Ordinarily I would say that first-timers (if you are one) should wait for the bus if it goes to your hotel. But it's partly a matter of temperment. In your case, if you miss the 3:00 pm bus but can catch the 3:15 N'Ex, take the train to Tokyo Station and grab a taxi (don't tip; don't open or close the door--its automatic). Tokyo Tower is about two miles away. If it's a choice between the 3:45 train and 4:00 bus, go for the convenience of the bus.

Tokyo Station is the closest Narita Express stop. I'm assuming you don't want to deal with train changes and hauling bags up escalators.

Sorry, don't know about rush-hour traffic.

I presume the Narita Express would be faster to get to Tokyo proper without getting stuck in traffic. After alighting from the NEX at Tokyo, await the next Yokosuka Line train on the same track and head to Shimbashi on it. It will work out cheaper as well.

Narita Airport 15:15--(NEX)-->16:15 Tokyo 16:23--(Yokosuka Line)-->16:26 Shimbashi, or

Narita Airport 15:45--(NEX)-->16:44 Tokyo 16:48--(Yokosuka Line)-->16:51 Shimbashi

On the assumption that you'll be staying at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo, an estimated taxi fare from Shimbashi will be 800 yen.

http://tinyurl.com/3ck37w ( in Japanese )

The 'Suica and NEX' combo info (3,500 yen).

www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

Breakdown:

Narita Express and connecting train rides to any JR station in Tokyo Area: 1,500 yen

Suica card: 500 yen deposit (refundable after use)

Suica credit valid for any public transport in Kanto Area and shoppings: 1,500 yen

How to use suica: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html

Narita Express timetable: http://tinyurl.com/3hh4no

Hope this helps.

Your concern is well founded. You absolutely will get stuck in traffic at that time and 90 minutes is an average. It also depends on where your drop off falls in the drop off cycle. If it's near the beginning then it's not so bad but you might spend an extra 45 minutes or more riding around delivering people to hotels before your stop. If you want to get there as quickly as possible, take the train and worse case, a short cab ride from Shimbashi Station as noted.

I don’t know where exactly you will get off the bus, at the Tokyo Prince Hotel or Prince Park Tower, but keep in mind that these are the last 2 stops of the limo bus. It stops at TCAT, Tokyo station, the Peninsula and Imperial before arriving to the two hotels mentioned above. In the afternoon, it will take at least 2 hours to get to the last two hotels.

JR Hamamatsu-cho is closer to Tokyo Tower than Shimbashi. I hope you are not planning on staying at the Tokyo Prince....

I didn't recommended you to get off at Hamamatsucho because transfer from the Sobu Line ( Narita Express ) platform to the Yamanotge Line one is a tad long with luggage via several escalators and stairs. Look at the Tokyo Station map. BTW, Only Yamanote Line ( and Keihin-Tohoku Line except the daytime ) stop at Hamamatsucho.

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e1039.html

The NEX arrives on the Sobu Line track #1 on the basement 5th and the Yamanote Line leaves from the elevated track #5.

Shimbashi Station map:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e877.html

You could go up to the ground level only via escalators from the Yokosuka Line track #1.

BTW, if you want to utilize the Tokyo Prince -- the Price Tokyo Park Tower -- Hamamatsucho complimentary shuttle, you could catch it from Hamamatsucho Station. It leaves quarter past the hour.

princehotels.co.jp/parktower/…businfo.pdf

You might exit the North Gate after you alight from the train.

You guys are truly awesome. Thank you for the detailed advice. It's the kind of insider guidance I was looking for. I'm going to go repay your kindness on the London board now!

>>I didn't recommended you to get off at Hamamatsucho because transfer from the Sobu Line ( Narita Express ) platform to the Yamanotge Line one is a tad long with luggage via several escalators and stairs. Look at the Tokyo Station map. BTW, Only Yamanote Line ( and Keihin-Tohoku Line except the daytime ) stop at Hamamatsucho.<<<

Yes, transfer to Yamanote Line at Tokyo station can be long, but you will be rewarded with much cheaper cab fare in the end. I got stuck in traffic on Hibiya Dori and paid over 3,500 yen the last time I took a cab to the Prince Tower from Shimbashi station. The Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku trains come every 1-3 minutes during daytime.

I took the train (50 mins) then taxi to my hotel in Hanzomon. Latter cost less than 10 UK Pounds. Also, if you have a valid JR pass you can use it for the return train journey.