Skip links

lesleymurphy

21 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Aruba

by Leave a Comment

I love being proved completely and utterly wrong.

The proof is in the photos…

Welcome to my view from the Ritz-Carlton Aruba! It’s by far one of my favorite properties in the entire Caribbean. If you’re looking to turn your relaxation mode ON, look no further…

A Caribbean sunset never disappoints.

Neither does a dip in its warm waters.

Fancy a beach chair?

A pastel sunset is my favorite sunset!

There is no better refresher than ice cold sangria in the comfort of your very own beach cabana.

Ahhhh. The Ritz in all her glory 🙂

Cheers to any day that starts out like this…

And ends like this.

If the hardest question of the day is beach or pool… then it’s a damn good day.

Ok, just one more sunset photo because…who doesn’t like a sunset photo?

Had to throw this one in! I’m a sucker for a beach wedding…

Bath time is my favorite time, especially when it involves rosé, macarons and ducks.

View from the Club Lounge. Cue all the heart emojis.

Welcome to the Club Lounge where all of my heart’s desires live, including but not limited to: breakfast, lunch and dinner 😉

How to stay active on vacation: switch up your perspective on a paddle board!

It’s bar o’clock at all hours of the day here.

An upgrade to a Deluxe Suite? Carry on!

Diving the Antilla ship wreck with Red Sail Sports, a MUST when in Aruba!

Brb, finding Nemo.

Leaving is such sweet sorrow! If you’re looking to expedite the security, Customs and Immigrations process with ease, book with First Class Aruba. The VIP arrival and departure services (with lounge access!) is all in their name 🙂

What to Know Before You Go

Climate: Perfectly warm and wonderful all year round

Language: Dutch and local language of Papiamento

Currency: Aruban florin, but USD is accepted on the island

Customs & Immigration: Passport required

Vibe: Relaxed, friendly, for families, couples or any getaway weekend. In a word: happy.

Greece Part II: How to Spend 48 Hours In Mykonos

by 3 Comments

Getting There

Take a flight from Athens or the high speed ferry from Crete to Mykonos (4 1/2 hours). If you happen to be in Santorini, it’s an even shorter ferry ride (two hours). Tip: Opt for the VIP section as its on the top deck and only costs about $15 more than a normal seat. It’s extremely comfortable with a bar inside, amazing views, plugs and spotty wifi throughout the 4 1/2 hour journey.

The Villa

Upon arrival to the Mykonos port, you can either hop in a cab or arrange transportation ahead of time. Our driver took us to our new Luxe Nomad villa in Ana Mero, about a 15 minute drive from the center of town.

Mykonos has a thing for white villas, and I have a thing for both Mykonos and villas. This was about to be a beautiful marriage. The amount of cozy nooks and posh crannies in this place had me wanting to sign, deal and deliver the deed. Nevermind the drive from town since ATVs were the preferred method of transportation anyhow – I could purchase one of those babies next. I’d invite Leo D. down for a second romp in the Mediterranean and voila! The rest would be history. #PaintMeLikeOneOfYourFrenchMediterraneanGirls

Yes, the villa had everything an A-lister could want: multiple bedrooms, private pool, comfy cabanas, white interiors, stucco facade, private helipad (necessary) and views of the shimmering sea below.

So if you aren’t exactly categorized as a celeb, Villa Dafni is a gem for families or getaway weekends with friends. If you have a big group, obviously you’ll want to forgo the ATV for a full blow vehicle since the full kitchen begs to be utilized and you’ll need a plethora of groceries. If you rent this villa, you better be whipping up some Moussaka, Greek salads, tzatziki and bavlaka. Just sayin’.

Mykonos Musts

  • Super Paradise Beach – Whaddyaknow. I found paradise and there wasn’t one single Bachelor affiliation with it. But seriously, this beach is attached the cutest little beach bar with loungers, food and cocktails. I visited during low season, so it was the calm before next year’s high-season storm (I’m talking crowds, not actual weather patterns people.) Visitors and locals live for the beach and drinks, drinks and beach, beach drinks and drinks beaches here. It’s not so hard to fit in if you like to have some fun.

  • Rent an ATV – Preferred method of transportation. Wear a helmet! Drivers in Greece are a wee bit crazy.

  • Windsurf – Wine and Mykonos go together like tacos and Tuesday, like salt n’ pepa, like Bill and Hilary (perhaps not the best analogy), like copy/paste, like fun-employment. Kalafati Beach, the beach directly below the villa, is known for its windsurfing.

  • Head to the city center – See the windmills, drink at the waterfront bars in Little Venice (Scarpa is great) and stuff your face with Greek restaurant goodies (two words: Eva’s Garden). There are loads of ATMS here, and shops stay open very late so that you can then spend all your ATM money at local boutiques. Tip: If you’re more about the photos and less about the alcohol, try visiting town earlier in the AM since locals, cruise shippers and other visitors will be too hungover to see the sun before mid-afternoon. Sunset, however, is a must-see and shoot.

  • Get lost in the washwashed cobblestone streets <3

Read about my time in Crete, Greece here.

Greece Part I: Exploring Crete with the Luxe Nomad

by 5 Comments

 

There are great advantages to this. Think lower prices, less crowds and thus ample time to accomplish more activities. Is now a good time to also bring up global warming? I visited Crete during the beginning of October (high season is in summer) and the weather was 80 degrees and sunny. Can’t get much better than that.

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Greece prior to this trip, so I only spent one day in Athens before hitting the islands. If your goal is island life over urban life, at the very least you must see the beauty of the Acropolis before sinking your toes in the sand. Chances are you’ll fly into Athens anyway, so take the Airport Metro, ride the 40 minutes to the city center (metro station Syntagma) and boom. You’ll arrive to Syntagma Square where it’s a short walk to one of my favorite hotels, Grande Bretagne, and the Acropolis.

Crete

Let the island life commence! My first stop was Crete, said to be the birthplace of Greek god Zeus and Greece’s largest island. It’s recommended to spend at least a week here due to its size and activities to accomplish. Some say it could be its own country, and there’s probably some truth to that. This island is a favorite among locals, so you know that’s a good sign.

From gorgeous beaches to ancient ruins and impressive mountainscapes and gorges, I had a lot to do. First up on the itinerary, however, was basking in the luxury of The Luxe Nomad‘s private villa at St. Nicolas Bay on the east side, about 45 minutes from the Heraklion airport. If you’re ever in need of something unique and truly beautiful, The Luxe Nomad specializes in luxury villas and hotel bookings all over the world!

The Villa

I was traveling with a good friend of mine, but we somehow scored a 4-bedroom villa with private pool and access to the ocean. Obviously, we needed more friends to join our big fat Greek party. This place is perfect for families, couples or friend getaways. Bachelorette party, anyone? Just sayin’… you’ll be perched on a secluded waterfront overlooking the jewel-toned hues of Mirabello Bay lounging in traditional Greek architecture and a casual chic ambiance. What more could you want besides some pink boas and a Chippendales dancer? KIDDING. Chippendales belong in Vegas, not Crete. But you belong here.

The Grounds

The private villa was attached to the stunning St. Nicolas Bay Resort & Villas, and I was immediately drawn to its laid-back, warm vibe. The staff couldn’t have been nicer and the amenities were in abundance, making it hard to ever need to leave the premises. I had water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, sun-bathing, paddle boarding, gym, spa and shopping at my finger tips. An art gallery and chapel were even available on-site alongside tasty Cretan cuisine like local cheese, olive oils and punchy liqueurs. Don’t worry. There will soon be an entire post dedicated to Greek cuisine. Get ready to be hungry…

Off-Property Exploration

It’s a frequent hardship of mine – basking in the villa amenities or getting in some off-property exploration. Ohhhh why me?! It’s similar to the age-old debate of beach vs. pool or taking the complimentary breakfast in your room or at the beautiful restaurant. What’s a traveler to do?

Before diving in, it’s important to note that you should probably rent a car if you’re here long enough. That’s my best advice.

Spinalonga Island – Situated off of the town of Plaka, this island kept lepers from Crete and the rest of Greece in isolation until 1957. You can reach the island via 10 minute boat ride from Plaka, or from Ayios Nikolaos or Elounda. Reserve around an hour or two for exploration.

Shopping in Agios Nikolaos – A few minute’s drive from the villa lies a small town with shops and cafes to meander through. I highly recommend walking through here one morning before the small crowds come.

Gorge of Richtis – If you only have time to explore eastern Crete, may I suggest hiking this gorge. Coming in at 4 km and with easy to moderate terrain, you’ll only need to allow around 3 hours for this baby.

Samariá Gorge Hike – I feel compelled to add this to the list even though I did not accomplish such activity as it’s hours away from eastern Crete. Coming in at 16 km, some say this is the longest gorge in all of Europe. If you have the time and are a lover of natural beauty, do it. Do it for me. I desperately wanted to, but you’ll need to spend a night or two in western Crete, which you should probably do anyhow for even more discovery!

Knossos – The historical attraction of the Palace of Knossos is 5 km south of Heraklion and was the Capital of Minoan Crete. Budget several hours to explore properly.

Olive Oil Farms – If you’re a fan of olives and their oils, visiting a farm provides excellent insight into the production of the healthy food.

How to get there

You can ferry or you can fly, and everyone has an opinion including me. Unless you want to spend 9 or more hours on a ferry drooling at the scenery (and maybe you do, although most are overnight), then op for the 45 minute flight from Athens via Aegean Air. It’s the most southerly island of the Aegean islands, hence the long ferry ride.

Checking In: The First Ever Live Beta Hotel

by 6 Comments

I recently spent a few days in the Queen City. First impressions: people like to talk to you. I doubled as a therapist for my Uber driver from the airport into the city. The barista from Coco and the Director and I are on a first name basis. Two entrepreneurs who started a skincare line are now my friends. And this all happened within 48 hours. I tell ya. If you’re in need of a friend, go to Charlotte.

Second impression: it’s tech savvy. After checking into Marriott’s live beta property, I began to notice the details: a very nontraditional lobby filled with iPads, charging stations everywhere, and beta buttons that mirror Instagram “likes”… just to name a few.

The Concept

Ever heard of a hotel that doubles as a test lab? Probably not until today. M Beta Marriott in Charlotte is the first of its kind where practices and ideas are tested, allowing for guest feedback to occur in real-time. Knowing what works and what doesn’t is key for refining the future of travel.

Take a look at the button board that shows how many guests “like” a concept. A beta button lives at every area in the hotel and as guests pass through, they can tap the button just like they would an Instagram photo. Ahh, gotta love living in the digital age.

Why I love It

1)   It screams local

M Beta Marriott puts a huge emphasis on staying true to Charlotte’s roots. The property sells craft beers in the bar from locals brewers alongside coffee from Carolina’s Forte Legato and local handicrafts in the gifting area. All three put a dent in my bank account.

2)   Community and Collaboration

Who doesn’t love some collabs these days? I’ve never seen a property cater to it as well as M Beta with their collaborative spaces and various ways that bring the outside community inside. Coffee shop Coco and the Director is named after this exact concept – Coco standing for COmmunity and COllaboration, with the Director being yourself. This cafe is a coffee shop-meets-boutique-meets-work space. I could literally spend all day in here jacked up on caffeine while diligently scribbling nonsense on the whiteboard below.

3)   A Point of Difference

From equipping the hotel with a wellness floor (complete with shower heads that spurt vitamin C!) to incorporating movie night with stadium seating and Wine + Color Wednesdays (just go, you’ll thank yourself later), this hotel isn’t afraid to be unique. They’ve even changed the arrival process by switching out reception desks with pods and equipping their mobile app with a mobile key, allowing guests to skip the pods entirely. When it comes to room service, they’ve said goodbye to the big table cart obstructions and replaced them with Fresh Bites bags. Think hand-picked ingredients that are hand-delivered to your door with incredibly easy clean-up.

4)   Gym

This area could also be filed under ‘Point of Difference’ but felt it was necessary to have a section all to itself. I love a good hotel gym. I don’t ask for much – a treadmill, some free weights, a mat, and hopefully more energy and less jet lag. Believe me, M Beta Marriott had all of that and wayyy more. The fitness on-demand workout room housed bikes and floor space alongside hundreds of workouts to choose from. You can tailor classes to your abilities/needs/time constraints/level of fitness/etc. I’m also filing this section under ‘Home Interior Goals.’

5)   One Pound Donuts

Now that we’ve discussed the gym, I feel that there’s no time like the present to discuss one pound donuts. A great segue, right? It’s important to get some cheat days in your life, and the food at M Beta does a body good. From Stoke Restaurant’s farm-to-table southern-style concept to the exclusive M Lounge treats, I was in a food coma during most of my visit. Nothing that a few visits to the on-demand studio can’t fix.

Until next time, Charlotte!

This post was made in partnership with Marriott, however, my opinions remain my own.

How to Survive Air Travel

by 3 Comments

During my first professional year in the skies, I used airplanes as my home office. After all, I did live out of a suitcase 24/7 which meant no plush leather chair, no wide screen TV mounted on the wall opposite my work station, no picture frame beside my nonexistent desktop with an overpriced paperweight holding down seemingly important documents to peruse through. My version of a home office was in 27B with a seat pitch of 29 inches and a power outlet under my legs on a good day. Pretzels or peanuts, ice or no ice, safety videos and landing procedures were the kind of distractions I was used to. Don’t even get me started on Skymall.

That was then, this is now, and Skymall no longer exists so there’s that. If you’re a frequent traveler like myself (and even if you aren’t), try these remedies to make a long flight worthwhile.

1. Escape

These days, I look for a plan that takes up as much time as possible in-flight, and I’m not talking about work. Cue in-flight entertainment. Yep, I’m talking unlimited movies, series, playlists and flight trackers. On a recent business trip from Charlotte to Vegas, I partnered with Delta whose new free In-Flight Entertainment saved the day! I finally got a much needed break from the writing, editing and planning by downloading the GoGo Entertainment app before departure. I used my computer battery first with movie after movie and saved the iPhone battery for series after series. Anyone seen Me Before You? Swooooon. If not, I won’t ruin it for you, but it’ll pull at your heart strings.

2. Manage Your Jet Lag

It doesn’t matter if you’re flying from west to east coast or halfway around the world – this one is easier said than done. Jet lag is rough on the mind and body, and there are few ways around it. The best thing to do is to treat your body well before flight. Exercising, hydrating, sleeping lots will help. Same with steering clear of copious amounts of alcohol before and during flight.

3. Take Care of Your Health

You know when the nice Flight Attendant asks what you’d like to drink? Go with water, always. If you’re older (and thus wiser), deep vein thrombosis is a real threat. May I suggest an aisle seat? Get up and get moving at various times throughout the flight. Stretch out if no one is sitting next to you. Maybe by 2050 there will be tracks around the plane, but until then, walk up and down the aisle a few times. I’ve also seen various people donning compression socks on longer flights. Whatever works!

4. Bring Your Go-To Items

Headphones? Check. Hand sanitizer? Check. Phone charger? Check. Scarf? Check. I don’t travel without these items as they are crucial for my health, entertainment and comfort. If it’s a long-haul flight, I typically break out the eye mask, ear plugs and small pillow since you can’t put a price on comfort. I also make sure that these items are in my purse under the seat in front of me. I hate being that person who asks the aisle guy to move so I can grab something out of the overhead bin.

5. Make A Friend

Have you ever had the talker sit next to you? I mean the person who starts a conversation before they even buckle their seatbelt? The woman who will chat about anything from the weather to the cute looking Captain in the front? Same. Upon landing, however, I noticed how incredibly fast the flight went by. Chatty McChatterson actually made those hours more enjoyable. Plus, you never know where a new relationship could take you.

6. Don’t Be Late

Oh, how I’ve been here so many times. Too many times, actually. Let me tell you from experience that sleeping in a mere 30 minutes more doesn’t do your beauty rest any good when you’re stressed out in an Uber, telling the driver to book it. Being on time, or better yet early, for a flight makes for smooth sailing. Even if there is a plane delay, at least you’re well-fed, stress-free with work emails completed…ready for some free Delta In-Flight Entertainment. Coming from someone who is constantly on an airplane, I’m grateful that instead of treating an airplane like an office, now it can double as a cozy living room 🙂

This post was made in partnership with Delta, however, my opinions remain my own.

The Weird and the Wonderful: A Guide to Tokyo, Japan

by 7 Comments

What to know before you go

Population: 20 million people

Money: Japanese Yen // 100 Yen=1 USD

Climate: Subtropical climate zone with hot humid summers and generally mild winters

Visa: Passport holders of 67 countries who intend to visit Japan for 90 days or less are not required to obtain a visa, including the U.S., Canada, the EU and Australia.

Language: Japanese; English is more widely spoken in Tokyo than other parts of Japan, but don’t expect it on every street corner you visit. Despite the lack of English, there are many English signs and menus. Other than that, grab some patience and good humor and you’ll be fine. Here are a few phrases you can learn to make life a little bit easier:

Hello: Konnichiwa

Bye: Sayonara

Thank You: Arigato

Excuse Me: Sumimasen

Sorry: Gomen nasai

Where is the bathroom: Toire wa doko desu?

Toiletry: This is a Japanese toilet, a machine very different from a western-style toilet. Look at all the buttons! This toilet of the future has features such as a heated seat, a built-in shower and dryer, automatic lid opener, and yes ladies and gentlemen, it plays music. I’m not even going to get into the other advanced features at this time…

DO

Cat Cafe – What do you mean you’ve never heard of a cat cafe? They’re completely normal institutions, right?

Hahahahahardly. I don’t know many countries where these “cafes” are the norm. Quite a few exist around Tokyo, and it’s absolutely the most ridiculous concept since you literally just sit in a cafe and hang out with cats. The cafe concept comes into play because you’re made to order a beverage, and I actually don’t even know if there is a morsel of food anywhere. Look. I’m not a cat person, and this experience certainly didn’t turn me into one. Don’t let this face fool you…

It does not want to play.

Like, at all.

Even though I gave it a valiant effort.

In the end, we were both bored to tears.

I tell you this not to discourage you from going. It was a hilarious 30 minutes, but WOW a dog cafe would’ve been a better route to take. Out of 17 cats, not one wanted to play. That being said, I still highly suggest it.

Tokyo Tower – This is Japan’s version of the Eiffel Tower. It has an observation deck up top where you can see a great view of the city as it’s the second tallest building in all of Tokyo. You’ll notice its flashy colors from miles away – it’s painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.

Tokyo Skytree – If you were wondering what the tallest structure is in all of Tokyo, it’s right here. It also claims bragging rights as the second tallest tower in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Shopping in Harajuku – In the alleyway next to the Laforet shopping mall, the most incredible area exists. Tell me. In what country did you have the biggest shopping spree? I’m talking such a big shopping spree that you could’ve filled another suitcase? Well, mine was Japan, specifically in Tokyo (but I had some help from Kyoto and Osaka). For everyone who asks about my white sunglasses or rompers/jumpers, they came from here!

Visit a Japanese spa (aka Onsen) – Oedo Onsen Monogatari near Tokyo Bay takes the cake for the weirdest experience of my life. Hands down. It’s a Japanese spa/carnival/camp. Intrigued yet? Good. Let me paint you a little picture. You walk in, get a wristband and choose a yukata (robe).

[Note to all my tatted-up readers: there is a no tattoo policy. This stems from various reasons, but many Japanese locals don’t have them while many foreigners do – which is where things get problematic. It’s a bit complex, but with Japan tourism rising, it is becoming harder and harder for businesses to turn away inked visitors, especially when a third of them come to experience hot springs or onsens. This, though, poses a problem for the locals whose reasoning for not enjoying ink stems anywhere from believing its a symbol of organized crime to that it’s disrespectful to their parents. In the end, I think it’s safe to say that Japanese art in general is very influential when it comes to tattoos, which is funny to then think that such iconic Japanese figures or phrases will actually prevent people from entering Japanese hot springs and spa. Okay, okay, I digress.]

Back to the weird/awesome/naked onsen party. It’s like a spa…

meets carnival…

meets delectable food court…

meets camp.

And it’s the best damn thing I’ve ever been a part of. I highly recommend going into the women and men spas as well. Just to prep you a bit: You can’t even take a towel into the spa as you must leave everything in lockers. If that wasn’t clear enough, you can’t take a thread of clothing with you. Even on your body. It’s actually a beautiful experience, and my friend and I were the only westerners in sight! Heyyyy, authenticity.

Sumo wrestling match – Only around four sumo wresting matches happen per year, so you gotta get lucky with timing. I did not, but we tried our hardest to even see a practice match, but they weren’t practicing during the few days we were visiting. Waawaaa. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Shibuya Center, Times Square of Tokyo – If you’re looking for that “Holy crap I’m in Tokyo!” moment, come here. It’s vibrant, it’s busy and it’s beyond energetic. Rumored to be the world’s busiest intersection, it’s incredible to see people coming from all different directions yet still manage to dodge each other with a sense of practiced agility (except that one man who was super drunk and fell 5 times trying to cross the street. Ugh. Get it together, man). Think karaoke, 100 Yen shops (which translates to $1 shops) strip clubs and many, many solicitors. All in all, a pretty good replica of the real Times Square!

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden – As Tokyo’s most renowned park, Shinjuku provides a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle. It’s not all concrete jungle here. In the spring, this is where you want to be for Cherry Blossom viewing!

EAT

I’m not kidding when I say I got fat in Japan. Between the rice, the noodles and more rice, I blew up like a balloon. Now you know the real reason I did so much shopping. New weight, new clothes. I’m kidding. It wasn’t that bad. I just couldn’t resist the sugar. Whatever you do, get the Croquant Chou Zakuzaku. Say that five times fast. I caught this woman stuffing said zakuzaku with some sort of cream-like filling. I didn’t ask questions, and neither should you.

Immediately after I devoured the zakuzaku, I went for a crepe. Don’t you dare judge me. You are SO judging me right now I know it. Oh well. I didn’t know if I’d ever make it back to Harajuku, and what if all the rest of the world’s crepes suddenly disappeared in an instant? I didn’t want to live a crepe-less life.

Robot Dinner – This was the most ridiculous experience of my life, and I’m fully aware that I just said the same statement only a few activities above. That’s Tokyo for you – always giving you something new to marvel at. I don’t know how to adequately describe it other than it’s not really a dinner. You can order a sushi bento box (I wouldn’t), but I’d stick with the beer or canned moscow mules and popcorn. Get ready for lights…

Robots, duh…

A drumline…

Weird furry animal humans…

And dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs.

Sushi Bar Yasuda – Thanks to Anthony Bourdain‘s expensive taste and Chef Yasuda’s talent, this popular sushi bar came to life. Bourdain learned all his sushi knowledge from the Master Chef himself. Anyways, the sushi here is unreal. Just go and spend the money.

Alice in Wonderland Cafe – Someone please tell me they saw my snaps of this place. I was in real-life Wonderland, and if you missed it, that’s on you. There are a few all over the city, but we went here. There are so many of these character cafes to try.

Vending Machine Ramen – Do not be alarmed! This is totally normal. It’s not like the machine pops out noodles for you, either. You choose your bowl, the machine prints a ticket, and you give it to the people at the counter.

Tsukiji Fish market – To the early risers of the world: this one is for you as things start happening around 5am. Even if you aren’t an early riser, still go, but it shuts down around noon-ish. This is where 3,000 tons of the world’s best seafood arrives every day. Walk around sampling all kinds of weird creatures. I made an impromptu purchase of a sushi knife…as if I actually make sushi or something. I have no idea what I was thinking with that one. One day…

STAY

Park Hotel Tokyo was my base for three lovely nights. I highly recommend their views, their concierge and their location as it’s super close to the Tokyo Tower, the fish market, the Skytree, notable gardens and parks.

Getting Around

There are two main airports in Tokyo:

Narita is the main airport for international flights and Haneda mostly serves domestic flights. Narita is about an hour’s drive into the city (maybe even 2 with horrid traffic), with limousine bus being the most direct mode of transportation for a pretty penny. Many people go for the Skyliner train for ¥2,400 per person, one way. The high-speed express train connects Narita Airport and downtown Tokyo. Haneda is much closer at about a 30 minute drive. Take the monorail, costing ¥490 per person, one way.

Taxis are great but rather expensive, so may I suggest the subway. Don’t get overwhelmed as it’s actually simple once you get the hang of things. Life is an adventure, especially life in Tokyo.

The Tokyo Metro system (which uses a symbol “M”) is efficient, clean, and easy to use. Altogether, there are 13 underground subway lines crisscrossing the city. Each line is color-coded. Vending machines at all subway stations sell tickets, which begin at ¥160 for the shortest distance and increase according to the distance you travel.

As an alternative to subways, electric commuter trains operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR) run aboveground. These trains are also color-coded, with fares beginning at ¥130. Buy your ticket from vending machines the same as you would for the subway.

Over to you! Been to Tokyo? Give me your thoughts and suggestions below!!

Instagram

lesleyannemurphy

Crop Image