Lois Larson
When planning a trip to Japan, it is important to consider which airport to fly to and whether to opt for round-trip or multi-city flights. The best airport to arrive at depends on your final destination within Japan and your point of origin. Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka's Kansai Airport are Japan's most important international airports, with Fukuoka Airport, Nagoya's Central Japan Airport, Naha Airport in Okinawa, and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport also offering some international flights. For those visiting multiple cities in Japan that are far apart, multi-city flights can be a good choice for efficiency and cost savings. However, trains can also be a great option for certain routes, offering a unique travel experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Choice of airport | Depends on your final destination within Japan, availability of flights from your point of origin, budget, and preferences. |
| Major international airports | Tokyo's Narita Airports (NRT) and Haneda Airports (HND), and Osaka's Kansai Airport (KIX). |
| Other international airports | Fukuoka Airport, Nagoya's Central Japan Airport, Naha Airport in Okinawa, and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport. |
| Domestic airports | Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) |
| Multi-city or open-jaw tickets | Allow you to fly into and out of different airports and can save money and time, but can be harder to book and may not be offered by all airlines. |
| Round-trip tickets | Traditional and often cheaper option, but may require backtracking. |
| Peak seasons | Golden Week (end of April to early May), summer (July-August), and New Year. |
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What You'll Learn
Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports
Tokyo is the world's most populated city, with over 37 million residents. The city has two airports: Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND), which serve both international and domestic travel.
Narita International Airport, located on the border of Narita City and the town of Shibayama, is approximately 37 miles east of central Tokyo in the Chiba prefecture. Although it is further away from the city centre than Haneda Airport, Narita has good transportation links to the city, with direct access to Tokyo. The Narita Express and Skyliner trains connect Narita Airport to Tokyo in approximately one hour, while a taxi will cost around ¥25,000 (US$164).
Haneda Airport, officially known as Tokyo International Airport, is located in Ota, just 9 miles south of Tokyo Station. Haneda is the main hub for two of Japan's primary domestic airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, and it is the fourth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, handling over 80 million passengers annually. Haneda is much closer to the city centre, with a travel time of around 30 minutes by train and 25 minutes by taxi, costing around ¥8500 (US$56).
When deciding between the two airports, it is essential to consider your itinerary, budget, and travel goals. Haneda is generally considered more convenient and a better choice if you prioritise proximity to central Tokyo or have domestic connections. Narita, on the other hand, may offer more flight options and is a good alternative if you cannot find a suitable Haneda flight.
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Osaka's Kansai Airport
Osakas Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area of Japan. It is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, 38 km (24 mi) southwest of Ōsaka Station. The airport is within three municipalities, including Izumisano in the north, Sennan in the south, and Tajiri in the central area, all in Osaka Prefecture.
Kansai International Airport is the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It serves as a hub for several airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines. The airport has two runways and terminals and covers a total area of 1,055 hectares (2,607 acres). It first opened on September 4, 1994, becoming the first airport in Japan to operate 24 hours a day.
Over 31 airlines from 26 countries operate at Kansai Airport. It is accessible by various transportation options, including trains, buses, and taxis. The airport also provides free Wi-Fi, currency exchange services, and a Tourist Information Center with multilingual staff.
When planning flights to Osaka, travellers can consider their specific needs and preferences. Kansai International Airport is a convenient option for those visiting Osaka and the surrounding areas, offering efficient connections to domestic and international destinations.
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Fukuoka Airport
Several airlines operate scheduled passenger flights to and from Fukuoka Airport, offering connections to various international destinations. Historically, the airport's first international service was to nearby Busan, South Korea, in 1965. More recently, Delta Air Lines launched a successful route to Honolulu in 2011, and Hawaiian Airlines followed with a daily Fukuoka-Honolulu service.
When planning travel to Japan, it is common to consider flying into and out of the same airport, often Tokyo, due to the convenience and availability of direct flights. However, some travellers opt for open-jaw bookings, flying into one city and out of another, especially if they intend to visit multiple destinations within Japan. This can provide cost savings and avoid the need for backtracking.
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Nagoya's Central Japan Airport
When planning a trip to Japan, it's important to consider which airport to fly to and whether to opt for round-trip or multi-city flights. The best airport to arrive at depends on your final destination within Japan and the availability of flights from your origin.
Nagoya's Chubu Centrair International Airport is an international airport located on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture. It is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) south of Nagoya in central Japan. The airport is classified as a first-class airport and serves as the main international gateway for the Chubu ("central") region of Japan. In 2019, it was ranked the fifth-best airport in the world by Skytrax and received the World's Best Regional Airport and the Best Regional Airport in Asia awards. Chubu Centrair serves the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan, centred around Nagoya. The region is a major manufacturing hub, with the headquarters and production facilities of Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as production facilities for Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
The airport covers about 470 hectares (1,161 acres) of land and has a 3,500-metre (11,500-foot) runway. In 2018, 12.35 million passengers used the airport, making it the eighth busiest in Japan, and 212,797 tons of cargo were moved that year. The Central Japan International Airport Station, the train station for Centrair, is located on the Meitetsu Airport Line operated by Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu). The fastest "μSky Limited Express" service connects the airport to Meitetsu Nagoya Station in 28 minutes, with all seats requiring the purchase of an additional "special limited express ticket". Nagoya Station provides connections to Shinkansen bullet trains to major cities, as well as local trains and the Nagoya Municipal Subway.
Chubu Centrair took over most of the commercial flights from the previous Nagoya Airport, which was hampered by its location in a residential area, limiting its capacity and operating hours. Several airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to and from Chubu Centrair over the years, including American Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar, Continental Airlines, and United Airlines. However, the airport has also attracted new routes, such as Garuda Indonesia's direct flights from Jakarta in 2019.
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Naha Airport in Okinawa
When planning a trip to Japan, the airport you choose depends on your final destination and your budget. Most travellers fly into Tokyo, which has two airports: Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT). Haneda is the more convenient option, as it is closer to central Tokyo and is well-connected by public transport. Narita, on the other hand, is further away and may be more expensive to travel to and from.
If you are visiting multiple cities in Japan, you might consider booking multi-city flights to save time and money. Some travellers opt for an "open-jaw" booking, which allows them to fly into one city and out of another. For example, you could fly into Tokyo and out of Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka.
If your final destination is Okinawa, you can fly directly from many countries in Asia to Naha Airport. Naha Airport, also known as Okinawa Naha Airport, is an international airport located in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture. The airport is served by the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail), which connects the airport to the city centre. Naha Airport has undergone several renovations and extensions over the years, including the addition of a new international terminal in 2014 and an integrated terminal in 2019, connecting the domestic and international terminals.
Naha Airport has a range of facilities to accommodate travellers, including banks, convenience stores, and a pharmacy. The airport also has an overnight cargo hub operated by All Nippon Airways, which receives inbound and outbound flights from various destinations in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports and Osaka's Kansai Airport are Japan's most important international airports. Narita is modern and pleasant but is around an hour away from downtown Tokyo by train. Haneda is only 25 minutes away from downtown Tokyo by train and has been refurbished with great restaurants and shops. Kansai Airport has lots of connections to Asian cities and a few connections to North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Fukuoka Airport is also a good option as it is probably the closest airport to the city centre in Japan.
Narita and Haneda are both modern, efficient and pleasant international airports. However, Haneda is the better choice as it is significantly closer to central Tokyo. Haneda is also preferred as it has been refurbished and has great restaurants and shops. However, your choice of airport may depend on your specific travel plans, budget and preferences, as well as your airline of preference.
A traditional round-trip ticket is the most common option for most travellers. Round-trip deals to and from the same airports are easier to search for and track deals for. However, multi-city tickets can be excellent for efficiency and cost savings when visiting multiple cities in Japan that are far apart. Open-jaw tickets, which allow you to fly into one city and out of another, can save you from costly backtracking across Japan.
