Tuesday 12 June 2012

Road to ACC 2012 - Where to Stay


Itabashi is fairly close and easily accessible to many popular places in Tokyo. Transport via the rail or subway systems is a breeze (just remember to write down the station names in advance in case you need to ask for help). This means that you can stay outside of Itabashi, enjoy all the sights Tokyo has to offer and still easily make your way to the ACC! How cool is that?

Itabashi (板橋)
Itabashi is right where the ACC 2012 will be held and if you are the active type, you can walk/jog/cycle to the Greenhall right from your hotel (some hotels even provide free use of their bicycles).

There are not many hotels in Itabashi, but they are all highly affordable and offer rooms that are bigger than similarly classed rooms in the busier parts of Tokyo.

Shibuya (渋谷)
Shibuya stands as a major entertainment and commercial centre in modern Japan. A direct train from Shibuya, Ebisu or Ikebukkuro rail stations will bring you directly to Itabashi.

Hotels in Shibuya range from the fancy Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel to the Granbell Hotel to various inns and youth hostels.

Shinjuku (新宿)
Shinjuku is home to many shopping malls and multi-storey departmental stores as well as a vibrant night life and is a major transport hub in Tokyo.

Just like in Shibuya, hotels in Shinjuku range from the classy Park Hyatt Tokyo to nice but affordable hotels like the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku to various capsule hotels.

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Road to ACC 2012 - Getting to Itabashi


Itabashi (板橋区) is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan, with an estimated population of 531,793 and a population density of 16,270 persons per km².

From Narita International Airport, take a train run by either Keisei or JR East companies. Tickets and travel times varies by route (JR pass covers travel on the JR Sobu line)

If you are taking the Keisei Limited Express (快速特急) or the Keisei Express (特急) trains, stop at Nippori (日暮里) station and switch to the JR Yamanote (山手線) line.

If you are taking the JR Narita Express (成田エクスプレス) aka N'EX or the JR Sobu Rapid (総武快速線) lines, stop at Tokyo (東京) station and switch to the JR Yamanote (山手線) line.

On the Yamanote (山手線) line, switch at Shinjuku (新宿) station to the Saikyo (埼京線) line towards Saitama (玉) and stop at Itabashi (板橋) station.