Suggestions on best way to go from Tokyo Station to Yokohama crusie port

I have been researching the best way to get to the cruise ship at Yokohama from our hotel near the Tokyo Station.

A taxi, according to an website estimate indicated it would cost in excess of $100.

However, there are trains to Yohohama station, and taxis are cheaper from there.

Has anyone had to take luggage on the train? What do you suggest?

Here is some information that I found.

Cruise - Profile of the Port of Yokohama

http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kowan/english/cruise-en/

Name Yokohama International Passenger Terminal

Location 1-1-4 Kaigandori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan

Nearest Station (Time Req.) Minatomirai Subway Line , Nihon-oudouri Station (approx. 5-minute walk)

Access Station Tokyo Station: Approx. 40 minutes by bus or train

Airport Haneda Airport: Approx. 30 minutes by bus

Narita Airport: Approx. 90 minutes by bus

Shinkansen Approx. 25 to JR Shin-Yokohama Station by bus

Tips for using Tokyo METRO

http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/tips/index.html

If you are staying near Tokyo Station, the easiest is to take the JR Tokaido Line (silver cars with orange/green stripes) to Yokohama Station, and then take a cab from there. There is a train station closer to the pier, but to get there, you would have to make a transfer somewhere along the line, which you would fine rather cumbersome with a lot of luggage.

The trains you would want to take at Tokyo Station typically depart from Platforms 7 and 8 (sometimes 9). All trains departing from those platforms stop at Yokohama.

Tokyo to yokohama

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2360.html

cards

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html

Tokyu Toyoko Line

About 25 minutes and 270 yen from Shibuya Station

The Toyoko Line is the cheapest way to get from Tokyo and Yokohama. Make sure to board a limited express or express train, as they are much faster than local trains, but cost the same. From Yokohama Station, trains continue to run on the Minato Mirai Line to Motomachi-Chukagai, offering convenient access to most of central Yokohama's sights. North of Shibuya, the trains continue to run along the Fukutoshin Subway Line.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Yokohama

Tokyo Station or airport to Yokohama cruise port

By plane

Yokohama does not have its own airport. You can reach Yokohama from Tokyo's two main airports.

Some Narita Express trains from Narita Airport go through to Yokohama (1 1/2 hours, ¥4380). Limousine Buses run frequently from Narita to the Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) (2-3 hours, ¥3500). The cheapest access from Narita Airport is to take a Keisei train to Nippori, then change to a JR Keihin-Tohoku Line train for Yokohama (about 2 hours, ¥1540).

From Haneda Airport, take the Keikyu Line's Airport Express (エアポート急行) to Yokohama station in 30-35 minutes for ¥470. Note that the Airport Express has several variants: If the train's destination is Shin-Zushi (新逗子) or Kanazawa-Bunko (金沢文庫), then you can stay on the train for the entire trip. If the train goes to another destination, it's likely to continue on into Tokyo so you will need to change at Keikyu-Kamata station to the next main line limited express train (特急/快特) on Platform 3.

By train

The overwhelming majority of visitors to Yokohama arrive from Tokyo by train. A multitude of train lines connect the two cities at roughly equal prices, but some of the more convenient options are:

Tokyu Toyoko Line (東急東横線) from Shibuya to Yokohama Station. Some trains on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line run through to the Toyoko Line, which in turn runs through to the Minato Mirai subway line (see below). A trip from Shibuya to Yokohama takes as little as 24 minutes on the fastest service; at a cost of ¥260 this is the cheapest trip from metro Tokyo. Chinatown, the terminus of the MM21 line, is another 10 minutes away (Motomachi-Chukagai, ¥460). Up to eight kyūkō (急行) and tokkyū (特急) trains per hour. In the year 2013, the Toyoko Line will link to the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line subway, allowing trains to continue north to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and into Saitama.

JR Shonan Shinjuku Line (湘南新宿ライン) from Ōmiya, Akabane, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu and Ōsaki. Established in 2003, this line allows for easy access to Yokohama from west Tokyo. Roughly four trains per hour, reaching Yokohama from Shinjuku in as little as 30 minutes at a cost of ¥540. This line will have no major competition until the Toyoko/Fukutoshin services join together in 2013.

JR Tokaido Main Line (東海道線) from Tokyo and Shinagawa stations (both on the Yamanote Line). Departs every 10 minutes; more trains during rush hour. About 25 minutes from Tokyo to Yokohama. Note that Commuter Rapid Service (通勤快速) and Shonan Liner (湘南ライナー) trains do not stop at Yokohama Station.

JR Yokosuka Line (横須賀線): A less-convenient alternative from Tokyo Station and Shinagawa. However, it is the route of choice if coming from stations east of Tokyo on the Sobu Rapid line, such as Tsudanuma and Chiba, as most of these trains continue onto the Yokosuka line. About 30 minutes from Tokyo to Yokohama; about 75 minutes from Chiba (¥1050). Departs every 15 minutes or so from Tokyo; more trains during rush hour.

JR Keihin Tohoku Line (京浜東北線) from Nippori, Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, and Shinagawa Stations. This train stops at more stations in Yokohama than the Yokosuka Line, including Sakuragicho (桜木町), which is within walking distance of Chinatown. It is also a convenient route from stations north of Tokyo in Saitama prefecture. About 35 minutes from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station. Departs every 5 minutes from Tokyo; more trains during rush hour.

On the Tokaido, Yokosuka and Keihin Tohoku lines, the trip from Tokyo Station costs ¥450, and from Shinagawa, ¥280.

Keihin Kyuko Main Line (京浜急行線), or Keikyu for short, from Shinagawa and Haneda Airport. Most trains from the Toei Asakusa subway line continue onto the Keikyu line. Departs every 10 minutes from Shinagawa at a cost of ¥290 (more trains during rush hour), with the fastest train reaching Yokohama in only 18 minutes. Note that Keikyu WING (京急ウィング) trains, which run on weekday evenings, do not stop at Yokohama.

Sotetsu Line (相鉄線） from Ebina to Yokohama (30 minutes by express, ¥300) and from Shonan-dai to Yokohama (30 minutes by express, ¥340). A useful connection from the western Tokyo suburbs on the Odakyu Line. This train will go direct to Shibuya in 2019.

Shinkansen trains go to Shin-Yokohama station instead, a few stations away from the main Yokohama station. The two stations are connected via the JR Yokohama line (15 minutes via direct service, ¥160) and the Yokohama Subway Blue Line (10 minutes, ¥230). When using the JR Yokohama Line,note that some trains doesn't serve you direct service to Yokohama Station. In that case, you'll have to change to the JR Keihin Tohoku Line at Higashi-kanagawa(東神奈川) Station. Alternatively, take the Shinkansen to Shinagawa and change to the Tokaido, Yokosuka or Keihin Tohoku lines. If your final destination is Chinatown or a the harbor area, taking one of the non-Shinkansen trains listed above is likely to be faster.

Minato-Mirai Line

The Minato Mirai Line (みなとみらい線) [2], opened in 2004, is a direct extension of the Tokyu Toyoko Line. Connection with the lines is at Yokohama Station, and the line itself has five stations: Shin-Takashimacho (新高島町), Minatomirai (みなとみらい), Bashamichi (馬車道), Nihon Ōdori (日本大通り), and Motomachi-Chūkagai (元町・中華街), terminating at the posh Motomachi shopping street and the second largest Chinatown in the world. The line’s stations itself are worth seeing, especially Minato-Mirai Station itself, where you are able to see straight up to the very spacious entrance hall (7 floors in all) of the Yokohama Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Japan.

Bashamichi Station is with artifact bricks and hosts the remains of the first western style bank of Yokohama. Note also that Bashamichi (literal translation: horse carriage street) was the first street in Japan to have gas fired street lightings, which were re-installed lately. Bashamichi Station is surrounded by historical buildings, built only a century ago, but for Japanese standards are a true catapulting into westernization. Thus all buildings remaining (partially rebuilt after the heavy bombings of WWII) are protected as “historical – cultural national treasure.”

Nihon-Ōdori Station is similar to Bashamichi Station. Nihon-Ōdori (meaning Japan Avenue) is a two lane-two way avenue, which back then separated the living quarters of the foreign delegation and Japanese. The line runs parallel to the Keihin-Tohoku Line, but due to its massive expenses in keeping the designer-class stations running, the fares are rather pricey but definitely worthwhile. The line runs through the very historical parts of Yokohama, when Japan opened up towards the Western civilization. Many history-related museums of Yokohama are dotted along the line, and to attract further tourists, the line offers a one-day unlimited ride ticket (¥450 for adults, 1/2 price for children).

Note that there's a special deal for foreigners of 1,500Y on the N'Ex from Narita to Tokyo or Yokohama--it's full price in the other direction, though: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_nex.html. Just show your passport when you buy the ticket.

Typically, the train splits in Tokyo station: half goes to Yokohama and on to Ofuna, and the other half goes to Shinjuku. You don't need to worry about this, though, as all seats are reserved and you'll be assigned a seat in the right part of the train for your destination.

If you are staying near Tokyo Station, your best bet is to just take the Tokaido Line to Yokohama from Tokyo Station. This is provided that you can get your luggage on board with you easily ("in one fell swoop.")

Commuter trains do not stop very long in city stations and there will be no time to get on some cases and then pull more from the platform on board after that.

At Yokohama, I would just take a taxi to the pier, but if you wish to continue by train, you can change to the Minato Mirai line and go to Nihon Odori Station. The cruise port is about a 5 minute walk from there.

Kate

If you are staying near Tokyo Station, your best bet is to just take the Tokaido Line to Yokohama from Tokyo Station. This is provided that you can get your luggage on board with you easily ("in one fell swoop.")

 

Commuter trains do not stop very long in city stations and there will be no time to get on some cases and then pull more from the platform on board after that.

 

At Yokohama, I would just take a taxi to the pier, but if you wish to continue by train, you can change to the Minato Mirai line and go to Nihon Odori Station. The cruise port is about a 5 minute walk from there.

 

Kate

Kate,

Thanks, I think we can handle our luggage on the train if it is not crowded. Perhaps it will not be so crowded on Sunday?

Kate,

Thanks, I think we can handle our luggage on the train if it is not crowded. Perhaps it will not be so crowded on Sunday?

Yes, Sunday will be much less crowded as there will be no commuters going to/from work. It should be an easy trip for you.

I hope you will enjoy Tokyo and have a wonderful cruise.

Kate

Has anyone take the shuttle (but) from the Airport to Yokohoma, It seems less expensive and you do not have to worry about transfers of carrying your bag on a train.

Do you mean the Limo Bus?

If so I've used the bus to YCAT a number of times.We are collected by a friend though. I like the bus if coming from the Airport as you see a lot by the side of the road.

Buses to the hotels at Minato are less frequent which is why we've had to use YCAT. i think they are mostly served in the late afternoon but there is a 7.30am service.

It's efficient and departs regularly. You would then need to take a taxi to the port or change to Minato Mirai

Just a note about taxi's. They do not have large luggage capacities so if you have 2 bags you may struggle if you cannot find a larger taxi (few and far between)

We've also used the train from the airport to Yokohama and changed to Minato Mirai (on a weekend). No hassles.