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Getting There by Air
The largest national airline is Japan Airlines (JAL) (website: www.jal.co.jp).
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Tokyo is 12 hours; from New York is 12 hours 30 minutes.
Main Airports
Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) (Narita City) (website: www.narita-airport.or.jp) is 65km (40 miles) east of Tokyo (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). To/from the airport: Luxury coaches depart regularly from the airport to city-centre hotels. There is also a limousine bus to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT). A shuttle bus links the airport with major hotels in the city centre. Tickets for all services can be bought in the terminals. Japan Railways' reservation-only Narita Express line runs from Narita station terminal located beneath the airport to Tokyo station (journey time - 1 hour), Shinjuku (journey time - 1 hour 30 minutes) and Yokohama (journey time - 1 hour 45 minutes) regularly. There are taxis to the city, with a surcharge after (journey time - 1 hour). Travellers should note that these are five times as expensive as the trains. There is a free shuttle bus connecting both terminals (journey time - 10 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, car hire, restaurants, tourist information centre in both terminals, post office, mobile phone and video camera hire and Internet facilities.
Departure Tax: ¥2040.
(Osaka) Kansai International (KIX) (Kansai) (website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp) is 50km (31 miles) southwest of Osaka. To/from the airport: There is a bus to the city (journey time - 1 hour). The Nankai RR service goes to Namba station (journey time - 30 minutes). The JR West service goes to JR Osaka station (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). Taxis are available to the city (journey time - 1 hour); a surcharge may be imposed after 2200. It is also possible to take the jetfoil from Kansai Airport to Kobe's Port Island (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, car hire, banks/bureaux de change, tourist information and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥2650.
Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) (NGO) (website: www.centrair.jp/en) is 35km (23 miles) south of Nagoya. To/from the airport: JR Tokai Bus Company operates frequent services between the airport and Nagoya station (journey time - about 45 minutes). Meitetsu bus services are also frequent and call at Sakae and several hotels in the city. Taxis are available. Meitetsu trains offer the fastest way of getting into town (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Car hire, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants and shops.
Departure Tax: None
Fukuoka International (FUK) (website: www.fuk-ab.co.jp) is 20 minutes' journey time from Fukuoka City.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥945.
Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, car hire, restaurants, tourist information centre in both terminals, post office, mobile phone and video camera hire and Internet facilities.
Departure Tax: ¥2040.
(Osaka) Kansai International (KIX) (Kansai) (website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp) is 50km (31 miles) southwest of Osaka. To/from the airport: There is a bus to the city (journey time - 1 hour). The Nankai RR service goes to Namba station (journey time - 30 minutes). The JR West service goes to JR Osaka station (journey time - 1 hour 10 minutes). Taxis are available to the city (journey time - 1 hour); a surcharge may be imposed after 2200. It is also possible to take the jetfoil from Kansai Airport to Kobe's Port Island (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Duty-free shops, car hire, banks/bureaux de change, tourist information and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥2650.
Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) (NGO) (website: www.centrair.jp/en) is 35km (23 miles) south of Nagoya. To/from the airport: JR Tokai Bus Company operates frequent services between the airport and Nagoya station (journey time - about 45 minutes). Meitetsu bus services are also frequent and call at Sakae and several hotels in the city. Taxis are available. Meitetsu trains offer the fastest way of getting into town (journey time - 30 minutes).
Facilities: Car hire, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants and shops.
Departure Tax: None
Fukuoka International (FUK) (website: www.fuk-ab.co.jp) is 20 minutes' journey time from Fukuoka City.
Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.
Departure Tax: ¥945.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Japan is easily accessible by sea, and passenger ships include the major ports on their schedules. Ferries operate daily from Osaka and Kobe to Shanghai (China) and weekly from Kobe to Tanggu (near Tianjin, China).
For Taiwan, ferries depart from Okinawa with Arimura Sangyo Lines (website: www.arimuraline.co.jp). To confirm sailing times in English, try online (tel: (98) 860 1980; website: www.tokai-kyowa.co.jp/en/service/en_sv009.htm).
The Shimonoseki-Busan ferry runs across the Sea of Japan to Korea (Rep).
Links to the Russian Federation include weekly services between Yokohama and Nakhoda (near Vladivostok). Alternatively, there is a twice-weekly service to Wakkanai in Hokkaido from Korsakov in the Russian Federation. There are cruises between the Japanese islands en route to Shanghai and Hong Kong.
For Taiwan, ferries depart from Okinawa with Arimura Sangyo Lines (website: www.arimuraline.co.jp). To confirm sailing times in English, try online (tel: (98) 860 1980; website: www.tokai-kyowa.co.jp/en/service/en_sv009.htm).
The Shimonoseki-Busan ferry runs across the Sea of Japan to Korea (Rep).
Links to the Russian Federation include weekly services between Yokohama and Nakhoda (near Vladivostok). Alternatively, there is a twice-weekly service to Wakkanai in Hokkaido from Korsakov in the Russian Federation. There are cruises between the Japanese islands en route to Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Getting There by Rail
The Trans-Siberian route to Japan is an interesting and very well organised, if lengthy, trip. Connections can be made daily from London via Harwich or Dover through Europe to Moscow. The Trans-Siberian railway departs regularly from Moscow (see Russian Federation section). Among the many tour operators that organise tickets for this is The Russia Experience (website: www.trans-siberian.co.uk).