Ground transportation
We have two international airports, Narita and Haneda International airports, for travel from your country to Tokyo, Japan. Airport shuttles and trains go from both airports to major cities in Tokyo. To rent a car at the airport would be another option but we never recommend you get in a taxi. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) is located in the southern area of Mitaka city. You can get there by bus or taxi from Chofu station (Keio line) or Musashi-sakai/Mitaka station (JR line).
Airport shuttles
You purchase a ticket at the ticket counter or a vending machine near it on the 1st floor in the airport before getting on an airport shuttle. Airport shuttles departing from Narita/Haneda international airport go to Chofu station (3,300 yen, 2hr/1,440 yen, 1hr) or Kichi-joji station (3,100 yen, 1hr/1,230 yen, 1hr). If your hotel is near Musashi-sakai or Mitaka stations, you go first to Kichi-joji station and then, need to take a JR train there. A route via Tokyo station (Narita - Tokyo: airport shuttle + train from Tokyo to each station) would save your money (50% reduction!)
Trains
Riding a train is generally efficient in moving around an urban city in Japan. The route map of trains that are prevailing like a spider's web all over Tokyo seems to be a maze for strangers. We strongly recommend you use Google map or an alternative app. on the way.
1) From Haneda international airport:
Go to Shinagawa (Keikyu line) --- Shin-jyuku (JR Yamanote line) --- Chofu (Keio line) or Musashi-
sakai/Mitaka (JR Chuo line) ~ 900 yen, 1hr
2) From Narita international airport:
a) Go to Shin-jyuku (Narita Express) --- Chofu (Keio line) or Musashi-sakai/Mitaka (JR Chuo line)
~ 3,500 yen, 1.5hrs
b) Go to Nippori (Keisei Skyliner) --- Shin-jyuku (JR Yamanote line) --- Chofu (Keio line)
or Musashi-sakai/Mitaka (JR Chuo line) ~ 3,000 yen, ~1.5hrs
Rent a car
Rent-a-car company (Nippon, Toyota, ORIX, Nissan, and Times Car) offices are on the arrival lobby in the airport. We offer NAOJ to issue a parking permit during the workshop if you drive a car from the airport to NAOJ. Please inform us of your plan before leaving your country. FYI: if you plan to go around Tokyo or go on a trip to other cities after the workshop (possibly, before the workshop will start), to rent a car would not be the best choice.
How to get to NAOJ
You ride a bus at Chofu, Musashi-sakai, or Mitaka station and get off at "Tenmon Dai Mae" (Observatory) stop. It takes 15 - 20 minutes from each station to NAOJ. You find the main gate of NAOJ in front of the bus stop. When getting on a bus, you need to pay an exact fare to a bus driver. Bus drivers accept neither any credit card nor big bills (5,000 yen, 10,000 yen). Instead, you can change a 1,000 yen note into coins in the bus. We recommend you purchase a refundable IC card at a train station, Suica or Pasmo. Once you deposit money into the IC card at a vending machine near a station, you touch a sensor on a gate/ near a bus driver with it whenever you take a train or a bus. This sounds cool! You may go by taxi from each station to NAOJ. You should keep in mind that a taxi fare to NAOJ is approximately four - five times higher than a bus one.
Musashi-sakai station
Go to the south exit. Ride #91 bus in front of the police box and get off at "Tenmon-Dai Mae" stop. The fare is 220 yen.
Chofu station
Go to a bus terminal on the north side of Chofu station. Ride #91 or #51 bus near the police box and get off at "Tenmon-Dai Mae" stop. The fare is 220 yen.
Mitaka station
Go to a bus terminal on the south side of Mitaka station. Ride #51 bus bound for Chofu station in front of a Tully's coffee shop and get off at "Tenmon-Dai Mae" stop. The fare is 220 yen.