Flights to Japan: which airport to fly into, and what to know before you land

Which airport should you fly into?

Japan has international flights into several airports, including Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Naha in Okinawa (JNTO (opens in a new tab)), and most prefectures have at least one airport for domestic hops (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). From North America or Europe, most travellers land in Tokyo or Osaka. Pick the airport that matches where your trip starts, not just the cheapest fare: a long transfer after a long-haul flight is a rough way to begin.

Times are from JNTO's airport pages for Haneda (opens in a new tab), Narita (opens in a new tab), Kansai (opens in a new tab), Fukuoka (opens in a new tab) and New Chitose (opens in a new tab).

Narita or Haneda?

If you have the choice, Haneda is the easier landing: it is Tokyo's closest airport, about 30 minutes by train from the centre, and Terminal 3 is its international terminal (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Narita sits about 60 km east of the city in Chiba, handles most of Tokyo's international flights, and most low-cost carriers use its Terminal 3 (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). It is well connected: the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in just under an hour and is free with a JR Pass, while the Keisei Skyliner gets to Nippori and Ueno in about 40 minutes but is not covered by the pass.

Check which Tokyo airport your ticket actually uses before booking a hotel. Changing between the two takes around 1 hour 45 minutes by train or bus (JNTO (opens in a new tab)), so do not book a domestic connection from the other one on the same day.

Fly into Tokyo, home from Osaka

The classic first trip runs from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. With a return ticket to Tokyo you have to travel all the way back at the end. An open-jaw ticket, landing at Narita or Haneda and flying home from Kansai, saves half a day and a long-distance train fare. Kansai Airport is about 50 minutes from the shinkansen hub at Shin-Osaka (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Our 7-day first trip is planned around exactly this.

When to book, and when to avoid

Japan has three big holiday seasons when domestic travel peaks: New Year (late December to early January), Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August). Expect crowds, fully booked transport and some services that are reservation-only (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Flights and hotels are also in high demand during cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn leaves, so book those trips early. See our April and November pages for what each season looks like.

• Cheapest and quietest: weekdays outside the holiday weeks, and the months between the big seasons.
• Arrival time: a morning arrival gives you a full first day but a long one; an afternoon landing lets you check in and sleep at a normal hour.
• Late-night flights: some airports close overnight. New Chitose, for example, opens at 5:00 and closes at 23:00 (JNTO (opens in a new tab)), and trains into town stop around midnight.

Power banks and what goes in your bag

Rules for power banks changed on 24 April 2026. On Japanese airlines such as JAL you may carry up to two power banks of 160 Wh or less, in your carry-on only, and you may not charge them on board or use them to charge your phone during the flight (JAL (opens in a new tab)). Other airlines flying to Japan have similar rules, so check yours before you pack. Never put a power bank in checked luggage.

What you can bring in duty-free

Each adult visitor may bring in, without duty, three bottles of alcohol of 760 ml each, 200 cigarettes, 2 ounces (about 56 ml) of perfume, and other goods worth less than ¥200,000 in total. Travellers under 20 get no alcohol or tobacco allowance (Japan Customs (opens in a new tab)). Fill in your customs declaration in advance on Visit Japan Web (opens in a new tab) to get through the airport faster; our arrival day guide walks you through it.

The ¥3,000 departure tax

Since 1 July 2026, everyone leaving Japan pays an International Tourist Tax of ¥3,000 per departure, up from ¥1,000 (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Airlines collect it from passengers, so you will normally see it in your ticket price rather than pay at the airport. Tickets issued on or before 30 June 2026 keep the old ¥1,000 rate, and children under 2 and transit passengers leaving within 24 hours are exempt (National Tax Agency (opens in a new tab)).

After you land

Shops, restaurants and transport in Japan do not take foreign currency (JNTO (opens in a new tab)), so take out some yen at an airport ATM or pay by card; see money in Japan. Set up your Japan eSIM before you fly so maps work the moment you land, and add an IC card to your phone for the train into town. Our arrival day guide covers immigration, customs and every airport train step by step, and the trip budget guide helps you price the rest. Check your passport rules in our visa-free entry guide.