FYI, Andre. ----- Forwarded message from Satoshi Matsuoka <matsu@is.titech.ac.jp> -----
Folks,
Satoshi (M) here. Here is the guide on navigating around the conference site. Scott may have more detailed update on my older document for GGF7, much of which is still useful but does not cover the regions around TIF.
Note that some of the information are more applicable to many of the GFSG members who are staying in the Shiodome (Eastern Shinbashi) area, esp. the hotel Villa Fontaine. However, feel free to distribute it to your colleagues as you feel fit.
Every morning except Friday, I shall be picking up folks at the lobby of Villa Fontaine Shiodome around 8AM.
*** General Directions:
When you arrive at the NARITA airport, NEVER TAKE A TAXI, as it will cost over $200 US. The definitive way to get to Tokyo - Yuurakucho - Shinbashi area is to use the JR Narita Express, and get off at Tokyo Station, and then taka a local train, a taxi, or simply walk. I also recommend NOT to take a shuttle bus, since NARITA express is much more convenience and wont get you stuck in the rushhour traffic.
As it was in my older guide, Narita Express is one of the two train company lines (JR and Keisei co.) that leave adjacent to each other from the underground stations at the Narita airport, both Terminals 1 and 2. The other line is Keisei Skyliner, which is cheaper and will make more sense if you are going to North of Tokyo, but not in this cae. There are various local, non-express trains that are much cheaper but unless you have been to Japan several times and know the Tokyo geography let's leave them out unless you are adventurous.
The first stop for the Narita Express is Tokyo Station, about a 50-55 minute ride. It arrives at the underground platform of Tokyo Station, 4 levels deep (very deep). BTW, most of the trains at Tokyo St., including the Shinkansen, leave from above ground-level platforms, so in most cases you have to find your way up to make your connection.
For details see: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/estation/e_tokyo.html Narita express arrives at the Sobu line platforms shown at the bottom.
For JR train maps http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
Once you get off, if you are staying at Yaesu Fujiya, find your way towards the surface and walk to the hotel (outside of the top Yaesu Central Exit). It will be a fairly long walk from the platform (about 15-20 min), but you cant shortcut it much with a taxi since you will be making your way cutting through a huge station, and getting to a taxi stand is already a 5-10 min walk unless you know your way.
If you are staying near Yuurakucho/Ginza, take the option 2 below.
If you are staying near Shinbashi/Shiodome, there are two options:
Option 1 (recommended). The Southbound JR Yokosuka line leaves from the same level as the Narita express, and it's next stop is Shinbashi. One caveat is that there are two platforms / 4 tracks, and sometimes it leaves from a track on the other one so you have to climb up one level and come down again. This is a good strategy in any case since the # of lines of display on signboard on the platform is fairly limited, whereas if you go up one level there is a more comprehensive one. Or, you can ask a station master walking around in their uniforms.
At Shinbashi a few minutes later you will again arrive at a similar underground platform. Go up the escalators, and find your way towards Shiodome; there will be bunch of signs there. If it is not raining it may be easier to head to the surface and look for a Skyscraper cluster and what seemingly is an elevator walkway leading to them. Also, you could stick to the underground corridor which also is fairly easy as there will be lots of maps once you get to the corridors.
Option 2. From the Narita Express platform climb up a series of escalators to arrive at one of the three main concourses. The Southbound Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines are platforms 5 and 6 (towards Shinagawa). It will take about 5 mins to reach there. Hop on either of them and the next stop about 800meter away is Yuurakucho, and Shinbashi is a stop after that. During midday around 10:00-15:00 Keihin Tohoku becomes an express and will not stop at Yuurakucho or Shinbashi. Look at the electronic signboard and also the side marking on the train and if it has the red express mark dont ride on that. In case you end up in Hamamatsucho I have already outlined below for Villa Fontaine.
At Shinbashi, if you are heading towards Shiodome, there are two staircases. Climb down the staircase with a train connection sign to pink (Asakusa-line) subway and Yuri-Kamome (Skytrain) and Shiodome. If you see an orange (Ginza line) it is the wrong one. Again, if it is not raining, it may be easier to stay above ground by re-climing the escalators to the Yuri-Kamome (skytrain) corridors then going underground and possibly losing the sense of your directions (although there are lots of signs, and huge number of people walking around so you could ask).
For Dai-ichi Hotel the situation is opposite. It is fairly a short walk from the Shinbashi station thru a busy shopping/nightlife district, which will seem like a different world c.f. Shiodome which is clean and futuristic.
*** Villa Fontainte
To Akihabara from Villa Fontaine Shiodome: (Notice that there are several Villa Fontaines in Tokyo. THe one where people are staying at is the one in Shiodome (shee-oh-doh-meh)).
From the hotel exit walk to JR Shinbashi station (not raining then take the escalator up and the Yuri-kamome skytrain corridors (passing the Subway sandwich stand on the way) above ground - 6 min, if raining then take the escalator down and the underground passageway - 8 min). JR Yamanote (olive encircling commuter) or the Keihin-Tohoku (blue North-South commuterline), Northbound (towards Tokyo St.), 4 stops Shinbashi-> Yuurakucho->Tokyo->Kanda->Akihabara. Akihabara Dai- Building is right in front of the Akihabara St. The journey is 20 minutes tops door-to-door.
Both Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines arrive at the same platform, on both sides, and thus collectively they arrive every 1-2 mins. There is a Starbucks both above and below ground.
Hiro indicatetes that they have a new Starbucks in Akihabara in a building next to the Dai Bldg. (they have the competitor Excelisor Coffee in the Dai bldg as well as others).
During midday around 10AM-3PM only the Yamanote line stops at Shinbashi. So, if you get on the Keihin Tohoku line at Akihabara, and it does not stop at Shinbashi, dont panic. Simply get off at Hamamatsucho (the next stop after Shinbashi), head towards the rear of the train and you see a descending staircase. Climb down and get out of the gate there, cross the street right in front of you under the train tracks, turn right then immediately left, ending up in the street that parallels the train tracks to the East (train tracks to your left). Simply walk north towards the skyscraper cluster parallel to the tracks for about 6-7 mins and you will arrive at the Villa Fontaine Shiodome.
Attached is the picture taken from South i.e., in the event that happens (BTW, Shinbashi is further North). Villa Fountaine Shiodome is the bottom half of the black building you see in the center. The triangular building to the left is the Park Hotel, while the light-brown one is the Royal Park Hotel. The picture BTW was taken from a skytrain you will also see in the area (besides the JR, the subways, the monorail etc.)
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Walking to Tokyo Int'l Forum from Villa Fontaine
Although people should take the train from Shinbashi (130 yens) in which the directions will be identical to above but just one stop, or Taxi directly from Villa Fontaine (about 800 yens) if they are in a hurry, you might walk through the plush shopping area of Ginza if you have time.
Take the escalator and go below ground, walk the corridor towards JR Shinbashi past the Shiodome subway station. In about 200m you arrive at a underground crossing which is like a big underground square surrounded by the basins of several skyscrapers. Ahead and left you will see the large revolving door of the Shiodome Center Building (which by the way 1/2 of which is Fujitsu HQ)---there are chairs, a bakery "La vie de France". If you see McDonalds or Kinkos they are wrong buidings. Enter the building at the entrace where nail salon is to the right and ANA travel agency is to the left. Go up the escalators for a couple of floors until you see a Starbucks to your left. Exit the main building gate and you will see a small railroad museium (Shinbashi is where Japan's railway system initiated). Take the lefthand corridor with the Center building to your left and musieum to your righ for about 100ms passing an English pub until you see a Porche showroom to your left. Go a little past and you see a big road crossing. Up to here should be less than 5 mins.
The crossing you see is the leftmost-center big crossing on the map (that is bit chopped off) with Ginza-Dori, and you are at the left-bottom corner:
http://www.ginza.jp/eng/mapindex-e.html
You will want to proceed North thru Ginza-Dori, and enjoy the most affluent shopping section in Tokyo. Eventually arbitrarily head East Towards the North-East corner of Yuurakucho St. where the TIF is. Once you are in mid-Ginza there is no way to miss TIF as it is so visible.
*** Chairs Appreciation night location info. (Just walk from TIF)
BTW, Gon-pachi for the Chairs Appreciation night is under the highway along the Ginza Sakuramachi Dori you see on the rightmost area of the map, a block up from the X sign (police box) Kyobashi Br. As such it is only a few hundred meters from TIF so there is no use in riding a subway if you are already at TIF.
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Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Satoshi (M)
----- End forwarded message ----- -- "So much time, so little to do..." -- Garfield