Japan Transportation – By Air

Haneda Airport

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

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
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
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

Osaka Kansai Airport

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.

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.

	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.

Read More:

Is It Cheaper to Fly or Take the Train in Japan