Monday, August 13, 2007

Narita to Komoro-Shi WALKTHROUGH

- Never Stop Dreaming -

So here it is...finally the COMPLETE WALKTHROUGH for all you people who want to come to Japan to find me.

So you`d first need to beg, steal or rob some cash, get a air ticket ( I got mine from P2P travel ) be it transit via Bangkok by Thai Airways which is a whole lot cheaper or do whatever it takes to come here.

So you get to Narita Airport, get your bags and things and go out to which ever terminal you are at. Go to Terminal One and find an overhead sign board like this...



Alternatively you could also find a map board like this...





Anyway find your way to B1F to get on the train to Tokyo or if you`d like, take the lift up to forth floor and find the shop FUJI DOLL which opens from 0730 to 2030. This shop stocks a hell lot of souvenirs ( Hey XANRDA...this is there I got my T-Shirts!) which some of them like T-shirts, are made in Japan and are exclusively for this shop only.





Once in the basement, look for the Keisei Skyliner counter which have direct trains to Ueno. You can take the Express ones which are a little faster and cost like ¥1920 or you could take the Local ones which are a little slower but at only ¥1000.
Of course you can always take the JR Narita Express which are like a whooping ¥3000.
Anyway it would be good if you can speak a little Japanese when enquiring at the counter but English is fine though. Bear in mind that the Keisei Skyliner (Express ones) have reserved seats and non-reserved ones...and so like if you take the non-reserved ones when it`s really crowded, chances are that if you can`t find a space, you`d have to stand throughout the whole 1 hour plus journey.



Here`s a pic of the ticket...



After getting your ticket, just head to the gate right next to the Keisei Skyliner counter...



From here just take the train and head to Ueno which is like the last stop. A point ot note here is that Keisei trains are different from JR trains...where the latter covers almost all of Japan. So when you get to Ueno, look for the sign to JR trains or station.





Follow the signs and exit ( I took the left exit from the control station...) where you would immediately see a map board...



You can skip the map board if you want but if you look left from the map board, you`d be able to see a green JR station entrance...



so just walk along the pavement and cross the traffic to get to the JR station. After you cross the traffic, look up and you`d see an overhead signs for 2 different entrances to the JR station.





Take the Shinobazu Entrance and head to the ticket machine. Look at the overhead map of the rail lines and find Tokyo station. Check the cost to get to Tokyo station which lies on the circular Yamanote line and it cost ¥150.




Now look at the little computer screen below the map...



Touch the screen for English if you`d like an English menu...



Click on the 1 man icon for 1 ticket or 2 man icon for 2 tickets...



Then press the screen for the appropriate fare which is ¥150 in this case...



Next insert coins in to the slot on the right or bills into the middle black slot. Then REMEMBER to take the little ticket stab at the bottom.



Now head to Yamanote line on the platform 3 which says to TOKYO...





Check the sign board on the platforms before you board the trains for the time schedule if you want. From Tokyo station, you`d have to find your way till you see a sign board that says SHINKANSEN...as this central station is always PACKED with tons of people..things might get a little complicated but you`d get there so dun worry...



As there are a lot of SHINKANSENs going to so many parts of Japan, find the one that goes to NAGANO which is called ASAMA (あさま) Shinkansen. The sign board here just shows the SHINANSENs going to different places but only the ASAMA (あさま) Shinkansen goes to Nagano which is where I am at.



Once you find your way to the Shinkansen counter, get a ticket from Tokyo Station to to SAKUDAIRA STATION, NOT NAGANO!!! Either get your tickets from the counter (which is STRONGLY recommended for amateurs and noobz) or the automated machines. GET A TICKET TO SAKUDAIRA STATION AND NOT TO NAGANO!!! Well I got mine from the counter as once again there are reserved and non-reserved tickets. Reserved ones are more expensive but you`d definitely get a seat.



There are specific sections of the Shinkansen for non-reserved tickets so if you get there first, you`d probably get a seat. The journey is about 1 hour plus...Look at the sign above the counter for the train name あさま, the platform number, the place it`s going the the time it departs which in this case is all in red.



Take the Shinkansen all the way to Sakudaira Station. The place I am at now...you`d need to take a local JR train just beside Sakudaira Station. So just put in your tickets and exit the station gate and take a left...walk about 10 to 20 paces and take a left turn again. Walk down a little hallway and wait for the 2 section train that GOES RIGHT TO KOMORO and not the one that goes LEFT!!! It`s a single track on the platform but the trains here goes in 2 different directions so take the one that GOES RIGHT! Take it to Komoro Station.

Now that`s it...pretty simple huh.

Cheer and see you soon

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oi.... You giving damn detailed instructions to get to where you are. Your visual enticement wont work! Not until I have saved up enough money... hahaha

Maybe the Japanese Metro service should contract you to do an instructional video for visitors to the Japanese rail network.

小郎 said...

Ha...just doing my bit for all those who are willing to give up all that pampered urban lifestyle of Singapore and venture into Japan, Paradise city of Asia.

Well dun want anyone to get lost while coming to find me in the mountains...haha cos I shall not be held liable! :p

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thank you for detailed instruction on how to use trains in Japan. I once lived in Ehime-ken, but never used trains on Honshu. If I land in Narita and want to take shinkansen to Osaka, would I board shinkansen below terminal on JR? I know Narita has JR, but I am not sure what the easiest way to Osaka is (not airplane). I must get to Kansai Gaidai University. Thanks!