Taking the bus from Narita Airport to Tokyo

On the bus

There are several ways to travel from the Narita International Airport to Tokyo.  Because the taxi can be very expensive most people are left with choosing between the Airport Express train or the “Airport Limousine”  bus. Both take about the same time to get to various hotels in Tokyo.

The train can be great but then you’re left with having to work through crowds at the train station to the taxi stand to take you to your hotel.  And if you have a couple of suitcases, this can be a real problem.  It can be close to unmanageable.

Passing lane

The bus service will take you straight to most major hotels. It frees you from having to mess with your luggage.  The Airport Limousine counter is located outside the baggage carousal area through the Japan Customs inspection checkpoint.

And sometimes you get to meet some interesting people.  I struck up a conversation with the guy in the photo who happened to be using an old Hexar (Konica) film “rangefinder” camera.  Nowadays a film camera is rare to run across and a rangefinder doubly so.  I’m always on the alert for rangefinders since I carry two Leicas (M8 and M6).  In some ways it felt like we are part of an exclusive network of photographers using older type equipment.

Time for a photo

Where's the next photo?

Passing lane

Shopping at the Narita Airport in Tokyo

Shopping for ...?

There aren’t very many shops in the transit area.  In the airport itself, there are lots of shops.  Inside the transit area there are a few designer boutiques.  However the most interesting is the Akihibara store.  The store has lots of electronics, watches, cosmetics etc.  The shops at Bangkok and Singapore airports are much better for variety and sheer number of stores.  Nevertheless, it’s still interesting.

A crowd looking for gifts

Nearby

Narita International Airport – Four hour delay

Well, here I am at the Narita Airport outside of Tokyo.  My continuing plane is delayed for four hours!  Oh well,  maybe I’ll take some photos.

United Airlines First Class Lounge

Moving cargo

Islands on the tarmac

Touchdown

Official Airport Websites

I’ve added the websites for Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore Airports to the left sidebar.  I will add others in the coming weeks.