The largest national airline is Japan Airlines (JAL) (website: www.jal.co.jp).

None.

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. JR also operates a slower, cheaper service (journey time - 1 hour 20 minutes). Keisei Electric Railway also runs from the airport terminal to Keisei Ueno station in central Tokyo (journey time - 1 hour). 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.

(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.

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 - 28 minutes). Facilities: Car hire, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants and shops.
 
Fukuoka International (FUK) is 20 minutes’ journey time from Fukuoka City. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant.

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.

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.

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).

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Air Systems (JAS), Japan Airlines (JAL) and several other airlines maintain an extensive network covering Japan proper and its islands. Tokyo’s domestic airport is Haneda (HND). A monorail service runs from Hamamatsu-cho to Haneda. One international airline, China Airlines, serves Haneda. Other international flights to and from Haneda are made via Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka or Tokyo airports. Main routes are Tokyo–Sapporo; Tokyo–Fukuoka; Tokyo–Osaka; and Tokyo–Naha. Tickets can be purchased at automatic machines at Tokyo International Airport’s domestic departure counter, and at Osaka International Airport.

There are frequent services by high-speed boat, ferry or hydrofoil to Japan’s islands. Popular routes include Tokyo–Hokkaido (in the north) and Tokyo–Okinawa (in the south). Major sea routes include Awaji Island: Akashi– Iwaya; Shodo Island: Himeji–Fukuda, Okayama–Tonosho and Takamatsu–Tonosho; Shiraishijima and Manabejima Islands: Kasaoka–Shiraishijima–Manabejima; and Ikuchijima and Omishama Islands: Mihara–Setoda. Bullet train services travel frequently to ports.

The Japan Railways Group (JR) (website: www.japanrail.com) runs one of the best rail networks in the world, and is widely used for both business and pleasure. Express and ‘limited express’ trains are best for intercity travel. Very frequent services run on the main routes. Shinkansen, the ‘bullet trains’, are the fastest, with compartments for wheelchair passengers, diners and buffet facilities. Supplements are payable on the three classes of express train and in ‘Green’ (first-class) cars of principal trains, for which reservations must be made. Other types of train include Kyuko (Express), Tokkyu (Limited Express), Kaisoku (Rapid Train) and Futsu (Local Train). For short-distance trains, tickets can only be bought at vending machines outside train stations.

Japan Rail Pass: an economical pass for foreign tourists which must be purchased before arrival in Japan. Valid for seven, 14 or 21 days. The pass can be obtained from Japan Airlines (JAL users only); contact the tourist board for other vendors. It can be used on all trains except the new Nozomi super express trains, and also on Japan Rail buses and Japan Rail ferries. A Japan Rail Pass brochure is available from the Japan National Tourist Organisation (see Contact Addresses). For travellers with a Japan Rail Pass, there are various other discounts in operation including a 10% discount at any JR Group Hotel.

Other rail passes include the JR East Pass, JR Kyushu Rail Pass, JR West Rail Pass, Kansai Passport and the Hokkaido Rail Pass. For details of other discount fares, contact the Japan Railways Group (website: www.japanrail.com).

Traffic drives on the left. Driving in Japan is complicated for those who cannot read the language as understanding the road signs can be a problem. Traffic in cities is often congested. The Keiyo Highway, Meishin Expressway, Tohoku Expressway and the Tomei Expressway link Japan’s major Pacific coastal cities, passing through excellent scenery.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.

Public transport is well developed, efficient and crowded. The underground systems and privately run suburban rail services, which serve all the main cities, are very convenient but best avoided in rush hours. Tokyo also has a good network of trams.

Bus: These can be confusing and are best used with someone who knows the system. Otherwise visitors should get exact details of their destination from the hotel. Fares systems are highly automated, but passes may be available. On buses, payment may be made on leaving.

Metro: All of Japan’s largest cities have subway systems. Tokyo has two underground systems: the Tokyo Metro Co Ltd operates the nine Tokyo Metro lines (TRTA), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TBTMG) operates the four lines on the Toei Subway. Tickets for Toei lines are not valid for the Tokyo Metro and vice versa, so a transfer ticket must be bought. A variety of tickets can be bought including a monthly open pass, one-day open ticket, 14 tickets for the price of 10, and a Tokyo Combination ticket; this can be bought six months in advance and entitles the passenger to unlimited travel on all the lines on the subway, JR rail, Toei buses and street cars for one day within the six months. Kyoto also has its own subway system with two major lines: the Karasuma and Tozai lines. Kyoto Sightseeing Passes can be bought enabling unlimited rides on buses and the underground.

Taxi: These can be expensive, particularly in rush hour (0730-0930 and 1700-1800). There is a minimum charge for the first 2km (1.2 miles) and there is a time charge in slow traffic. It is advisable for visitors to have prepared in advance the name and address of their destination in Japanese writing, together with the name of some nearby landmark; a map may also help. Hotels can provide this service.

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Tokyo to other major cities/towns in Japan.

	Air	Road	Rail	Sea
Nagoya	-	4.00	2.00	-
Nagasaki	1.40	18.00	9.00	-
Osaka	1.00	6.00	3.15	-
Sapporo	1.25	-	14.00	-