GETTING AROUND

How To Get Around

AIR
Many major international airlines fly to Japan. You can fly direct to Tokyo from Singapore on Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Singapore Airlines (SIA). Bigger Japanese cities like Sapporo and Nagoya have domestic airports, serviced by the national carriers.

Narita Airport in Tokyo is an efficient international airport and offers most services from the buying of train tickets and money-changing facilities to hotel reservations. Japan’s other international airport, Kansai Airport, is located in Osaka. It is the first airport in Japan to operate 24 hours. There is a departure tax of Y2,000 (S$25.60) at Narita Airport and Y2,600 (S$33.28) at Kansai Airport.

Flight Information (Singapore - Tokyo)

To/From Narita Airport
There are several options you can choose from when you want to get to central Tokyo. You can opt to take the cheap airport shuttle bus that links Narita with major hotels. Otherwise, you can choose to spend a small fortune on a taxi. If you want to travel in comfort more cheaply, get on an airport limousine bus which also plies the routes that the airport shuttle bus does. With reclining seats and wide windows, the airport limousine bus is a popular choice with businessmen.

Trains
Japanese trains are efficient and convenient. Don’t miss an opportunity to take a ride on the nation’s pride, Shinkansen (bullet train). These trains are some of the fastest in the world. The trains run frequently and are mostly on schedule. Travelling by Shinkansen between different cities is only slightly cheaper than flying but it is more convenient as the train stations are more centrally located than the airports.

Other trains are not as fast but just as convenient. There are basically four types of train services. They are Futsu (local service), Tokkyu (limited express service), Kyuko (express service) and Kaisoku (rapid service). If you want to travel first-class, both tokkyu and kyuko have superior class coaches known as “Green Cars”.

When travelling in big cities, use the mass transit systems. The trains run at frequent intervals of between two and 10 minutes from early morning until late at night.

Buses
Overnight buses are available in Japan and they are an inexpensive way to travel round the country. Be prepared for drivers who don’t speak English, so be very sure of your route. Most long distance buses have deluxe reclining seats and provide tea, a blanket and toilet facilities.

Intra-city buses offer a convenient and cheap way of taking in the sights of the city, especially so for historical and scenic routes in rural areas. The name of the destination indicated above the windshield of the bus is usually in Japanese. So before you embark on such a journey, get the hotel staff or a Japanese friend to write down the name of your destination. Show the slip of paper to the driver, and he will be able to tell you if the bus he is driving is going to where you want to go.