[Tokyo Fall 2008] N'EX + Suica

After arriving at Narita, we passed the customes and exchanged for Japanese currency, then we went downstairs on the escalator to the JR Ticket Office, and purchased the Narita Express (N'EX) + Suica (very convenient IC card) combo for foreign travelers (3500 yen each).

Since the N'EX+Suica special is only offered to foreign travelers, the officer at the ticket office asked to see our passport, and then asked where we wanted to go. It was Ikebukuro. He then typed something on his computer and printed out 2 N'EX tickets. He passed these tickets to us, along with the limited edition Suica cards.


My ticket and our train.


The limited edition Suica card. Notice John's some guy (who was also waiting for the train)'s reflection also in the photo. No it's not a ghost photo.


We then used the N'EX tickts to get into the JR station. All the signs are very clear and easy to understand.


Since not all N'EX trains go to Ikebukuro, we must pay attention to the time on the tickets and destination signs on the trains.

There was a nice old gentleman that helped us make sure we were at the right platform and location. He talked very good English.


And after we knew where we were, we could spend some time and take funny pictures.


Our train came very soon after. Its destination was Ikebukuro.

It was probably the time of the day when we took the train, there were only the two of us who got onto that car at the First Terminal. The express train only stopped briefly at the Second Terminal, Tokyo Station, Shibuya, and Shinjuku, and then we arrived at Ikebukuro! The whole ride took about 90 minutes.

There are other ways to get to Tokyo from Narita Airport. Some people choose to ride the Limousine Bus, and others like the Skyliner. We chose N'EX because with the N'EX+Suica deal, the price on the N'EX was pretty much cut in half. Normal N'EX fair from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro was around 3,000 yen, and with the deal package it was only 1,500 yen! Steal.


(image from JR East web site)

The N'EX+Suica package is only available to those who holds a foreign passport. Very nice! N'EX allows visitors to get to their destinations in Tokyo fairly quickly and without any transfer stops, and Suica is another very useful card as well.