Narita Express

Narita Airport is in Chiba prefecture, and it's quite a long distance from Tokyo. As travellers I think we normally prefer to take cabs or buses but I always take the train.

My favorite is the Narita Express because it takes me to Shinjuku Station in under 100 minutes (faster than by bus), is the only direct train to Shinjuku (the other train, Keisei-sen, terminates at Ueno) and is cheaper than by cab.

Some of you may wonder why Shinjuku Station. More on this, next time.

It's easier than you'd imagine. Once you get out of Customs, head for the ticket sales booth for JR Narita Express. Choose the departure time of your train - if not mistaken, there're 2 departures per hour. The price per adult is slightly over 3,000 yen.

Yes, the staff do speak English. Rejoice.

Having collected your ticket and enjoyed your first encounter with a Japanese sales staff, proceed to the platform via the gantries. Once you reach the platform, try to stand at the spot where your cabin will stop right in front of you. For example, if you're assigned Cabin #7, look for a signboard on the floor that says "Narita Express, Cabin #7". Pictures attached. You can't go wrong.

Don't worry too much about input and output. I mean food and toilet. The facilities and means are available in the train.

But guys, be warned. One, the doors to the urinals are transparent, so you'll be showing your 'sexy back'. Two, the train may be jerky at times so you should either stand firm, or wear pants that are quick to dry.

And enjoy the view. Notice how trees and farmhouses are replaced by apartments and commercial buildings as we move from Chiba to Tokyo.