Traveling to Japan: Transportation in Tokyo

Continuing my thoughts on Japan, I'll talk about getting around in Tokyo.

From and to Narita Airport

I don't know about Tokyo's Haneda Airport, so I don't have any specific advice if you're flying into or out of there, but if you're flying into Narita (and a lot of international flights do), be aware that it's not actually in Tokyo, but in nearby Chiba. You'll have a bit of a ride one way or another to get to Tokyo proper. Probably the most efficient way is to take the Keisei Skyliner train running between Narita and Ueno Station, and then from Ueno, take the subway or hail a taxi to complete the trip. Note that the Skyliner is different from the regular Keisei line and requires a different ticket, which you can buy either at a self-serve machine or at a ticket counter. If you go to the counter, you can pay for the ticket with a credit card, but if you use the machine, it'll ask you for some PIN that you probably won't have set up. As of this writing, a one-way ticket costs 2,470 yen, or about US$23. Not bad considering the distance.

Tokyo public transportation

Tokyo has an extensive subway and rail (JR) system. Be aware that many stations are huge and efficient travel requires you to know not only which stations to use but where to exit them.

Unlike the New York City and Mexico City subway systems, for example, the Tokyo subway fares vary depending on your initial station and destination; a typical trip might cost 200 or so yen each way. There are a few ways to pay for subway fares:

1. You can buy subway tickets individually, but you have to know this exact fare when you buy the ticket. I don't recommend this.
2. You can buy a monthly metro pass (17,300 yen) if you're going to be around for a while and using the subway enough to make it worth the cost, but most people probably won't fit these criteria.
3. Recommended: For a 500-yen deposit, get a reloadable PASMO card. You can also use this card to pay for Keisei tickets, JR tickets, and at certain drink vending machines (of which there are many in Tokyo) and other miscellaneous places, so there's not really a risk of leaving too much balance on the card. The card is good for 10 years, so you can save it for future trips.

In order for the subway to calculate your fare properly, you have to insert your ticket or scan your PASMO card both on entering and leaving the station. This can be a little confusing at first.

If you're trying to get to the Tokyo Dome complex (including Korakuen Hall) by subway, you'll want to target one of the following stations: 水道橋 (Suidobashi), 後楽園 (Korakuen), or 春日 (Kasuga). 

Taxis

Uber really isn't a thing in Japan, I believe due to regulations there. It exists but its advantages in other countries are undermined by the disparity in available Uber drivers versus available taxis. The taxi rates, at least during the day, are reasonable for relatively short distances. You'll probably want to use public transportation for the lion's share of the travel, though, unless you have a lot of baggage with you.