Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

A friend from Xi'an who came to Japan for sightseeing decided to return after a two-week private trip. Actually, I wanted to send it to the airport, but I couldn't take a break on weekdays, so I decided to see it off at the bus stop bound for Narita Airport near Tokyo Station.

There are trains (Narita Express, Keisei Skyliner) and airport buses to access Narita Airport from Tokyo, but since 2012, LCC has begun full-scale operation in Japan, and in addition to the airport limousine bus from Hakozaki TCAT, the cheap express bus (LCB) that departs from around Tokyo Station has started. Today, I would like to introduce the LCB departing from Yaesu, which I interviewed when sending a friend, and its waiting room. Two LCBs are operated from Yaesu, the gateway to our Chuo-ku. One is "THE Access Narita". It is operated by Heiwa Kotsu and JR Bus Kanto, departs Ginza Sukiyabashi-mae bus stop and connects to Narita Airport via Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit JR Express Bus Terminal (Chiyoda-ku) for 1,000 yen.

The other is the Tokyo Shuttle. It is operated by Keisei Bus, and it is also 1,000 yen from Keisei Bus No. 3 bus stop (Chuo-ku) along Sotobori-dori St. (Departure auline Net / Rakuten Travel, in which case it is discounted to 900 yen).

There are more than 50 round trips a day each (3 companies operate 164 round trips per day), and in particular, LCB2 also operates late at night for LCC's early morning flights, so its convenience and low fares (about 1/3 of limousine buses), and it seems that there are quite a lot of tourists not only from Japanese but also from overseas. On the other hand, as the number of users increased, the ride was not a fine bus terminal like TCAT, but a bus from a bus stop that was blowing, so it was a bit difficult to wait for the bus when the rain and wind were strong.

In response to such users' voices, each LCB has a bus waiting room since last year. In the case of THE Access Narita, with the commencement of joint operation with JR Bus Kanto from December last year, the Narita Airport departure platform (until then) moved from the bus stop along Yaesu Street to the JR Express Bus Terminal No. 7 bus stop, users will be able to use the JR Express Bus Waiting Room under the Grand Roof of Tokyo Station.

In July last year, the Tokyo Shuttle also installed the Keisei Express Bus Lounge on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Yaesu Rotary Building along Sotobori-dori St. The Keisei Express Bus Lounge is available from early morning to late night. There are benches where you can sit comfortably and wait until the bus departure time, as well as vending machines for drinks and toilets.

LCC launches not only from overseas but also from all over Japan (Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Takamatsu, etc.) are increasing year by year, and I think the use of LCC via Narita Airport, where LCC dedicated Terminal 3 has been established, will continue to increase in the future. Chuo-ku is directly connected to Narita by LCB, and it seems that more and more visitors from Japan and overseas can be expected in the future. We correspondents want to continue to introduce secret places that will allow such customers to enjoy Chuo-ku more.

[Keisei Express Bus (Tokyo Shuttle) Lounge]

〒1-7-17 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, 103-0028 Yaesu Rotary Building 1F and 2F

(As soon as you leave Exit 18 from the Yaesu underground shopping mall)

Business hours 0400 (early morning) - 0200 (late night)

＊The Tokyo Shuttle takes the Sotobori-dori St. in front of the lounge, about 150 meters north of the communal building (Keisei Bus No. 3) (see the map above).

Earlier, blog article "Chuo-ku version Vélib (community cycle) started! (/archive/2015/10/velib.html) The community cycle (CC) in Chuo-ku has started, so I immediately used it on the first day of October 1. However, today's work on weekdays, so it's not for sightseeing but for commuting.

Since you have already registered as a member at the promotion of the Chuo-ku government office, first access the CC homepage (http://docomo-cycle.jp/chuo/) at home and check the "number of available bicycles" on nearby ports To do. Eight cars are available, so make a reservation at the port (B01) of Tepposu Children's Park, and leave the house after 8:45, the same as usual attendance time, and head to the port. When I put the bicycle number and passcode sent by e-mail at the same time as the reservation, the electronic lock opened and the bicycle could be withdrawn from the rack. I'll start running on a bicycle right away.

I was a little worried about running on the road because the wheels are small, but since there is an electric assist, it is enough speed to run on the road with just a little rub (by the way, stop immediately when driving on the sidewalk Please note that it is the rule to slow down (decrease enough speed) (Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 20 of the Road Traffic Act, Article 63-4, Paragraph 2)!) 。

During this time, the roads are often congested, and it often takes about 15 minutes by taxi or bus from the Minato / Hatchobori area to Yaesu, but today it takes about half the 7 minutes I arrived at Kyobashi. On the way, there were obstacles such as cars parked and stopped on the street, but the cycling was generally good.

Insert your bicycle into the rack (B02) of Tokyo Square Garden Port along Yanagi-dori St., lock it and return it!

You can borrow it whenever you like and return it at your favorite place. 。 。 As the name of Vélib (Buddha: Bicycle + Free), the pleasure of sightseeing in Chuo-ku has increased by one, and I'm looking forward to using it on the weekend from now on.

Since it started in Paris in 2007, the Japanese version of Velib, which has spread throughout France, Spain, U.K. and Italy, will begin in October in Chuo Ward. Prior to the start on October 1, promotions and free trial rides are being held at Chuo-ku government office and Tsukishima branch office.

The Community Cycle (CC) or Velib is a 24-hour bicycle rental system provided by local governments, etc., with multiple ports (bicycle rental stations) in the area mainly for reducing the use of cars, By registering in advance, it is a service that allows tourists to rent a bicycle wherever they want and return it at their favorite place. Short-term use of less than 30 minutes is possible, so it can be used for commuting and going to school, and one bicycle can be shared by multiple people, which is also an issue in Japan. Is expected. It promotes the use of bicycles that are friendly to the global environment, and it can be said that this is a measure suitable for Chuo-ku (/archive / 2015/07/post-2597.html) that promotes the eco-town concept based on the Kyobashi Environmental Station. .

You will be rented a chic electric bicycle with two colors of red and black. Velib is a coined word created by the combination of French "vélo" and "libre", but it is expected to be an option for residents and tourists to freely enjoy Chuo-ku along with the Edo bus.

Initially, it seems that it will start from 18 ports (bicycle parking / rental offices) such as Chuo-ku government office, Tokyo Square Garden, Triton Square, Jisshi Park, but there is a plan to increase the number of ports in the ward according to the usage situation In addition, it seems that there will be no convenience in sightseeing with the CC such as Koto-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Minato-ku, etc., which has already been introduced, which has been introduced.

However, be careful when driving because the maintenance of bicycle lanes is still delayed in the ward (do not become both perpetrators and victims)!