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How To Reach Japan
Japan is well-connected with the rest of the world by air. It is serviced by major global airlines and almost all countries have direct or indirect flights to and from Japan. Some of the major airports of the country are Tokyo’s Narita Airport and Haneda Airport, and Osaka’s Kansai Airport. Once you land at any of these airports, it is easy to get into the nearest cities.
Narita Airport to Tokyo
The Narita Airport is around 80 km away from Tokyo. However, you get a host of options to reach the city from the airport. They include shuttles and buses, low-cost taxis, regular trains, express trains and also a helicopter service. Of these, buses, shuttles and taxis have a better point-to-point connectivity, while the trains are much faster. But if you’re in a real hurry, you can charter a helicopter to reach Tokyo in 20 minutes.
Haneda Airport to Tokyo
At 22 km, the Haneda Airport is much closer to Tokyo and it is an easy journey in between. Connectivity options include trains, buses, monorail and taxis. The first three options are the most affordable while taxis can be quite expensive. The train and monorail take about 15 minutes to complete the journey while buses take about 40 minutes. If you land after midnight, then taxis and night buses are your only options.
Kansai Airport to Osaka
The Kansai Airport sits on an artificial island around 48 km away from central Osaka. Connectivity options include trains, buses, taxis and rental cars. Three train services run between Osaka and Kansai which take around 35 to 70 minutes to complete the journey. The limousine Bus service is available 24 hours of the day and will drop you at various points around the city in 60 minutes. Taxis are the most convenient but the most expensive means to reach Osaka. If you have a valid international driving license, you can rent a car from the airport’s Aeroplaza section.
Other than flying, the waterways are the only way to get into Japan from outside. If you’re looking for an unhurried trip, you can sail into Japan at a leisurely pace. It is a rather expensive but unique way to travel to Japan. International ferry services operate from nearby countries like Taiwan, China and South Korea. The following are some major ferry routes that run to and from Japan.
From Taiwan
A weekly ferry service runs between Taiwan and Japan. Usually operating on Mondays, the ferry will take you to Ishigaki or Miyako in around 16 to 19 hours. Do note that the departure port in Taiwan alternates between Kaohsiung and Keelung. So, ensure your departure point before travelling.
From China
There are at least 3 ferry services operating between China and Japan. A weekly ferry service connects Shanghai to Osaka and Kobe, with the destination alternating every week. There’s one more ferry service, the Shanghai Ferry, that runs between Shanghai and Osaka. A third ferry service starts from Shanghai to take you to Nagasaki every Thursday. The average travel time of these ferries is around 2 days.
From South Korea
The Busan-Shimoneski ferry is the most affordable and popular ferry service between the two countries. The Camellia Line operates a daily ferry service from Pusan (Busan) to Fukuoka. Both these routes are 15-hour journeys. However, there’s also an ultra-fast hydrofoil service that takes just 3 hours to reach Japan from South Korea.
Japan tourism is absolutely amazing and there are many places to visit in Japan too. There are some amazing Japan tour packages available and also check out the best time to visit Japan.
While Japan enjoys an extensive connectivity by rail and road internally, you cannot drive or take a train to reach Japan from the outside.
Japan is well-connected internally and getting around is easy once you figure out the best routes for your itinerary. Japan’s trains are renowned for their efficiency and punctuality. The bus services in Japan are equally efficient and cheaper than the trains, but they take longer to get around. A 10-hour bus journey can be completed in 2 hours in a bullet train.
Renting a car is another option. But rentals are expensive, and parking might be a hassle. Taxis in Japan operate within cities but are an expensive option compared to the excellent train and bus services.
Japan is well-connected internally and getting around is easy once you figure out the best routes for your itinerary. Japan’s trains are renowned for their efficiency and punctuality. The bus services in Japan are equally efficient and cheaper than the trains, but they take longer to get around. A 10-hour bus journey can be completed in 2 hours in a bullet train.
Renting a car is another option. But rentals are expensive, and parking might be a hassle. Taxis in Japan operate within cities but are an expensive option compared to the excellent train and bus services.
