Tokyo

Travel to Tokyo

Plenty of airlines offer flights to Tokyo from airports across the UK with cheaper fares often involving a stopover or connection on the way. Tokyo has two main airports; Narita Airport and Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport. Narita Airport is much further outside the centre, with a 50-mile journey ahead upon arrival, whilst Haneda Airport is only 15 miles from the centre of the city, and under that if you're heading for the southern districts.
Narita Airport website
Tokyo International Airport website

On arrival in Tokyo

Haneda Airport is on the monorail line from the centre of Tokyo as well as the Keikyu suburban train line so you can get into the centre nice and quickly. These may be difficult with luggage if you're planning on joining the subway, so you could also use the buses, which run to a wide range of destinations. Narita Airport is similarly accessible by public transport, with the Keisi Mainline, Skyliner and Narita Express services all heading for the airport. Buses here are slightly different, with a variety of shuttle buses served destinations across the city centre. If you're really in a hurry you can even travel by a combination of helicopter and limousine! Car hire and taxis are available from both airports.

Getting around Tokyo

Tokyo has one of the most extensive and efficient public transport systems in the world, but also one of the most confusing! There are several different operators across the subway and train networks and fares vary. Often the easiest thing to do is buy the cheapest ticket and use the fare adjustment booths to pay the extra when you arrive at your destination. It works out the same price and it saves some complicated calculations. Buses run across the city too. Taxis in Japan are expensive, more so because they often get stuck in Tokyo's chaotic traffic jams, and driving in Tokyo is even more confusing than the public transport! For such a large city the public transport stops running surprisingly early, so check what time the last train runs. If you do miss it, do like the locals do and head into an Internet cafe for a nap. You get your own room and it's often cheaper than a taxi home!

Travelling further afield

If you're planning on travelling around Japan you absolutely must buy a train pass in advance. Japan's extensive and fast train network covers the whole country from Nagano to Kyoto to Kagoshima-Chuo, but trains are incredibly expensive if you don't have a pass. The main operator is JAL and depending which pass you go for you'll be able to use all their trains except for the very fastest Shinkansen Bullet Trains. There are other train companies too, which sometimes offer much cheaper trips. Because the train network is so fast and efficient, internal flights are sometimes seen as a luxury, but are great if you want to head to one of the other islands. Ferries from Tokyo Bay are also available but are even less popular. Long-distance buses serve a wide range of destinations too, at much cheaper prices than the trains, but they do take a significantly longer time.