[saga-rg] Fwd (matsu at is.titech.ac.jp): [gf-chairs] Getting around TIF (was: [gfsg] Chair Appreciation event at GGF17)

[Andre Merzky]

FYI, Andre.


----- Forwarded message from Satoshi Matsuoka <matsu at 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.)
> 
> ----
> 
> 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.
> 
> -----------------------------------------
> 
> Comments and suggestions are welcome.
> 
>                     				    Satoshi (M)



----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
"So much time, so little to do..."  -- Garfield