Current Events > Flying to Japan this year, stuck on airport choice

(+) Yeah! (+)

I can fly a nonstop direct to Narita or a one-stop to Haneda, price is about the same for either choice. I think I'd prefer to be inconvenienced by a longer train ride into Tokyo instead of breaking up my flight, but everyone says you should fly into Haneda.

I know nothing about the airports at all but personally the idea of a longer train ride is actually appealing to me.

When I was in the Navy and we would stop in ports I would often take a train and ride for a few hours inland to get to the heart of a country and the scenery was just beautiful on the train. Its an underrated form of sightseeing/travel that I personally barely ever experienced in the United States growing up in the Midwest.

So if it was me Id go for the longer train ride option.

Fuck stops in flights lol. I always do non-stop. Just get it over with >_>

I personally flew into Haneda and took a train to Shibuya and walked from there. It was a pretty easy transition and all the train signs in Tokyo are in English too

I'd do Narita. Fewer stops is always better when it comes to delays or lost luggage.

Yeah non-stop flights are always better because there's a chance that you won't make your connecting flight through no fault of your own.

The train ride from Narita isn't that long.

It's also a pleasant experience, and you'll see some things you won't see if you stay in the city.

I'm going to Japan later this year too, but I've found the opposite, where flights to Haneda cost more since it's closer to Tokyo

since I'll be visiting Japan for the first time, I'm leaning towards Narita since I don't mind a train ride

Narita is beautiful, and like someone else said the train ride is pretty quick.

Perfect, thanks guys. Narita sounds like it'll be the choice then.

Narita is super easy, you basically just buy a ticket towards Skytree and that's a 1.20hr ride with no train changes.

Go for the one with less stress.

Narita sucks in my opinion. I only fly there because the flight is cheaper from where I live (Kochi). International flight is a different situation though. That said Haneda really is convenient. Unless it makes a big difference in time I recommend Haneda. You will waste about 2 hours and about $30 getting to Tokyo from Narita.

been thinking about making a trip back to Japan and been watching a few youtube vids on it recently. this one popped up

https://youtu.be/FvjOJCV1_Xo?t=37

he says to land in Haneda
i dunno personally though. I never flown to Japan as an adult

AbstraktProfSC2 posted...

been thinking about making a trip back to Japan and been watching a few youtube vids on it recently. this one popped up

https://youtu.be/FvjOJCV1_Xo?t=37

he says to land in Haneda
i dunno personally though. I never flown to Japan as an adult

interesting.

Do NOT do Narita. You will likely need to take the Narita Express which is expensive and slow.

Haneda is best. Trust me, I live in Japan and have done both multiple times. Haneda is always a much more pleasant experience.

_____Cait posted...

Do NOT do Narita. You will likely need to take the Narita Express which is expensive and slow.

Haneda is best. Trust me, I live in Japan and have done both multiple times. Haneda is always a much more pleasant experience.

I actually wonder if anyone who lives in Japan likes Narita? It's one of those things you can generically bitch about with coworkers.

Haneda for sure

_____Cait posted...

Do NOT do Narita. You will likely need to take the Narita Express which is expensive and slow.

Haneda is best. Trust me, I live in Japan and have done both multiple times. Haneda is always a much more pleasant experience.

This is ridiculous, you would rather have a layover than an extra 30 minutes on the train? I've also been to both airports several times, I just go to whichever one has the most convenient flight.

opopopza posted...

This is ridiculous, you would rather have a layover than an extra 30 minutes on the train? I've also been to both airports several times, I just go to whichever one has the most convenient flight.

When I have an overnight flight for over 10 hours in a cramped seat, the last thing I want to do is be on an expensive, slow train for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Also you wont always have layovers.

And even with one, I still always choose Haneda.

I prefer Haneda myself, especially if your return flight is from the same airport. Plus I've always found the customs line in Narita to be a lot worse than Haneda. Last time I flew into Narita I spent an hour or so in line just to get processed. If you're arriving early then definitely pick Haneda so that you can start your trip much faster.

You'll most likely be flying All Nippon at some point. Just be prepared for the worst airplane food ever. I thought a Japanese airline would have some good food but absolutely fucking not. I was sitting by the kitchen and the smell of the last meal made me want to throw up.

Im planning on going in october. This is information I need to know

_____Cait posted...

When I have an overnight flight for over 10 hours in a cramped seat, the last thing I want to do is be on an expensive, slow train for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Also you wont always have layovers.

And even with one, I still always choose Haneda.

I mean you do you, but the question was if it's worth having a layover just to avoid Narita. I would say almost definitely not. Narita is fine.

It's also not like you step out of Haneda and you are in Shinjuku or a major tourist hotspot. There is still a train ride involved. I traveled to Kawasaki a few months ago, I still went to Narita because the flight to Haneda involved a four hour layover in Toronto.

Hinakuluiau posted...

I can fly a nonstop direct to Narita or a one-stop to Haneda, price is about the same for either choice. I think I'd prefer to be inconvenienced by a longer train ride into Tokyo instead of breaking up my flight, but everyone says you should fly into Haneda.

Are you only going to Tokyo? If not check an open jaw flight. Like fly into Osaka and fly out of Tokyo.

I am planning on going s far south as Hiroshima. It was actually a bit cheaper for me to fly into Hiroshima (with a connecting flight in Haneda) and fly out of Haneda at the end of my trip vs flying both in and out of Haneda.

Figure this way I save both time and money since I dont have to pay for the trains going all the way south and then back north. Now I am only traveling north.

_____Cait posted...

Do NOT do Narita. You will likely need to take the Narita Express which is expensive and slow.

Haneda is best. Trust me, I live in Japan and have done both multiple times. Haneda is always a much more pleasant experience.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6b6341f5.jpg

I don't think it's that expensive, I'd rather take that than a layover that can be rather chaotic, especially if you get hit by delays. A layover can easily be you only have 15mins to get to the gate or you need to wait for 4 hours

I am only considering Narita because OP specifically said layover, I've only had bad experiences with those. And I'd rather be just looking from a train than waiting for my connecting flight.

Haneda is way better as an airport and a way into Tokyo, that's for sure.