WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I am joining a cruise ship in Tokyo and have arranged my own flights and hotel accommodation with Trailfinders to allow me to explore Tokyo. Unfortunately, Trailfinders was unable to arrange transfers from Haneda Airport to the hotel. I understand there is a monorail into the centre. Would it be easy to take this and then take a taxi to the hotel? I am travelling on my own and am elderly and on a limited budget. Can you advise? I assume the hotel will be able to arrange a transfer to Osanbashi Pier when I am due to join the ship.

CAROLE WRIGHT

Dear Carole

Travel to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport is surprisingly straightforward as it’s so centrally located. The quickest and most scenic way into central Tokyo is the monorail (tokyomonorail.co.jp/english) to Hamamatsucho Station (13 minutes, £3.30). From here, if your hotel is located on or near the JR Yamanote Line – the main railway loop that encircles the city (green on the map) – I’d recommend transferring on to this line (check with your hotel if unsure). If you need to take a taxi hail one in the street; look out for an illuminated red light inside the front window. Don’t take a taxi to the hotel from Hamamatsucho Station unless you know it is nearby – central Tokyo is so sprawling that you could find yourself paying more from here than direct from the airport. A taxi to most parts of the centre from Haneda Airport costs around 7,500 yen/£50. Another easy alternative is the Airport Limousine Bus, which takes passengers to a string of hotels in central locations, usually in less than hour, costing around Y1,230/£8.30 (full list of stops at limousinebus.co.jp/en). In terms of transferring to Yokohama Port, I’d recommend taking a train to Yokohama Station before hopping in a taxi to Osanbashi Pier (presuming your ship leaves from Osanbashi International Passenger Terminal). This should take around 15 minutes and cost about Y1,500/£10.