http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/tim...

Does the symbols | and || mean that the train is skipping those stations?

And also, I will be arriving in Narita Airport at about 4.20pm via JAL, how long does it take to pass customs? I will be there on Thursday, 24th September.

- If you take Keisei Limited Express, it's true, it's only 1,000 yen or so to Nippori, then you change trains to JR Yamanote Line. You just go over the bridge that spans across several platforms, goes through one gate, find "Yamanote Line for Ikebukuro/Shinjuku" platform, so it's not that complicated :). Keisei Limited Express is a regular commuter train, so long seats and no particular storage space for big luggage. But no problem coming FROM the airport.
- If you take the Keisei Skyliner, it costs 1,920 yen to Nippori, and you have front facing rows of two seats, and there is some storage space for big luggage.

A Suica & N'EX package is available to a non-Japanese traveler, which includes a discount ticket. This ticket, virtually costing1,500 yen, can work as a Narita Express [N'EX] ticket from NRT and also as a one-day fare ticket to Ikebukuro (without a stopover or turning back).
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html

: I will be arriving in Narita Airport at about 4.20pm

Then presumably you can try booking Narita Express 36 / 38 / 40 / 42.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/travel_info/service_center/index.html
- Narita Express 36 and 38 stop at Ikebukuro. (Narita Express 36 has two parts for different directions until Tokyo).
- Taking Narita Express 40, you can change at Shinagawa to a train on Yamanote Line's outer loop (Track 2), on which you will get to Ikebukuro in about 30 minutes.
- Taking Narita Express 42, you can change at Shibuya to a Local or Rapid train coming later into the same track (= Track 3), on which you will get to Ikebukuro in 10 minutes or so.
- When a train you're going to catch at Shinagawa / Shibuya, wait for a next one if time permits. Trains for Ikebukuro are running until around midnight, and the discount ticket is valid even for the last one.

: I wouldnt have to change trains, quite afraid of getting lost.

I feel no fear of your getting lost as to any of the three transfer options (Nippori, Shibuya, Shinagawa).

: the symbols | and || mean that the train is skipping those stations

Here the symbol | means "not stopping at" and the symbol || means "not via."

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NOT: the three transfer options (Nippori, Shibuya, Shinagawa).
BUT: the three transfer options (Nippori, Shinagawa and Shibuya).

Thanks.

By the way: all N'EX seats are non-smoking seats.

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