Which airport to land at in Japan?
Fly away!
Several international flights are offered daily from International destinations around the world to Japan. These flights land at three international airports in Japan: Narita and Haneda in Tokyo, as well as Kansai (Osaka-Kyoto). Which one to choose?
It all depends on where you base in Japan. If Tokyo is your destination, we recommend Narita or Haneda airports. These airports give you easy access to the sites of Hakone, Yokohama, or even Nikko through the Shinkansen lines by extension towards Kanazawa and all northern regions of Japan (Tohoku).
Haneda Airport
Haneda has been reassigned as an international airport since 2010, in addition to being the preferred airport for all domestic routes for national and low-cost carriers.
Its great advantage is to bring you immediately to the center of Tokyo, utilizing the Keikyu railway lines, direct to Shinagawa where you have a connection with the JR lines. You also have the choice with the Tokyo Monorail, which takes you to Hamamatsucho, connected with the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines.
If you have to go to major stations in Tokyo or Shinjuku, you will need to transfer trains, which is never ideal with luggage. Limousine Buses also offer their services as you can do Haneda-Tokyo in 45 min (930 yen / $8.75 or 7.75€). Otherwise, you still have the taxi solution, but much more costly.
Narita Airport
This airport is located 75 kilometers from Tokyo, in service since 1978, originally intended to relieve congestion at Haneda. Access is easy thanks to the JR and Keisei railway lines. The Keisei's Narita Sky Access drops you off in Nippori in 36 minutes. It's longer with the JR Narita Express but you can go directly to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, or Tokyo.
There too you will find Limousine Buses, which will take you to Tokyo's main train stations in around 70 min for 1,000 yen ($9/€ 8).
Kansai Airport
If you want to visit Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, you need to land at Kansai Airport and you will quickly go to Hiroshima and up to Kyushu in Shinkansen.
You have the choice between JR and Nankai Railway.
The JR Haruka express train connects Shin-Osaka in 50 min and Kyoto in 75 min. A classic express train can take you to Kobe in 105 min At Nankai, the Rapi:t train takes 35 min to the heart of Osaka, in Namba.
We should not also forget the Chubu International Airport in Nagoya. Meitetsu trains provide easy access to central Nagoya. The only problem is that international flight arrivals are limited in Chubu.
These international airports are equipped with useful services such as sending luggage in advance to your hotel by Ta-Q-Bin, shower facilities, many restaurants and shops that offer heaps of souvenirs of all kinds, sometimes very good quality. Allow time to stroll through these places for a look around.
