Japan Transportation – By Air
Japan has a well-established air transportation system with 4 major international airports to/from the world and many more airports serving with domestic flights. It’s the best way to travel to Japan by air, and the fastest and cost-efficient way to travel around Japan.International Flights to Japan
Haneda Airport, Tokyo
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There are 4 international airports operating flights to and from more than 90 cities in the world, especially the East Asia, Southeast Asia, North America and Europe. Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda International Airport (HND) are in Tokyo, while Kansai International Airport (KIX) is in Osaka, making Tokyo and Osaka the major hub cities to undertake the air transportation service for oversea tourists coming to Japan. Central Japan Airport (NGO) south of Nagoya, nicknamed as Centrair, is also convenient for oversea tourists to Japan.
Besides, some other airports in Japan operate a few flights to/from neighboring countries and regions. For example, Sapporo New Chitose Airport, Fukuoka Airport and Okinawa Naha Airport have flights to South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China, Singapore, etc.
Route |
Departure Airport |
Arrival Airport |
Duration |
Schedule |
Los Angeles - Tokyo |
Los Angeles International Airport |
Narita |
11h 5-30min |
5-6 flights from Sunday to Thursday; 3 on Fridays & Saturdays |
Haneda |
11h 20-50min |
7 flights every day |
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Los Angeles - Osaka |
Los Angeles International Airport |
Kansai |
12h |
1 fight on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday |
San Francisco -Tokyo |
San Francisco International Airport |
Narita |
10h 45min – 11h 10min |
4 flights every day |
Haneda |
10h 50min – 11h 5min |
3 fights every day |
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San Francisco - Osaka |
San Francisco International Airport |
Kansai |
11h 40min |
1 fight every day |
New York - Tokyo |
Kennedy International Airport |
Haneda |
14h – 14h 15min |
4 fights every day |
Newark Liberty International Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
13h 40min – 14h |
1 flight to both Narita and Haneda airports every day |
|
Seattle - Tokyo |
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
10h 10min – 11h 10min |
1 fight to Narita and 2 flights to Haneda airport every day |
Honolulu, Hawaii - Tokyo |
Honolulu International Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
8h 5min – 8h 20min |
3-5 flights to Narita airport & 4-6 flights to Haneda airport every day |
Honolulu, Hawaii - Osaka |
Honolulu International Airport |
Kansai |
9h |
2 flights on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 1 fight on Monday & Thursday |
Chicago - Tokyo |
O'Hare International Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
12h 50min – 13h 20min |
1 flight to Narita & 3 flights to Haneda airport every day |
Houston - Tokyo |
George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
13h 50min |
1 to Narita & 1 to Haneda every day |
Toronto - Tokyo |
Pearson International Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
13h 15min |
1 flight to Narita airport & 1 to Haneda airport every day |
London - Tokyo |
Heathrow Airport |
Haneda |
13h 35min – 14h 5min |
5 flights every day |
Paris - Tokyo |
Charles de Gaulle Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
13h 30-45min |
3-4 flights to Haneda airport every day; 1 flight to Narita airport on Tuesday, Friday & Sunday |
Paris - Osaka |
Charles de Gaulle Airport |
Kansai |
12h 40min |
1 flight on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday-Sunday |
Sydney - Tokyo |
Kingsford Smith Airport |
Haneda |
9h 35min – 10h 5min |
5 flights on weekdays & 4 flights on weekends |
Melbourne - Tokyo |
Melbourne Airport |
Narita |
10h – 10h 30min |
2 flights on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday; 1 flight on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday |
Singapore - Tokyo |
Changi Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
6h 55min – 7h 20min |
5 flights to Narita airport & 7 flights to Haneda airport every day |
Singapore - Osaka |
Changi Airport |
Kansai |
6h 25-40min |
4 flights every day |
Singapore - Nagoya |
Changi Airport |
Central Japan Airport |
6h 45min |
1 flight every day |
Bangkok - Tokyo |
Suvarnabhumi Airport |
Narita / Haneda |
6h 5-25min |
7 flights to Narita & 5-6 flights to Haneda every day |
Bangkok - Osaka |
Suvarnabhumi Airport |
Kansai |
5h 30min - 6h 5min |
6 flights every day |
Tips
• In Tokyo, Haneda Airport is closer to the downtown, which requires 30 minutes or so to reach Tokyo city center by Keikyu Line. From Narita Airport, the fastest Skyliner Express or Narita Express train will take you to the downtown of Tokyo in 47-50 minutes.
• Tokyo is not the only gateway to enter Japan. For visitors who plan to go to Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima, Fukuoka or other destinations in western Japan, a direct flight to Osaka is the better choice.
• The metro lines, shuttle buses, taxi and chartered car are available around the airports. You can choose a way most convenient or that you like to the nearby city center or attractions. At Kansai International Airport, the shuttle boat runs to and comes from Kobe Airport.
• Central Japan International Airport is around 37km (23 miles) south to Nagoya downtown, on an artificial island at Ise Bay. There is also a special high-speed boat route between the airport and Tsu, the other side of the bay, which takes 45 minutes for a single trip.
Domestic Air Travel in Japan
It is definitely the fastest way travel in Japan by a flight. Air travel in Japan is fast and also economical, with less cost than Shinkansen, the bullet train, for a long trip. Thus, it becomes one of the optimal transportation mode in the country. There are about 90 airports in total around Japan, and the air routes cover the whole territory. Apart from the airports serving for international flights, Osaka International Airport aka Itami Airport (ITM), Fukuoka Airport (FUK), Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS), Okinawa Naha Airport (OKA), Kagoshima Airport (KOJ), Sendai Airport (SDJ), etc. are all busy for the domestic flights.
Osaka Kansai International Airport
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Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are the giants in Japan, providing flights throughout Japan at favorable prices. In addition, more airlines like Jetstar Japan, Peach, Skymark Airlines, Air Do, and Spring Airlines Japan operate flights nationwide as well. Given the nature of some budget airlines, they don't necessarily offer some of the convenience of the larger airlines (such as online check-in), and there are limits on the amount of luggage you can take. Please read the regulations carefully before booking a ticket.
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Departure / Arrival |
Arrival / Departure |
Duration |
Schedule |
Tokyo - Osaka |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Kansai / Itami / Kobe Airport |
1h 5min – 1h 40min |
More than 30 flights every day |
Tokyo - Nagoya |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Centrair |
55min – 1h 20min |
4 or 5 flights every day |
Tokyo - Hiroshima |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Hiroshima Airport |
1h 20min – 1h 55min |
17 flights every day |
Tokyo - Fukuoka |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Fukuoka Airport |
1h 45min – 2h 15min |
More than 60 flights every day |
Tokyo - Okinawa |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Okinawa Naha Airport |
2h 25min – 3h 5min |
40 flights or so every day |
Tokyo - Sapporo |
Haneda / Narita Airport |
Sapporo New Chitose Airport |
1h 30min – 1h 50min |
More than 70 flights every day |
Osaka - Fukuoka |
Kansai / Itami Airport |
Fukuoka Airport |
1h 5-20min |
10 flights every day |
Osaka - Okinawa |
Kansai / Itami / Kobe Airport |
Okinawa Naha Airport |
2h – 2h 20min |
More than 20 flights every day |
Osaka - Sendai |
Kansai / Itami / Kobe Airport |
Sendai Airport |
1h 10-35min |
15 flights or so every day |
Osaka - Sapporo |
Kansai / Itami / Kobe Airport |
Sapporo New Chitose Airport |
1h 50min – 2h |
30 flights or so every day |
Nagoya - Fukuoka |
Centrair |
Fukuoka Airport |
1h 15-30min |
4 or 5 flights every day |
Nagoya - Kagoshima |
Centrair |
Kagoshima Airport |
1h 20-30min |
4 flights every day |
Nagoya - Okinawa |
Centrair |
Okinawa Naha Airport |
2h 5-20min |
7-11 flights every day |
Nagoya - Sapporo |
Centrair |
Sapporo New Chitose Airport |
1h 40-50min |
7-10 flights every day |
Fukuoka - Sapporo |
Fukuoka Airport |
Sapporo New Chitose Airport |
2h 20-35min |
5 flights every day |
Sapporo - Okinawa |
Sapporo New Chitose Airport |
Okinawa Naha Airport |
3h 25-35min |
1 flight every day |
While air travel is reliable in Japan, typhoons and even volcanic activities can cause delays, especially to the southern Kyushu region. Please watch on the weather forecast during typhoon season and check the website of the corresponding airlines for real-time policies.
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