From the airport to the city centre Japan

To get to the city from Narita Airport:

Skyliner. The Skyliner goes to Nippori Station and then to Ueno Station, both located in the east of Tokyo. Keisei Station in Ueno is a few minutes' walk from the JR Yamanote line. The trip costs ¥2,520 and takes 45 minutes. Depending on the time of day, a train leaves every 20-25 minutes, between 6:00 am and 10:40 pm.

Keisei Limited Express. This is the second option offered by Keisei. The ticket costs only ¥1,030 and the trip takes 1 hour and 20 minutes, connecting Keisei station in Ueno with Narita airport. For more information on these two lines: ✆ +81 47634 8763, www.keisei.co.jp. There is also a bus of this company that serves Tokyo Station in 65 min for ¥1,300 (tyo-nrt.com).

The JR Narita Express (N'EX) takes passengers to Tokyo Station in less than an hour. It continues to Shinjuku in 1 hour 22 minutes. JR also offers another line, the JR Airport Liner Rapid Train. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the central Tokyo station and 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to Shinjuku.

Limousine buses. These buses allow you to reach the most important hotels in Tokyo in 1 hour and a half when traffic jams are not too bad. Areas served are Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Hibiya, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Ginza and Akasaka. Very convenient for busy travelers. From ¥1,000.

Bus - TCAT. TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) is located in Nihombashi, near Suitengu-mae station on the Hanzōmon line. From TCAT, you can take a shuttle bus to Tokyo Station or a limousine bus (¥3,300) to Narita Airport.

Cab. A trip to central Tokyo costs at least ¥30,000.


To get to the city from Haneda Airport:

The Keikyu Airport Express line connects the airport to Shinagawa Station (JR andShinkansen) in less than 25 min for ¥300.

Tokyo Monorail connects Terminal 1 to Hamamatsucho Station (Yamanote line) in less than 20 min for ¥500.

The fixed-rate cab from the center takes only about half an hour and costs around ¥7,000 (depending on the district). To book a flat-rate cab: www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/haneda-airport/taxi.html. If your district is close to the airport (south of Tokyo), you can take a cab without using this service.

There are shuttles between Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT) and Haneda, which take about 30 minutes and cost ¥930. From Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, you can also take the limousine-bus which costs about ¥1,200.

To get to the city from Kansai International Airport (Osaka):

Kansai Airport Rapid Service (Kanku Rapid). This JR train connects the airport with Tennoji and Osaka stations in about 50-70 minutes for about ¥1,080 and ¥1,210 respectively.

Limited Express Haruka. This is JR's fastest express train. It reaches Tennoji and Shin-Osaka stations in 35 and 50 minutes (respectively for ¥1,710 and ¥2,330).

Nankai. This company offers two trains to reach Namba from the airport: the Limited Express Rapid (about 35 minutes - ¥1,450) and the Airport Express (about 45 minutes - ¥930).

Limousine-bus. These buses can be used to reach various areas and hotels in Osaka. They can be easily found at the airport exit, at the arrivals level.

Cab. A trip to the center of Osaka costs an average of ¥15,000 - 18,000.

Arrival by train Japan

From Tokyo airports, trains serve major stations: Tokyo, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shinagawa or Ikebukuro. Other stations are easily reached by the JR Yamanote (green) line and other transverse lines. There are several train operators in Tokyo. East Japan Railways, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway are the most used for sightseeing, but you will surely meet other names like Tobu, Seibu, Keio or Keisei.

From Osaka airport , trains serve the main stations. Other stations are easily reached by JR lines and the lines of various train operators in Kansai. JR West, Kintetsu Railway, Osaka Metro, Hankyu Railways, Hanshin Electric Railway, Keihan Railway or Nankai are the main companies around Osaka.

The name of the operator usually precedes the name of the station. Ticket prices are not the same depending on the operator and the destination.

To facilitate transit between the lines of different operators, it is recommended to buy an IC Card. This is a rechargeable smart card that is paid for with a ¥500 deposit and is used throughout the transportation network. The deposit is recoverable at the end of your stay by returning the card to the right ticket office.

Public transport Japan

The price of the train and subway ticket is progressive depending on the station of departure and destination. The automatic ticket machines all allow you to buy tickets in English or other languages. Apart from the JR pass which allows travel on JR lines and shinkansen, there are other passes which allow all-day use of the subway or all means of transportation combined. For more information on the many discounts and passes available, please visit the operators' websites, tourist information centers, or at the end of this guide, under Getting around - Train Pass.

Bike, scooters & co Japan

Bicycle use is common in Japan and very convenient in cities such as Kyoto, Nara and Tono. Bicycle rental services are developing. Bicycle rental agencies, tourist offices, stores and hotels can also offer bicycle rental.

With a driver Japan

It's perfectly possible to hail a cab on the street in Japan, or wait for one at designated stops in front of railway stations. Booking online is another, slightly more expensive option (www.mktaxi-japan.com, for example). Cabs are, of course, increasingly rare in the less touristy prefectures. But there are some initiatives that allow you to enjoy a private cab for a few hours, such as in Tottori, with a three-hour service at just ¥2,000 (www.service-taxi.jp/1000yentaxi).

By car Japan

We do not recommend using a car in large cities. There can be traffic jams and it is not easy to find parking spaces, which are relatively expensive. To get around the countryside and the prefectures with less train service, renting a car becomes a very practical option.

Accessibility Japan

In large cities, wide streets and train stations, sidewalks and platforms are paved with paving stones. Most stations are also equipped with standard elevators where disabled people and parents with children have priority. Staff can help with transportation and provide steps in stations where necessary. To inquire about these issues or request accompaniment, the JR network has an English-language number: ✆ +81 3 3423 0111. It is also advisable to book wheelchair accessible cabs in advance, from airports for example. Accessibility quickly spoils off the beaten track, especially in mountainous areas, temples and shrines.