Getting There

By Plane

Japan has three international airports. Outside Tokyo is Narita International Airport (NRT), where you'll want to land if your main business is in the capital, the surrounding region, or at points north or east such as Hokkaido. Another international airport, Kansai International Airport (KIX) outside Osaka, is convenient if your destination is Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto, or western or southern Japan; it is also convenient for domestic air travel within Japan, since most domestic flights out of Tokyo depart from Haneda Airport, necessitating an airport transfer if you arrive at Tokyo International Airport. In between Narita and Kansai airports, outside Nagoya, is the Central Japan International Airport (NGO), nicknamed Centrair, which offers the advantage of slick airport facilities (including hot-spring baths!) and easy access to Nagoya, the Shinkansen bullet train, Japan Alps, and beyond.

The Major Carriers -- Since the flying time to Tokyo is about 12 hours from Los Angeles and 14 hours from Chicago or New York, you'll want to consider onboard services and even mileage programs (you'll earn lots of miles on this round-trip) as well as ticket price when choosing your carrier.

Japan Airlines (tel. 800/525-3663; www.ar.jal.com/en), Japan's flagship airline and largest domestic carrier, offers more international flights to Japan than any other carrier. JAL flies nonstop to Tokyo from Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Vancouver, and code-shares with American Airlines. JAL also serves other countries worldwide, including flights from London to Tokyo and Osaka and flights from New Zealand and Australia. JAL is now in the process of a major fleet renewal, replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient, environment-friendly aircraft, which will include the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner. One advantage to flying JAL (or a oneworld partner airline such as American Airlines) is its Yokoso Japan Airpass, which allows passengers flying JAL or member airlines to Japan to purchase discounted airfares for travel within Japan. JAL has also introduced a premium economy class cabin, better seats in first and business class on international routes, and wireless Internet service on flights between Tokyo and New York or London. Other benefits to flying JAL are discounts on accommodation at Nikko hotels and other JAL affiliate hotels, free transfer of one piece of luggage (up to 30kg/66 lb.) to or from an address in Japan (like a hotel) and the airport.

Other airlines nonstop flying to Japan from North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand include:

Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com) offers flights from Vancouver and Toronto to Tokyo and from Vancouver to Osaka.

Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000 in New Zealand; www.airnewzealand.com) flies from both Auckland and Christchurch to Tokyo and Osaka.

All Nippon Airways (tel. 800/235-9262; www.anaskyweb.com), is Japan's largest domestic carrier and has a code-share alliance with United Airlines. It offers daily nonstop service from New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Los Angeles; and San Francisco to Tokyo. It also flies from London and Sydney to Tokyo. One advantage to flying ANA or one of its Star Alliance members is that you can purchase inexpensive domestic Japan Airpass tickets for throughout Japan.

American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) code-shares with Japan Airlines, giving it one of the largest networks from North America to airports throughout Japan and allowing you to purchase JAL's discounted domestic fares. You can also earn American frequent-flier miles with JAL. American offers flights daily from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, and New York to Tokyo.

British Airways (tel. 0870/850-9850 in Britain; www.ba.com) flies from London to Tokyo.

Continental Airlines (tel. 800/523-3273; www.continental.com) offers flights daily from Newark and Houston to Tokyo.

Northwest Airlines (tel. 800/447-4747; www.nwa.com), operating across the Pacific longer than any other airline, offers daily flights to Tokyo from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, New York, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland, and Honolulu. It also offers direct flights from Detroit to Osaka and Nagoya.

Qantas (tel. 13-13-13 in Australia; www.qantas.com) flies from Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth to Tokyo.

United Airlines (tel. 800/538-2929; www.united.com) has daily flights from Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Seattle; San Francisco; Los Angeles; and Honolulu to Tokyo. It code-shares with ANA, which means you can purchase domestic flights on ANA at a discount.