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Tokyo Subway Resource

Toward the end of my last stay in Tokyo, I wound up helping an American serviceman find his way to Ueno and the Keisei Skyliner while we were on the Yamanote (The Skyliner is a waaay cheaper way to get to Tokyo from Narita, best if u dun have an expense account or a JR Pass).

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The cheapest limited express from Tokyo to NRT

He was a bit flustered as he ran in the car (getting his arm caught in the door in the process). Seems that he was trying to get to Narita and got the JR (Japan Rail) and the Tokyo Metro mixed up. Here’s some general rules about rail in Tokyo.

JR usually runs above ground. The Yamanote and the Chuo/Chuo Rapid are JR Lines. At JR stations, you go UP to the platforms.

Tokyo Metro generally runs underground. You go DOWN into the Metro station and usually once there, you go DOWN again to get to the platforms. This is the rule in central Tokyo, although as you head further out, some Metro lines become elevated.

To make things even more confusing, Tokyo Metro as it’s known by everyone, is actually run by two operators. The actual “Tokyo Metro” which makes up most of the subway lines on your map is operated by a private company while several lines (Oedo, Asakusa, Mido, Shinjuku) are known as the Toei Subway, which is run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Why this matters is because the fare structure is slightly different between the two systems. However, if you have a Suica or a Pasmo, which are prepaid transit cards, it’s not an issue. You can purchase these at JR or Tokyo Metro stations respectively.

Tokyo Metro also makes tourist videos, all destinations accessable by Tokyo Metro

Transferring about can be a challenge if you’re not competely familiar with the city (as I’m not, at least not yet!). I found this page run by Tokyo Metro that helps you transfer between the two subway systems.

Neat, wish I knew about this site while I was there! Live and learn and know for the next visit…

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Delicious Air Travel Tidbits (safe for eating)

Writing from the Signet Lounge at Tokyo Narita, after arriving on NH 812 in Y from HKG, connecting to my flight back to SFO (groan)

Possibly one of the brighter (and very simple) ideas for seatback tables. There’s a hole in the table! Whatever for?

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It’s a cup holder…WAAAAAAAH
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See my cup of Pocari Sweat being held in the hole in my tray table? Genius!

Especially useful when the ride gets bumpy. I’ve worn Diet Coke (erm Pepsi) before on SWA and UAL when we hit turbulance. Eeeeee-splash.

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A nice inflight brekkie, along with the just poured Suntory Malts

The economy meal from HKG. You can guess this because of the brand of water and one of the meal choices on this morning flight was DIM SUM!! This is the first time I’ve ever had dim sum on the plane. Granted, it was just two pieces each of siu mai and har gau and a baby joong along with the ANA standard issue cold soba and salad. Could you imagine a full dim sum service on a plane? Hella cool!!

And oh yah, my flight NRT-SFO is booked solid in steerage. So I reluctantly accepted being bumped…to BUSINESS CLASS AGAIN! Op-ups helped by being 1K.

Writing from 30,000 feet on NH8, NRT-SFO

Here’s the Business Class dinner.

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Olives, edemame and prosciutto for the starter
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I ordered the Japanese meal. The box on the left is the rice. You’ll have to trust me here
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Excellent coffee and cake for dessert
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In flight cup o’ soba and a beer. This is a “snack”


Wah! I love this airline! Ya dun hear ppl saying that about UAL, do ya? =P

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さらば
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More Useful HKG advice: Cash when you arrive and how to spend it when you depart

When you arrive at Hong Kong Station (Airport Express) from HKG, you will need money. There’s a Citibank on the first mall floor (IFC 1) which is in the same building. Get your money there.  If you have an HSBC account in the states, there’s ATMs in the arrivals hall near 7-11.

Leaving…If you have a morning flight, splurge on the cab ride to the AeX station. It’s only about HK$40 (US$5.00, give or take) and it will save you a lot of effort. Traffic doesn’t really begin to suck until 0800 or so, if you’re earlier that should be fine.

In-Town check in: the greatest boon to travellers since frequent flyer points. Use it. Then you can putter around the airport, relatively stress free, once you get to your terminal building. Speaking of that:

Once you get to the Airport, make all due haste to get to the correct building. If your gate is a higher numbered one, you’ll have to take a shuttle and walk a bit. Maybe about 10 minutes added to your journey.

Just some things to keep in mind should you arrive or depart all flustered and confused.

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Kosmo Coffee

This is the famous Kosmo Coffee on Wellington Street in Lan Kwai Fong.

They make coffee and tea and they have snacks. They’re also down the street from California Fitness.
Now what makes them worth an entry? They are the only other place (aside from Zambra Coffee in Wan Chai) I’ve found in Hong Kong that has FREE Wi-Fi. Buy a drink or a snack and park your butt. Their internet is pretty fast too.

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Kowloon Walled City

When the British took possession of the New Territories, there was an Qing outpost there called the Kowloon Walled City. Although it was abandoned in 1899, there was still no real arrangement on who had jurisidiction over it. Over the years, tenements and slums grew up around it. Read here for more.
Anyhoo, it became a health hazard so the HK Government (with approval from the mainland), razed it and made it into an award winning park with history inside.

Looks so serene inside, right? There’s a neat garden too.

This is how it looks outside.

eeeeeeee

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The most hidden Chill spot in Hong Kong…

…is probably the Chi Lin Nunnery in Kowloon City (near Diamond Hill MTR). It’s one of the more easily accessible of HKG’s attractions. Walk into the mall from the MTR and through the Marks and Spencer. Hang a right and go up a block. 5 minutes max. However, if there’s heat and humidity, your time may vary.

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The nunnery was rebuilt in 1998 with the actual temple parts (the ones with the various Buddhas housed) made of wood and in the Tan’g Dynasty style of construction.

The gardens and foundations (there’s a garage underneath) are of course, modern stone and concrete.
It’s amazingly quiet and comfortable inside the compound. Like I wrote in the title of this post, it’s chill. Despite the fact that the Nunnery is surrounded by housing blocks, a big mall and an expressway, you don’t really feel or hear much of it.
Unless you look up…

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