Domestic and International Air Travel in Japan

It may come as no surprise that Japan, home to the world’s busiest train station, also has some of the busiest air routes in the world. Flights from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport and Fukuoka are among the world’s busiest air routes. But the good news is that flying in Japan is refreshingly efficient, with a premium put on customer satisfaction.

Flying in Japan

Japanese airports put considerable emphasis on service and attention to detail. Large airports have staff doing everything from supervising suitcases sliding down onto luggage carousels to bidding farewell to departing planes with a bow.

Japanese airports are notable for their efficiency, speedy rail connections to large cities and the use of artificial islands due to land scarcity. Japan also has well developed courier services, known as takkyubin, that can deliver luggage between airports, hotels and other addresses. At Narita, luggage-delivery counters can arrange to send bags to your hotel; confirm the delivery date and price per bag before handing them over, and check that the hotel can receive them. Charges depend on the service, destination, size and weight. For luggage sent to an airport before departure, check the provider’s collection deadline: Yamato normally requires dispatch by the acceptance cutoff two days before the flight, or three days from some areas.

Japan has invested extensively in its air and rail networks. Trains are a convenient choice for city-center journeys such as Tokyo to Osaka, while flights are worth comparing for longer trips such as Tokyo to Sapporo or Fukuoka. Crossing between islands does not always mean flying: the shinkansen links Honshu with both Kyushu and southern Hokkaido. Compare the whole journey, including airport transfers and check-in time. Japan is also a hub for international flights to East Asia, with easy connections to South Korea, China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, as well as long-haul flights to cities around the world.

When flying, plan well in advance to avoid holiday crushes when possible. The busiest domestic travel periods include the New Year holidays in late December and early January, Golden Week in late April and early May, and Obon in mid-August. Summer school holidays also increase travel in July and August. September can bring another busy period when national holidays and weekends form a longer break, often called Silver Week; the dates and length vary by year.

Major Airports

Tokyo – Haneda

Haneda Airport, also known as Tokyo International Airport, is one of two airports serving Tokyo and the surrounding region. It is Japan’s busiest airport and a major hub for both domestic and international flights. The international terminal opened in 2010 is designated Terminal 3, and international services also use Terminal 2, so check your airline’s terminal before traveling. Located on Tokyo Bay, Haneda has train and bus connections into the city and an extensive domestic and international network. Late arrival or an early flight? Find accommodation options at Haneda Airport Hotel.

Tokyo – Narita

Narita International Airport is one of Japan’s main international gateways, with connections to cities around the world. Opened in 1978 following violent clashes over farmers’ land rights, Narita handled most international flights for Tokyo until 2010, when Haneda began playing a bigger role. Narita is situated in Chiba Prefecture, 57 kilometers east of central Tokyo as the crow flies, but JR East’s Narita Express connects the airport with Tokyo Station in as little as 53 minutes, while Keisei’s Skyliner runs to Nippori and Keisei Ueno. Journey times depend on the terminal, train and destination. There are also several hotels near Narita Airport catering to arriving and departing passengers.

Sapporo, Fukuoka and other hubs

New Chitose and Fukuoka are major airports serving Hokkaido in the north and Kyushu in the south. Sapporo’s airport is also known as New Chitose Airport and is flooded with passengers from Tokyo on one of the world’s busiest routes – dozens of flights a day ferry people between the capital and the holiday playground of Hokkaido. Rail and bus connections link the airport with Sapporo as well as ski and other vacation resorts.

Frequent flights connect Fukuoka with Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Fukuoka Airport is close to central Fukuoka, with the domestic terminal about five minutes from Hakata Station by subway. The international terminal is separate; passengers using the subway transfer between terminals by free shuttle bus. The airport has two runways, with the second opening in March 2025. Fukuoka Airport is closer to Seoul, Busan and Jeju in South Korea than to Tokyo, and it has served as a bridge between the two countries.

Japan’s other air gateways include Osaka International Airport, also called Itami, for domestic flights, and Kansai International Airport for domestic and international flights serving the Osaka region. Naha Airport serves the main island of Okinawa, while Chubu Centrair International Airport serves Nagoya.

Airlines

Air travel in Japan is dominated by Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). These two giants not only serve all major cities, their regional counterparts and subsidiaries operate frequent flights to smaller towns and remote islands such as the Okinawan archipelago. Both airlines are renowned for their high-quality service. JAL is part of the Oneworld alliance program, and ANA is part of Star Alliance. Other Japanese airlines include AIRDO, with a network centered on Hokkaido; StarFlyer, linking cities in Honshu and Kyushu; Solaseed Air, focused on Kyushu and Okinawa; and Skymark Airlines, which operates a domestic network.

Japanese low-cost carriers (LCCs) include Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan. When comparing fares, check the baggage allowance and any charges for seat selection or other extras. Some of the many foreign-based LCCs running flights to Japan are Jetstar Airways, AirAsia X, HK Express, Scoot and Tigerair Taiwan.

Article by Tim Hornyak. All rights reserved. Last updated 24-Sep-2026.