Gateways to Japan
Japan is an island country.
So, the tourists to Japan will use airplane.
There are four international airports in Japan.
Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) are the nearest airports of Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
Kansai Airport (KIX) is the nearest airport of Osaka and Kyoto, the central part of western Japan.
Chubu Airport (NGO) is the nearest airport of Nagoya, the central part of central Japan between Tokyo and Osaka.
Narita Airport Haneda Airport Kansai Airport Chubu Airport Other Airports Flight time to Japan
Narita Airport
Map of Narita Airport
Narita Airport is located about 60 km east of Tokyo.
All flights arrive between 6:00 and 21:30.
Trains to central Tokyo
To the center of Tokyo, two railway companies operate many limited expresses.
Narita Express is the limited express of JR East company, and "Japan Rail Pass" is available.
It is operated once or twice per hour, and makes a stop at main stations in central Tokyo (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku) and Yokohama.
It takes about an hour between Narita Airport and Tokyo station.
Skyliner is the limited express of Keisei Railway company.
But "Japan Rail Pass" is not available.
It is very fast and the terminal station is Ueno in Tokyo.
It takes about 50 minutes to Ueno, and it is operated two or three times per hour.
In addition, commuter limited expresses are operated frequently, and it takes about an hour to central Tokyo.
Narita Express
Keisei Skyliner
Express Bus to central Tokyo
Many express buses are operated frequently toward Tokyo area.
The destinatons are Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT), main railway stations, some major hotels, Haneda Airport, etc.
T-CAT is a big terminal for airport bus, and it is located in Nihonbashi near Tokyo station.
"Airport Limousine" bus company operates the express buses mainly.
It takes between 60 and 70 minutes from Narita to TCAT.
But traffic congestion often causes around Tokyo.
Therefore, when you use express bus, you should keep in mind that it may arrive behind schedule.
Haneda Airport
Map of Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport is located in the south part of central Tokyo.
Therefore, it is very convenient to visit Tokyo.
It had been the main airport in Tokyo, but it had become the airport for domestic flight after the open of Narita Airport in 1978.
Since the 2000s, the international flights are increasing by the expansion work.
There are some international flights at midnight.
But the train, monorail and bus to central Tokyo are not operated between 24:00 and 5:00.
At that time, you must use taxi or stay in the airport until morning.
Trains to central Tokyo
To the center of Tokyo, Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Railway are operated.
Both of them operate many trains frequently.
It takes 20 to 30 minutes to the center of Tokyo.
You can use "Japan Rail Pass" for Tokyo Monorail, but it is not availble for Keikyu.
The terminal station of Tokyo Monorail is Hamamatsucho, and you can transfer to JR Yamonote loop line.
Keikyu line leads to Shinagawa, and you can transfer to JR Yamonote loop line.
In addition, the train goes direct to subway line and you can go to Ginza and Asakusa.
Tokyo Monorail
Keikyu train
Express Bus to central Tokyo
"Airport Limousine" bus company operates the express buses mainly.
It takes between 40 and 60 minutes from Haneda to central Tokyo.
Kansai Airport
Map of Kansai Airport
Kansai Airport is located on an artificial island about 40 km southwest of Osaka city.
It has also many international flights.
Osaka is the central city in western Japan.
There are the historical cities of Kyoto, Nara and Kobe around Osaka.
There are some flights at midnight.
A few express buses to Osaka are operated every an hour at midnight.
Because the airport is on an artificial island, the passengers can go to the mainland only by train, bus or taxi.
If you don't catch the midnight bus, you must use taxi or stay in the airport until morning.
Trains to central Osaka
To the center of Osaka, two railway companies operate many limited expresses.
Haruka is the limited express of JR West company, and "Japan Rail Pass" is available.
It is operated twice per hour, and makes a stop at main stations in central Osaka (Tennoji, Osaka, Shin-Osaka) and Kyoto.
It takes about 50 minutes between Kansai Airport and Osaka station, and about 80 minutes to Kyoto.
In addition, commuter limited expresses are operated frequently, and it takes about an hour to central Osaka.
Rapi:t is the limited express of Nankai Railway company.
But "Japan Rail Pass" is not available.
The terminal station of Nankai Railway is Nanba in the center of Osaka.
It takes about 40 minutes to Nanba, and it is operated twice per hour.
In addition, commuter limited expresses are operated frequently, and it takes about 50 minutes to Nanba.
Limited express Haruka
Rapi:t of Nankai Railway
Express bus & Ship to Kansai area
From Kansai Airport, express buses are operated frequently.
The destinations are not only Osaka but also Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Especially, the bus to Osaka is operated all night.
As the main bus terminal in Osaka , Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) is set up in Nanba station of Nankai Railway.
Of course, it is one of the destinations from Kansai Airport.
And from OCAT, you can use the express buses to Itami Airport for domestic flight and various cities in Japan.
From Kansai Airport, shuttle ship is operated to Kobe Airport to the north.
It is operated every one or two hours, and it takes about 30 minutes.
Chubu Airport
Map of Chubu Airport
Chubu Airport is located on an artificial island about 30 km south of Nagoya city.
It is called "Centrair" as the nickname.
And it is also called "Central Japan International Airport".
The number of the flight is smaller than the other international airports, but it is the main international airport in the central Japan.
Nagoya is located between Tokyo and Osaka.
It takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to Tokyo, 35 minutes to Kyoto and 50 minutes to Osaka from Nagoya by Shinkansen (high-speed train).
Therefore, Chubu Airport is also a convenient airport as the gateway to Japan.
Train to central Nagoya
μ-SKY of Meitetsu railway
To Nagoya city, only Meitetsu railway companies operates many limited expresses frequently.
"Japan Rail Pass" is not available.
The fast limited express is μ-SKY and it is operated twice per hour.
It makes a stop at main stations in central Nagoya city (Jingu-mae, Kanayama, Nagoya).
Nagoya station is the central terminal and there is also the station of Shinkansen.
It takes within 30 minutes between Chubu Airport and the stations in Nagoya.
In addition, commuter limited expresses are operated frequently, and it takes about 40 to 50 minutes to central Nagoya.
Express bus & Ship to Tokai region
Express buses are operated from Chubu Airport.
But, the destinations are mainly some local city around Nagoya in Tokai region.
The buses to central Nagoya city are operated only a few times a day, so it is convenient to use Meitetsu railway when you go to Nagoya.
From Chubu Airport, high-speed ship is operated to Tsu city in Mie Prefecture to the southwest across Ise Bay.
It is operated every two or three hours, and it takes about 45 minutes.
When you visit Mie Prefecture, it is fast and convenient.
Other airports with international flights
Basically, above four airports are the gateways to Japan.
The following local airports are around large cities, and have some international flights from South Korea, Taiwan, China and the countries of Southeast Asia.
When you visit Japan from such local area, check and plan to use the airport.
Flight time to Japan
The approximate flight times from main cities in the world to Narita or Haneda are the following.
Asia
Seoul (South Korea) = 2.0 to 2.5 hours
Taipei (Taiwan) = 3.0 to 3.5 hours
Shanghai (China) = 3.0 to 3.5 hours
Hong Kong (China) = 4.0 to 4.5 hours
Hanoi (Vienam) = 5 hours
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) = 7 hours
Singapore = 7 hours
Manila (Philippines) = 4.5 hours
Jakarta (Indonesia) = 7.5 hours
Bangkok (Thailand) = 6.5 hours
Delhi (India) = 8.5 hours
Dubai = 10 hours
Vladivostok (Russia) = 2.5 hours
Oceania, Pacific Ocean
Sydney (Australia) = 9.5 hours
Auckland (New Zealand) = 11 hours
Honolulu (Hawaii, U.S.) = 8.5 hours
Europe, Africa
London (U.K.) = 12 hours
Paris (France) = 12 hours
Frankfurt (Germany) = 11.5 hours
Rome (Italy) = 12.5 hours
Madrid (Spain) = 13 hours
Helsinki (Finland) = 9.5 hours
Moscow (Russia) = 9.5 hours
Cairo (Egypt) = 12.5 hours
The Americas
Vancouver (Canada) = 11 hours
Los Angels (U.S.) = 11.5 hours
New York (U.S.) = 14.5 hours
Mexico City (Mexico) = 15 hours
The countries in South America and most part of Africa have no direct flight to Japan.