As many of you know, the Narita Express uses the same platform as the Yokosuka line when it stops at Tokyo Station. I was waiting for the Yokosuka line when the Narita Express coming from the airport pulled in first. I watched as tourist after tourist got off the train and stood on the platform with luggage in tow, scratching their heads wondering where to go next. I never really thought about it but the Narita Express in not tourist friendly at all. If you’ve ever taken the Yokosuka line from Tokyo station, you know that it is one of the obscure lines far away from the other ones and three levels deep underground. The platforms are dark, old and rundown and reminds me of the subway in “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (see picture above)

So, for these unfortunate tourists, their first encounter with Tokyo is this old train platform with no signs in English. Two American guys had Shinkansen tickets in hand and were looking at the Yokosuka line map trying to find the station they were going to. I eventually helped them out. But, on their tickets it said “Tokyo to TsubameSanjo” (or something similar, can’t remember). Where the hell is that? And why were these two American’s with thick southern accents going there? Anyway, I told them how to get to the Shinkansen platform and as soon as they left another guy who saw me asked me for directions and then another guy after that.

Every person getting off the Narita Express is bound to be getting on some other train and going somewhere else. I don’t think it would be much effort for JR at least to put some kind of sign in various languages to tell people where to go. In that respect, the Limousine Buses are more “friendly”. They take you to the major hotels where you can catch a cab or ask the hotel clerk for directions. Tonight’s experience reminded me of the time I first came to Japan and got off the Skyliner at Ueno station. I stood around for almost an hour thinking “Now what?”

EDIT: I looked up TsubameSanjo 燕三条 and it’s a place in Niigata. Meaning those guys would have to go to Ueno first to catch the Jouetsu Shinkansen. So I guess I pointed them in the wrong direction. Oops!