Tokyo Tower & Sky Tree?

Hi there!

Tokyo is serviced by many rail companies, but by far the most useful are the JR rail network around Tokyo, and the non-JR Metro system.

You should purchase the [Narita Express and Suica prepaid deal] from Narita which will give you discounted travel into Tokyo, and also a prepaid card charged with ¥1500 that can be used on both the JR rail network and the Tokyo Metro system.

To get to Tokyo Tower from Narita get the Narita Express into Tokyo Station, and then use the JR Yamanote line to Hamamatsucho for Tokyo Tower. You can find out more information on Tokyo Tower access here.

From Tokyo Tower/Hamamatsucho, you can get the JR Yamanote line again to take you to Shibuya. The cost for which will be around ¥190.

By the way, if you like towers - you should also try and pay a visit to the new Tokyo Sky Tree while you are in Tokyo. This is the worlds largest free standing tower so you're sure to have a good view (As long as there are no clouds!). Here is more information on how to get there - with a Suica prepaid card you should use the Metro to get to Asakusa and then use the Sky Tree line to get to the Sky Tree Station, or stay on the Metro to Oshiage metro stop and walk from there (I'm sure you'll be able to see it ;) ).

You can look up train timetables and costs for all of your legs at the Hyperdia travel planning website.

Hope this helps and you have a great time!

Thank you for the information and it was very useful.
I will definitely look into seeing the Sky Tree while i am there.

I will be staying 1 night in Tokyo
and the remaining days in Kyoto

Will it be a better idea, considering where i want to go and end up being to
buy a JR Pass?

Also, from the day i activate the card September 13 will i be able to use it until the 20th?
Is it down to the minute or hour?
For example * if i activate the card at 6pm on the 13th will the card be available to use on the 20th until 6PM? *

Thank you very much

Hi there,

For a 7 day JR Pass to be worthwhile you need to spend over ¥28,300 on JR tickets during your stay. To get a handle on if it makes sense for you, lets break down your costs:

1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Tokyo: ¥2740, (62mins, 79km)
2. Tokyo > Kyoto: ¥13020, (164mins, 513km)
3. Kyoto > Tokyo: ¥13020, (161mins, 513km)

TOTAL: ¥28780 for 3 legs

I took off your return to Narita as the last date of use for a 7 day rail pass starting on the 13th will be the 19th (validity is measured in whole days rather than hours)

As you can see the cost of a rail pass is slightly cheaper than the cost of the basic cost of your long distance travel. As the JR Pass will also mean that any further JR travel within the 7 day period is effectively free, I can recommend the Japan Rail Pass option for you. If do not intend to leave from Narita, then I recommend individual tickets as needed.

Hope this helps!

Thanks again for the information.
So i will need to pay to return from Kyoto to Narita airport on the 20th.

This is my last concern in regards to my trip.

With so many different train systems, i am worried that i might get lost or confussed.
Is it complicated to understand? Are they labeled to show where the train is heading and the stops along the line?

Just wanted to be sure i dont get on the wrong train - which is my biggest worry

Thanks for this information

The best view point for Tokyo Sky Tree is from Asakusa. You can walk to Tokyo Sky Tree from Asakusa. From Asakusa, you can see it in the buildings and temples. It’s a kind of mixture view of old and modern Tokyo. But, personally, I like Tokyo Tower rather than Tokyo Sky Tree.More Photos: http://www.worldfortravel.com/2013/06/13/tokyo-sky-tree-japan/