I'd wish, and thanks.

I'll probably go one day to HND in search of the Pokémon jet and other Japanese jets.

Hey guys, thanks for the questions and feedback!

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 1): - Are tripods allowed? Can't find it anywhere.

Yep as gocaps said. I used my tripod many times w/o problems.

Quoting gocaps16 (Reply 2): Do you mean by spotters/photographers on airliners.net or in general? Chances are there will be someone there with a large professional camera.

Yep! I met a few spotters here before.

Quoting gocaps16 (Reply 2): Easy way to get there is by private car.

LOL very few foreigners have a private car.

Quoting yeogeo (Reply 3): I've always wondered - is there any Suica-type card which gets you on any line in Tokyo including non-JR lines? (I'm right in assuming that Suica is good only on JR lines?)

PASMO and SUICA both work on all lines in Tokyo.

Quoting yeogeo (Reply 3): I'm always looking for tips on eating. I've copied and saved your three recommendations and I'll check them out someday, although my next trip to Japan in February won't include Tokyo (going to Sapporo (snow festival!) and Kyoto/Osaka).

Tokyo- just google timeout tokyo....there's so much
Osaka- Dotombori district has soooooo muchhhhhh fooooooood
Kyoto-search KatsuKura. It's my favorite in japan!
Nagoya- Yabaton. Miso Katsu. delish!

Quoting RamonKok (Reply 8): I'll probably go one day to HND in search of the Pokémon jet and other Japanese jets.

CUrrently there's only 1 pokejet and it's a 777-300.

Pack plenty of Kondōmu. Japan is a paradise.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 9): LOL very few foreigners have a private car.

Most foreigners I know who stay in Japan for several years, usually those ASL guys that teach English to Japanese kids do not end up buying a car. A very few of my Euro and American expat buddies who have lived in Japan for 20+ years, then it is worth to get a Japanese drivers license and a Toyota Noah.   I owned four cars in Japan but ended up selling my wife's yellow plate to a 17 year old Japanese girl for 200,000 yens ($2200 USD) because I never feel safe when we drive 8 hours on the expressway and I sold a few for a nice family type car. Subies are fun and awesome especially in heavy snow. I'm just saying, for $50 a day, you can rent a car and all you need is an IDL if you want some good spots.

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 10): Pack plenty of Kondōmu. Japan is a paradise.

Stay out please, thanks.

Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 12):

Now now, picking up local women is a serious subject and using protection is important.

... Where would the best places to meet the locals in Tokyo be?

Quoting Fallap (Reply 13): ... Where would the best places to meet the locals in Tokyo be?

If this is a real question, are you that serious about picking up women??

If you're looking for easy women here, your choices will be limited to:

1. very skanky early 20-somethings (the dregs: not very safe, or hygienic, very poor English too most likely)
2. overworked 28-45 y/old office women just looking for a good time (English may be better, but 50% chance they'll give you a number and then cancel plans they drunkenly made for the next day with you)
3. parasite single 'gaijin hunter' 30-45 y/old women (usually speak English well, couldn't get a date with Japanese men if they tried, and are often baby-hungry. Some of them might be cool w/one-night stands, but they basically want a foreign partner they can move away from Japan with)

Option 2 is probably the safest, but they are harder to find in the usual places.

Quoting Fallap (Reply 13): .. Where would the best places to meet the locals in Tokyo be?

I think your best bet would be through an escort agency....Plenty of them around in Tokyo. Good luck. I hear many are not foreigner-friendly unless you know some Japanese.

[Edited 2014-12-20 18:48:38]

Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 12): Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 10): Pack plenty of Kondōmu. Japan is a paradise. Stay out please, thanks.

Yep. Get out, Julien Blanc   

Quoting Fallap (Reply 13): Now now, picking up local women is a serious subject and using protection is important.

True tho. Japanese condoms don't fit Foreigners well at all. Source? Experience   

Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 14): (usually speak English well, couldn't get a date with Japanese men if they tried, and are often baby-hungry.

god damn my ex was like this except she was 29. I was 20 and stupid.

Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 14): Option 2 is probably the safest, but they are harder to find in the usual places.

I find them easily because I know where to look. Not telling you all because THIS IS ABOUT AVIATION DAMN IT   


Going away from Tokyo? If you have a visa, make sure you get a reentry permit. You can find them at the tables near the exit counters. If you are on the 90 day tourist stamp visa, you'll just get stamped out when you leave.

I have a question for the experts here.
I am looking for a die cast plane model store in Tokyo, the only things I can find are ones you have to build yourself.
In Akihabara I could only find stores with a limited choice.

Thanks in advance.

Ramon