Japan Airports

Spread over four mountainous islands, Japan is a well-ordered country of some 125-million inhabitants, boasting bustling cities and numerous ski resorts. Mount Fuji is an easy drive from the hectic shopping city of Tokyo, while Kyoto is well worth a visit, with its 2,000 temples and shrines. If you're heading to Japan or Tokyo but are short on time, check out our Guide to Japan or our 24hr Guide to Tokyo.

Japan is not overloaded with airports, but there is an adequate amount of international airports for each of the four main islands and several regional hubs make internal travel convenient. For a country of its size, Japan does not need numerous airports as the public transport network within the country is exceptional, especially the railways which boast high-speed bullet trains. There are 14 airports in Japan in total, with the main ones being Tokyo's Narita and Osaka's Kansai international airports.

Tokyo's Narita International Airport is the main gateway into Japan and it has two terminals. Terminal 1 is mainly for European and US departures, while Terminal 2 services flights within Asia. Narita Airport handles millions of passengers every year from numerous destinations worldwide.

Narita's terminals are linked by free shuttle buses and there are excellent rail and bus connections with Tokyo. Trains to the city and beyond are the most efficient way of reaching the city, while there are also shuttles to major hotels. A couple of prominent expressways also run near to Narita Airport.

Osaka-Kansai International Airport is another busy facility that receives numerous flights from overseas including North America, Europe and Asia. Kansai Airport is located about 30 miles south of the city of Osaka on an island. There is just one terminal that provides an extensive range of services and facilities, with travel to the mainland being provided by trains, buses, shuttles and taxis.