Subject: Hotel & Access Information

From: Andrew Drapp <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 19:08:36 +0900

The location of the meeting has been finalized at the Omori Hitachi Building.  On the first day, we will meet at 9:30am at:

Room 1401, 14F
Hitachi Omori Bldg. 2
Minami-Oi 27-18-6
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
TEL: +81-3-3763-2411

On the second and third day, we will meet at 9:30am at:
Room 111, 11F
Hitachi Omori Bldg. 3
Minami-Oi 26-2-6
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

The attached file is a map.  It is a quick job, so sorry about the lack
of detail.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

General Information:
Most stores have hours of about 10am till 9pm, so if you are planning
on doing any shopping, plan accordingly.  Sales tax is a flat 5%
everywhere in Japan.  However, there are often hidden charges.  Many
bars will charge a "table charge" or some other fee that may not be
anticipated.  There is no tipping in Japan.  To tip actually implies 
that someone may not do their best work for you if you didn't tip, so
in a way, it is a bit of an insult.  Even in Taxis, you get exact change
down to the yen.  The trains stop running around midnight.  

Food is available 24hours a day.  Convenience stores
are actually that, convenient.  They have decent food available. 
Besides, doesn't everyone have to have a story about 7-11 sushi?
There are several restaurants that cater to the "working man".  In 
other words, cheap food that any sensible woman wouldn't go near.
This generally means Ramen shops and "beef bowl" places.  The "beef 
bowl" places serve grilled beef and onions on top of rice.  Not bad,
and pretty cheap.  The vast majority of restaurants will be open 
throughout the day.  Nicer Japanese restaurants may actually run out of
food.  They buy just enough for that day, cook it and sell it.  These
same places also tend to only be open during lunch and dinner time.

If you are used to a decent breakfast each morning, the hotel may be 
your best bet, unless there is a Denny's or something similar nearby.
Most places aren't open for breakfast, and even if they are, they
probably open at 9am or something.  

In Japan, the traditional place to stop and ask directions is the Koban.
Us foreigners like to call Kobans, "Police Boxes".  It is literally a 
box on many corners.  There is just enough room for a couple of chairs
and a desk.  This is the Japanese version of a patrol car.  Instead of
patrolling, they just put these boxes everywhere.  Feel free to stop
and ask for directions at any one of these places.

Also, if you just stand still and look confused, especially if you 
just stare at a map in a train station, someone WILL come up to you
and ask if they can help, most likely in English.  In Tokyo, almost
every sign is bilingual, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Getting to Omori from Narita:
Recommended Route (1):
Take the JR Narita Express (N'EX) to Shinagawa.
  (As noted before, the N'EX only leaves every hour or so.  Not
  every N'EX goes to Shinagawa, so make sure you buy the right
  ticket.  If there is a long wait till the next N'EX to Shinagawa,
  use one of the below methods)
From Shinagawa station, take the JR Keihin-Touhoku Line to Omori
  (Omori is the second stop from Shinagawa.  The Keihin-Toukoku
  line should have blue signs, and a blue line down the train.)
From Omori Station, walk to your Hotel.

Optional Route (2):
Take the JR Narita Express (N'EX) to Tokyo.
  (Every N'EX goes to Tokyo first.)
From Tokyo station, take the JR Keihin-Touhoku Line to Omori.
  (Omori is the fourth stop from Tokyo.  The Keihin-Toukoku
  line should have blue signs, and a blue line down the train.)
From Omori Station, walk to your Hotel.

Optional Route (3):
Take a Limousine Bus to Tokyo Station.
  (A bus leaves every 10-20 minutes, so this may be the best option)
From Tokyo station, take the JR Keihin-Touhoku Line to Omori.
  (Omori is the fourth stop from Tokyo.  The Keihin-Toukoku
  line should have blue signs, and a blue line down the train.)
From Omori Station, walk to your Hotel.

Cheapest Route (4):
Take the Keisei Express Line to Nippori Station.
From Nippori station, take the JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station.
  (The Yamanote line goes in a loop around Tokyo.  Make sure you 
  go in the right direction.  Trains going towards Tokyo should be
  marked that way.  The Yamanote line will be marked with green
  signs and a green stripe down the train.)
From Tokyo station, take the JR Keihin-Touhoku Line to Omori.
  (Omori is the fourth stop from Tokyo.  The Keihin-Toukoku
  line should have blue signs, and a blue line down the train.)
From Omori Station, walk to your Hotel.

Recommended Hotels (all in Omori):
Art Hotel, Omori
TEL: +81-3-3776-7001
FAX: +81-3-3766-7201
Address: Minami-Oimachi 6-19-3, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0013 
Transportation for the hotel:
	4 min. from Omori Station (JR Keihin-Touhoku line) on foot 
Room Rates:
	14,520Yen (plus tax)   
map (in Japanese): http://www.inn-info.co.jp/map_B.gif/kat100mh.html

Omori Tokyu Inn
TEL: +81-3-3768-0109
FAX: +81-3-3768-2989 
Address: Omori-kita 1-6-16, Ota-ku, Tokyo
Transportation to the Hotel:
	0 min. from Omori Station (JR Keihin-Touhoku line) on foot 
Room Rate:
	Single Rm. One single bed
		10,500yen-14,200yen (plus tax) 
	Double Rm. One double bed
		18,800yen (plus tax) 
	Twin Rm. Two single beds
		18,800yen-20,400yen (plus tax) 
	Deluxe Twin
		27,000yen-33,000yen (plus tax) 

Details: http://www.inn-info.co.jp/english/hotels_kanto/hotel039.html

Hotel Sunroute Patio, Omori
TEL: +81-3-3763-0211
FAX: +81-3-3765-9353
Address: Minami-Oimachi 3-33-3, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Transportation to the Hotel:
	6 min. from Omori Station (JR Keihin-Touhoku line) on foot 
Room Rate:
	Single Rm. One single bed 
		7,500yen (plus tax and service charge?) 
	Double Rm. (Single Occupancy) One Double bed 
		8,500yen (plus tax and service charge?) 
	Double Rm. (Double Occupancy) One Double bed 
		13,000yen (plus tax and service charge?)
	Twin Rm. Two Single beds 
		13,000yen (plus tax and service charge?) 
                                    
Details: http://www.inn-info.co.jp/english/hotels_kanto/kat064e.html

--
Andrew Drapp
[email-masked]
Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory
1099 Ozenji, Asao, Kawasaki, 215-0014 JAPAN
TEL:+81-44-966-9111   FAX:+81-44-966-1796
Fingerprint: 84D8 3D19 018E 9385 6581  0081 C89C D2AD F06A 565F