Access to IPMU

From Narita Airport

Typically, you fly to the Narita International Airport. Note that there are two terminals at the Narita airport, depending on which airline you fly. Make sure you know which one you will be arriving at.

There are many routes to get from the Narita airport to Kashiwa. Which one is the best depends on how much luggage you carry, how impatient you are, where you are staying, and how comfortable you are with the Japanese train system. Here are descriptions of four major methods.

By Taxi

If you can afford a taxi, this is the simplest way to reach IPMU (approximately one hour and 15,000yen).

By Airport bus

Next easiest method is to take the Airport bus to The Kashiwa Crest Hotel (1,700yen and approx. 110 min, but subject to traffic condition), walk 2 minutes to JR Kashiwa station, and take either taxi or the local bus to reach the Kashiwa campus. The catch is that it doesn't run very frequently. The departure times are 7:10, 9:00, 11:05, 13:35, 15:35, 17:35, 18:35, 20:35 as of March 2008. They depart from the bus stop #5 from Terminal 1, or the bus stop #12 from Terminal 2. Baggage is restricted to one piece per person (excluding carry-ons); 50% extra fees will be charged for additional baggage. There is a ticket counter for buses on the 1st floor of each airport terminal. (buy a ticket to "Kashiwa Station")

To get to the Kashiwa Campus from The Crest Hotel, take either a local bus (see directions in "From Tokyo downtown" below) or a taxi (2,000 - 3,000 yen).

By train

Take the Keisei Line bound for Ueno from the basement of the airport terminal, (Limited Express: 1,450yen or Skyliner: 2,370yen), transfer to JR Joban line Rapid Service bound for Abiko or Toride at Nippori station, to reach JR Kashiwa station. The trains run very frequently, and take about 110 min (Limited Express) or less than 100 min (Skyliner), overall. Take either the local bus or a taxi from the JR Kashiwa station to reach the Kashiwa Campus.

By train for experts

This is what many locals do. It is not recommended if you are not comfortable with the Japanese train system or if you have a lot of luggage. On the other hand, it is often the fastest and cheapest (900yen), and runs about twice an hour. Note that our reimbursement system is based on this train fare, not other methods. You first go from the basement of the airport terminal, and take either JR or Keisei line to Narita. In the case of the Keisei Narita station, you need to walk about 3-5 minutes to JR Narita station. From the JR Narita station, take JR Narita line to Abiko, transfer to Joban line bound for Ueno and get off at Kashiwa. (In many case, the train goes directly from Narita bound for Ueno to Kashiwa without a need to transfer at Abiko.)

The train tickets can be purchased using the vending machines in front of the gates. You slide the tickets into the electronic gates to gain entries to the stations.

Here is how Hitoshi Murayama uses this route.

From Haneda Airport

By Bus

Take the Highway bus bound for Kashiwa station (Kashiwa Eki) from the bus stop #13 (approx. 70min.; 1,500 yen). Prior to taking the bus, purchase a ticket from vending machine located between the bus stop #8 and #9. Get off at National Cancer Center (Kokuritsu Gan Senta). Walk to Kashiwa campus (2 minites).

From Tokyo downtown

IPMU can be accessed from three train stations, each with its own pros and cons.

The most convenient one is Kashiwanoha Campus station on the Tsukuba Express (TX) line. This is a new and very fast train (130 km/h), and takes only 30 minutes from Akihabara in downtown Tokyo. IPMU is 25 minutes walk or 5 minutes bus ride from the station. Take either #03 or #04 bus from the bus stop #1 at the West Exit of the station and get off at National Cancer Center ("Kokuritsu Gan Senta"). The downside is that the bus does not run as frequently as you may like. Renting a bicycle from the train station (200 yen/day) is a very good alternative and even cheaper than the bus. If you are in a hurry, take a taxi for about 1,000 yen, and tell the driver you need to go to "Todai" (pronounced Toh-dye) or "Gan Senta" .

Here is a map of the area.

Kashiwa Campus Information Map (Kashiwa International Office)

Another one close to IPMU is Kashiwa station (West Exit) on the JR Joban line. This is the easiest station to come from the Narita airport. The bus runs every 10 minutes to National Cancer Center. Take either #44 or #01 bus from the bus stop #2 of the West Exit of the station. The downside is that the bus ride takes 25 minutes, and sometimes even 40 minutes during rush hours. A taxi would cost 2,000 yen to 3,000 yen, and takes about the same time as the bus.

The last one is Edogawadai station on the Tobu Noda line, which is about 30 minutes walk or 10 minutes bus ride from IPMU. Unfortunately the bus service is rather infrequent. A taxi will cost about 1,000 yen.

Timetables for local bus lines (PDF)

From the National Cancer Center bus stop

Use this map to find IPMU.

Kashiwa Campus Map: Map of Kashiwa campus for IPMU.

By Driving

Get off at Kashiwa I.C. on the Joban Express Way. Go toward Chiba along Route 16, turn right at the first traffic signal (after about 1km). IPMU main gate is on your right after about 1km (4th traffic rights).