Japan Transport

Most major airlines and airports offer flights to Japan. Japan’s own two leading airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), both serve a broad range of international destinations. In total, there are 174 airports in Japan.

Japan Airlines (JAL), Japan Air System (JAS), JAL Express and J-Air are some of the airlines belonging to the JAL Group, while All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Air Nippon are some of the airlines belonging to the ANA Group.
In addition, there are several minor, independent airline companies, such as Skymark Airlines (connecting Tokyo with Fukuoka, Tokushima and Kagoshima), Air Do (connecting Tokyo with Sapporo and Asahikawa in Hokkaido) and Fairinc (connecting Osaka with Sendai, Matsuyama and Oita).

While most people fly into Tokyo, there are several other ways of getting to and from Japan. For a start, there are many other airports in Japan, some of which make more convenient entry points than the New Tokyo International Airport (Narita International Airport).

Generally, Japan's airports are clean, well-organized places. They are also quite expensive and often far from the cities they serve. Also, while the large international airports have English signs, English-speaking staff are scarce and other languages are barely catered to at all. Bilingual staff is even scarcer in smaller airports, despite having some international flights. However, being so well-organized, the average traveller will find Japan’s airports user-friendly.

Japan's most significant international airport is Tokyo's Narita Airport, followed by Osaka's Kansai Airport and Nagoya's Centrair Airport.
Other Japanese airports offer small numbers of international flights mainly to Korea, China and other Asian destinations.  

Narita Airport is vast; to bring some order to its proceedings, facilities are split according to floor levels. There are exceptions of course and for full details you can visit their site, given below. There are numerous facilities for passing the time, business needs and especially for handicap travellers. Wheelchairs are freely-loaned and a Braille airport guide is available, among other thoughtful amenities.

Haneda Airport is also called Big Bird and formerly known as Tokyo International Airport. When Narita Airport was completed, all international flights were directed there and Haneda became Japan’s major domestic airport. It is less than 30 minutes from downtown Tokyo. There are a multitude of airport facilities ranging from the usual banks, post office and restaurants to a dentist, beauty salon and Shinto shrine. 
For flight and other information, call 03-5757-8111.
Tokyo’s domestic Haneda Airport is much closer to downtown. 
Trains, taxis and buses take an average of 30 minutes to reach central Tokyo.

Osaka's Kansai Airport serves both, international and domestic flights. It took over a large share of Osaka's second airport, Itami Airport, which continues to handle domestic flights.
Osaka’s Kansai Airport offers a choice of trains ranging in time and cost. 
The trip takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to reach different areas of Osaka. 
Taxis and buses are also options.

Nagoya’s Centriar Airport is on a small island. Arriving and departing passengers can use the train as well as the ferry. 
The Nagoya train makes the journey between the airport and downtown Nagoya Station in just 30 minutes. 
High speed ferries are operated between Centrair and Tsu Port and Toba Port. 
Taxis and buses are also options.

Japan's fourth largest international airport is Fukuoka Airport, which links the city with several Asian destinations.
Fukuoka Airport is linked to the city centre by the Kuko subway line. 
In addition, many major hotels offer shuttle bus service to and from the airport, either complimentary or for a fee.
Taxis and buses are also options.

The fastest option from major airports is the train. Narita Airport has the speedy JR Narita Express (NEX), or the slightly slower JR Sobu Line (Rapid Service). Trains depart every 30-60 minutes and take roughly 75 minutes to reach downtown Tokyo Station, where trains connect to other areas of the city.
A slower, yet more frequent option than the train is the Limousine Bus, departing Narita Airport every 15 to 20 minutes. The journey takes about 100 minutes to downtown Tokyo.

Using buses in Japan can be intimidating to foreign tourists, because there are usually few English signs and announcements. There are also different systems of using buses depending on the company.

In Tokyo, Osaka and some other large cities, buses serve as secondary means of public transportation, complementing the train and subway networks. In cities with less dense train networks like Kyoto, buses are the main means of public transportation.

Buses also serve smaller towns, the countryside and national parks. Major cities are, furthermore, linked by highway and long distance buses. Long distance bus travel is cheaper and slower than using the train. Many overnight buses are equipped with comfortable, reclining seats. On cheaper overnight buses and most daytime buses, standard bus seats with four seats per row are commonly used. Seat reservations are necessary on most long distance buses. Reservations can be made at major bus terminals, through travel agents, by phone (usually in Japanese only) or online (in Japanese only). Reservations for JR highway buses can also be made at ticket counters of JR railway stations.

Making a reservation one or more days in advance is recommended especially on popular routes and during busy travel seasons. However, if there is space left, it is also possible to get a seat reservation just prior to departure at the bus terminal.

Renting a car is an option worth considering if you plan to explore rural Japan, where public transportation is not as convenient or frequent as it is in the cities. If you are travelling in groups, a rental car can also be an economical alternative.

Exploring Japan's big cities by car, however, is not recommended. Traffic tends to be heavy, navigation is difficult, and parking fees are high. Trains, subways and buses are generally a better choice in urban areas.

In order to rent and drive a car in Japan, a Japanese driving license or an international driving permit is required. In case of France, Germany and Switzerland, an official translation of your home country's driving license is required. International driving permits must be obtained in your home country, usually through the national Automobile Association and must be accompanied by your home country's driving license in order to be valid. They are valid for one year.

Most Japanese car rental companies do not provide English websites, and service in English is usually not available.

International car rental companies such as Budget, Avis and Hertz offer car rental in Japan, typically in cooperation with one of the leading Japanese car rental companies, however, their rates are generally higher.

Japan has an extensive network of domestic ferry routes which connect to the many islands, big and small.

While Japan's four major islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, are connected with each other by bridges and tunnels, most smaller islands can only be reached by boat. Even between the major four islands, ferries can be an interesting, and sometimes faster alternative to trains, buses and airplanes.

On most ferries, passengers have the choice of three classes - 1st class, 2nd class and Special class. 1st class cabins are equipped with 2-4 beds, 2nd class has two options, the cheapest is a large public room with a carpet or tatami mats functioning as beds, or the slightly more expensive 2nd class which provides a smaller dormitory room with anywhere from 4 to 12 beds. Special class is the most expensive and provides a private room with 2 beds.

To the average cost-conscious traveller, taxis are an expensive alternative to the efficient public transportation system of Japan's largest cities. In smaller cities and the countryside, however, public transportation is often much less efficient, and taking a taxi from the nearest train station to your final destination can be a good choice. If you travel in a group of three or more people, a taxi can also be an economical alternative. Visit this website for further information about Taxis in Japan.

Most train and bus services in Japan stop around midnight, resulting in a sudden increase in the demand for taxis around that time, especially on weekends. On Friday and Saturday nights, there are often long queues at taxi stands in front of major train stations.

Taxi fares typically start around ¥600-¥700 for the first 2km and increase by about ¥100 for every additional 500 metres travelled. The cost also increases when the taxi is not moving for a prolonged time. Late in the evening, rates are raised by 20-30 percent.

Vacancy is indicated by a plate on the dashboard in the lower corner of the front window during the day or a light on the roof at night. A red plate indicates that the taxi is vacant, while a green plate indicates the opposite.

When you board a taxi, the driver electronically opens and closes the vehicle's left rear door by remote control. You are not supposed to open or close it by yourself. Furthermore, you are not supposed to tip taxi drivers, as the service is included in the price.

If you do not speak Japanese, or your destination is not a well known place, it is recommended to give your driver the precise address of your destination on a piece of paper or, even better, point it out on a map, since the Japanese address system can be confusing even to local taxi drivers.

Japan has a highly efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between the large cities. It is punctual, comfortable and provides superb service. An extensive and reliable network of railways covers Japan's four major islands - Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Though convenient, long-distance train travel can be expensive. If you intend to do a lot of travelling, it's well worth investing in a Japan Rail Pass. It is cost effective and allows unlimited travel on all Japan Railways (JR) lines.

JR Rail passes must be purchased first outside Japan at travel agents. They are available in 7, 14 and 21 consecutive day passes. Children ages 6-11 receive 50% off. Besides the Rail Pass discounts, you can also buy sets of multiple JR tickets at a bulk discount rate. For any route, which covers 200km or less, it is possible to purchase 11 tickets at the basic fare for the price of 10.

If you intend to do a lot of travelling within a particular city, City Passes allow unlimited city travel on subways, trams, trains and buses on one calendar day.

Japan’s high speed bullet train (Shinkansen) covers the main island of Honshu, connecting Tokyo with most of the island's major cities as well as Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu. Visit this website for further information about Shinkansen in Japan.

Train travel at night is comfortable as well and a good way to pass the time if you are on a long journey. Most Japanese night trains are equipped with couchettes and private rooms with beds, and some have cars with seats. Couchettes and private rooms come in two classes - A and B. A is equivalent to first class, with B being the more basic and less costly. In addition, some trains offer a "Special A Class" providing luxurious suites. All night trains are equipped with toilets and sinks, and the better ones have also public phones, showers, a restaurant and a lounge or lobby car. While the Japan Rail Pass does not cover the cost for couchettes and beds, it does cover the cost for a seat on night trains. Note however, that quite a few night trains do not carry cars with seats.