The City Hotel N.U.T.S. (New Uarban Time and Space!) has a family room that sleeps five on traditional Japanes tatami mats (rare in Tokyo to find a room that sleeps three) – as well as Western-style rooms.
And it certainly is the only hotel on wotif that proudly features an iPod dog.
It’s new room just come out which is designed by Japanese architecture named upsetters.Size of room is 30sqm with traditional japanese tatami style.It’s furnished with private bath toilet,internet,refrigerator,hair dryer,flat TV,I pod dog,welcome drink
The welcome drink comes from a free Coke vending machine in the lobby, which is a good thing as you get to spend a bit of time there waiting for the lift, which only takes three at a time. (NUTS may have removed the Coke machine after our boys drank the entire month’s supply for greater Tokyo)
The only problem is that for those who are keen on a bit of a smork after a week’s skiing, at NUTS ‘you are allowed to smork in only smorking area’.
Waiting room. I hate when they make you wait in the room. ‘Cause it says “Waiting room.” There’s no chance of not waiting, ’cause they call it the waiting room, they’re going to use it. They’ve got it. It’s all set up for you to wait. – Jerry Seinfeld.
Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo gave the 2012 Australia Day address.
He called for tolerance, asked us to be less angry over unimportant things, and to foster innovation.
“My view of an Aussie was someone who was hard working, unaffected, genuine, affable, relaxed, egalitarian, irreverent and charitable. I still believe most Aussies share these appealing qualities, although I am saddened by the increasing incidents of rage in our society. Once there was only road rage but now it seems to have spread into the workplace, the malls and even the last bastion of the laid-back, free spirited Aussie, the surf! I don’t wish to trivialise the adversities of everyday life, but when a mother has just lost her son to brain cancer, or a husband his wife, or a daughter her father, and I see this 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, it makes the driver who overtakes on the left or the surfer who cuts in on your wave, seem so inconsequential. I am sure, if you are one of those angry people, if you could spend a day in my shoes, you would rapidly attain a more realistic perspective that the most important determinant of happiness is our health and the health of our loved ones.”
“Australia is a great country. Generations of Aussies have given us the foundations onto which we may construct an even greater nation – one that is culturally and socially sensitive; acknowledges a responsibility to our own people as well as neighbours who are less fortunate; and identifies, nurtures and rewards innovation. I would like to see this Australia Day as a turning point. I want my fellow Australians to think of the lives that have been sacrificed for what we take for granted. I want everyone who finds themselves angry and intolerant to think first about the misfortunes of those who are less fortunate, such as those with cancer. I want anyone who has come from another country to embrace the Australian way of life. I want all Australians to see how immigrants have contributed to our nation and to appreciate that a prosperous country has a responsibility to share our resources. Finally, I want to thank Australians for giving me professional and personal fulfilment, for believing in me when some of my colleagues didn’t, and for seeing a Chinaman as an Aussie, not as a foreigner.”
The JR Express train connects the two – stopping in Tokyo at Tokyo Central, Shibuya and Shinjku.
(JR – Japan Railways)
Whereas you can often save money by ask purchasing unreserved seats when traveling by train in Japan, all seats on the Narita express are reserveds seats.
Tickets are ¥3108 – about $39 – children half price.
At the airport (Terminal Two), turn right when leaving customs to walk to the JR station.
You can use the automatic ticket machines, but if paying by credit card our experience was that it is better to pay in the JR ticket office.
The trip takes about 90 minutes.
On the return trip, it is worth noting that Qantas and Jetstar leave from Terminal 2 – the 2nd last stop.
Trains depart about every 30 minutes in each direction, leaving Shinjuku at 10 past and 20 to the hour.
Train Travel in Tokyo.
Tokyo has an excellent metro system, and maps are available in most stations.
To complicate things – some routes are serviced by JR trains, some by the Toei subway system, and others by the Tokyo Metro system. You need a different ticket depending in which you are traveling. Generally, you can get by just using the Metro, which makes buying tickets less complicated.
This Subway Map shows all the metro lines and the JR lines.
To use the ticket vending machine for the Metro, look up your destination on the large map of the network above the machines on the wall. It will tell you the ticket price needed to go to your destination. If your journey requires a transfer from one line to another, the one ticket will suffice for each leg (it will be returned to you each turnstile until you reach your destination, where it will be retained).
On the machines,
1) Press the button ‘English’
2) Press the button ‘Ticket’
3) Prsss the appropriate amount of yen for your destination.
4) Use the pictorial buttons on the left to select the combination of adult/child tickets you need
5) Insert the total amount required. You can enter a ¥1000 or ¥5000 note, but it is a good chance to get rid of some of the shrapnel you collect.
At each destination there are fare adjustment machines. You can Insert your ticket to find out if you have underpaid for the trip.
If you are unsure of the correct fare, when buying your ticket you can always just buy the cheapest possible ticket, and top it up if necessary at the fare adjustment machine when you get to your final stop..
Although its more fun to play with the map. you can cheat by using the online fare and route checker available here.
If you have a number of trips planned, you can buy a one day pass for unlimited Metro rides for ¥710 from the machines, or ¥1000 if you want to include the Toei lines.
A one day pass for Metro, Toei and JR costs ¥1580, also available from the machines or from the JR ticket office.
This video is for US servicemen – How to Buy a Ticket.
The Shinkasen
Japan is famously well serviced by a high speed rail network – The Shinkasen.
You need two tickets when travelling on a Shinkasen – one normal ticket and then a supllementary ticket for the express service. You can choose reserved or unreserved seats – reserved cost an extra ¥500 or so – about $6. We found it best to purchase tickets from the office rather than the machines.
The Tokyo-Nagarno service runs about hourly and costs ¥7460 (about $93) for unreserved seats, half for children.
The Tokyo-Kyoto route has even faster Nozomi trains which costs ¥13520. ‘Normal’ shinkasen also service this route (¥13020)
Old Parliament House
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