On The Trains

The BFF sourced for the best flight timings and within 20 minutes, decided our flight path. We flew into Haneda and will head out from Narita. Flights secured at sane and decent timings on SQ. Hurrah!

The one thing I try not to do in any city, is to lug tons of luggage and take trains or buses into town and the hotel we're staying at. That can be a little grating. I'm quite done with backpacking and budget trips, thankyou. It's either I pack less or ensure that the budget covers cars for a pick-up or at disposal, no matter which city.

However, in Japan, most people will take the airport limousine buses and trains rather than the cabs because in Tokyo, it's like S$150 into town from Haneda and S$400 into town from Narita. I do the same too, there're four of us and we'll just book a car. I don't bother too much with the cabs because the flag down fare is ¥710 and the meter jumps ridiculously fast. Each cab ride will average about ¥4000 for a 15-minute ride around the city. I might as well hire a car and a driver.

I believe that a city is best experienced on its public transportation, if it's efficient enough. But of course, one can skip that in certain cities. :P We really don't need the driver much in Tokyo, except on days where it drizzled and the weekend when rainstorms are predicted or if massive shopping bags are procured. A car is necessary for dinner though, because we head to places that are a good 45-minute walk from the nearest train station.

In Tokyo, it's quite easy to get around on the trains and the metro. The train and subway maps look mind-boggling, but it's really not difficult to sort out. Just carry maps in both Japanese and English, and you can't go wrong. We avoid the subway during peak hours and it's been quite a pleasure hopping in and out of the trains. We even had seats most of the time. I almost enjoyed it, to see how the Japanese dress and travel around the city, and how nobody talks loudly on the phones in the trains or have shrill sounds emit from their gadgets.