Well, for people who want a relaxed start in Japan, the Narita Express might indeed be the better option, at least if they don’t have to worry so much about their money so much.

We had to get from Narita to Haneda and taking the bus saved us a lot of hastle. We didn’t need to change trains twice and it was less then 1 hour instead of about 2 and it was about the same rate (reserving a private limousine bus) as taking them all on the Skyliner and switching trains to Haneda.

It also helped me hold together quite some people going to Japan for the first time in their life.

Not only do they drop you in front of a lot of major hotels, but they handle all of your luggage for you.

Not only do they drop you right in front of a lot of major hotels, but they handle the luggage for you.

It’s a little over an hour from the Narita Airport to Tokyo, and in my experience, it’s so cool to see everything from the bus ride, than see nothing underground (JR Line).

You will be spending a lot of time in the JR line in your stay in Tokyo, so might as well take that 1 hr Bus ride to enjoy the views, the scenery, and the beauty of Japan outside of Tokyo.

As for the video, I really don’t like getting those cards, I end up losing them.

Instead of criticizing his pronunciation, maybe thank him for the tip?

A bit off topic, but what I don’t get is why there is a separate express ticket anyway. Why can’t the express ticket be combined with the normal ticket? All it has to say is Valid Tokyo – Inakamura via Tokyu Inaka-go or something like that….

It seems like nowadays, at least for trains that have reserved seats, the train guard checking express tickets roughly compares the actual seats filled with what seats have been purchased using a hand-held device. If there are any discrepancies, he/she knows to pay attention.

Other questions are answered here, but basically the train guard may forgo checking everyone and work on mainly the expensive seats if it’s too crowded.
http://questionbox.jp.msn.com/qa4614252.html

Depending on the station, it may be checked before boarding or after disembarking from the train. Also, whether to wake a sleeping passenger is a judgment call by the individual doing the job, and so on. These may be the reasons why standing and avoiding eye contact worked in the case of FarmboyinJapan.

Still, I know I sound anal about this, but even if it’s not legally equivalent, thinking it’s okay to not pay for services as long as one isn’t caught is basically like condoning shoplifting or dine and dash …

To me, this seems to be in the same vein, albeit a milder version, of the thinking behind the Yamanote Halloween train, where visitors try to take unfair advantage of public services which normally operate based on the honesty system.

Who produces these videos? They look a bit slick for an amateur doing it in his spare time. Is it a Yokoso Japan thing?

I don’t know if things have changed now that they use the new cars, but on the Narita Express line, if you don’t take a seat, and stand in the area between cars the entire way…you don’t have to pay anything to use the Narita Express.

I have been to Narita three time in the past year, and every time I stand next to the door and look out the window…and I am yet to be asked to show my ticket.