Getting There

Most visitors to Tokyo arrive by air, at Narita International Airport 66km (40 miles) outside Tokyo in Narita.

The Airlines

Since the flying time to Tokyo is about 12 hours from Los Angeles and 13 1/2 hours from Chicago or New York, you'll want to consider on-board services and even mileage programs (you'll earn lots of miles on this round-trip) as well as ticket price when choosing your carrier. Airlines flying to Tokyo from North America, England, Australia, and New Zealand include the following.

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

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

All Nippon Airways (ANA; tel. 800/235-9262; www.anaskyweb.com) is Japan's largest domestic carrier. It offers daily nonstop service from New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco to Tokyo. It also flies from London to Tokyo. ANA has a code-share alliance with United Airlines (meaning that both airlines can sell each other's tickets; you can also earn United frequent-flier miles with ANA). ANA passengers can also receive discounts at ANA hotels in Japan, with free baggage transfers back to the airport.

American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) offers flights daily from Los Angeles, San Jose, Dallas, Chicago, and New York to Tokyo, and code-shares with Japan Airlines.

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.

Delta Airlines (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) offers daily flights from Atlanta to Tokyo.

Japan Airlines (JAL; tel. 800/525-3663; www.japanair.com), Japan's flagship carrier, offers more international flights to Japan than any other carrier. JAL flies to Tokyo from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Vancouver. It also connects Japan with England and Australia.

Northwest Airlines (tel. 800/447-4747; www.nwa.com), operating across the Pacific for more than 50 years (longer than any other airline), offers flights to Tokyo from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, New York, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Portland, and Honolulu.

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 San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago to Tokyo. It code-shares with ANA.

Arriving at Narita Airport

Tokyo has two airports. International flights land at Narita International Airport in Narita about 66km (40 miles) outside Tokyo. (If you're arriving in Tokyo from elsewhere in Japan, your flight will probably land at Haneda Airport, used primarily for domestic flights.)

Narita International Airport (tel. 0476/34-5000; www.narita-airport.or.jp) consists of two terminals, Terminal 1 and 2. Arrival lobbies in both terminals have banks for money exchange, open daily 6am to 11pm, as well as ATMs (change money here, as facilities in town are limited), and are connected to all ground transportation into Tokyo.

A Tourist Information Center (TIC), managed by the Japan National Tourist Organization, is located in the arrival lobbies of both Terminal 1 (tel. 0476/30-3383) and Terminal 2 (tel. 0476/34-5877). The TIC offers free maps and pamphlets and can direct you to your hotel or inn. Both TICs are open daily 8am to 8pm; if you don't yet have a hotel room and want one at a modest price, you can make reservations here for free until 7:30pm.

Other facilities at both terminals include post offices, medical clinics and, in their departure lounges, shower rooms, day rooms for napping, children's playrooms, and coin-operated computers with Internet connection (¥100/95¢ for 10 min.).

Getting From Narita Airport To Tokyo

Everyone grumbles about Narita Airport because it's so far away from Tokyo. In fact, Narita is a different town altogether, with miles of paddies, bamboo groves, pine forests, and urban sprawl between it and Tokyo.

By Taxi -- Obviously, jumping into a taxi is the easiest way to get to Tokyo, but it's also prohibitively expensive -- and may not even be the quickest method during rush hours. Expect to spend around ¥25,000 ($238) or more for a 1 1/2- to 2-hour taxi ride from Narita.

By Airport Bus -- The most popular and stress-free way to get from Narita to Tokyo is via the Airport Limousine Bus (tel. 03/3665-7220; www.limousinebus.co.jp), which picks up passengers and luggage from just outside the arrival lobbies of terminals 1 and 2 and delivers you to downtown hotels. This is the best mode of transportation if you have heavy baggage or are staying at one of the 40 or so major hotels served by the bus. Buses depart for the various hotels generally once an hour, and it can take almost 2 hours to reach a hotel in Shinjuku. Buses also travel to both Tokyo and Shinjuku Station and the Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT) in downtown Tokyo, with more frequent departures (up to four times an hour).

If your hotel is not served by Airport Limousine Bus, take it to the hotel or station nearest your destination. TCAT, Shinjuku Station, and Tokyo Station are served by public transportation as well as taxis. TCAT is connected to the Hanzomon subway line via moving walkways and escalators; Shinjuku and Tokyo stations are hubs for subway lines and commuter trains.

Check with the staff at the Airport Limousine Bus counter in the arrival lobbies to inquire which bus stops nearest your hotel and the time of departure. The fare to most destinations is ¥3,000 ($29). Children 6 to 12 are charged half-fare; those under 6 ride free.

By Train -- The quickest way to reach Tokyo is by train. Trains depart directly from the airport's two underground stations, called Narita Airport Station (in Terminal 1) and Airport Terminal 2. The JR Narita Express (NEX; tel. 03/3423-0111; www.jreast.co.jp) is the fastest way to reach Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, and Yokohama, with departures approximately once an hour, or twice an hour during peak hours. The 53-minute trip to Tokyo Station costs ¥2,940 ($28) one-way. The trip to Shinagawa or Shinjuku costs ¥3,310 ($31). Note: Since seats are sometimes sold out in advance, especially during peak travel times, you might consider purchasing your return ticket to Narita Airport here at the airport, at major JR stations in Tokyo, or at a travel agency; try to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your plane's departure.

If the NEX is sold out, take the slower JR Airport Liner, which will get you to Tokyo Station in 80 minutes and costs ¥1,280 ($12). An alternative is the privately owned Keisei Skyliner train (tel. 03/3831-0131; www.keisei.co.jp), which departs directly from both Narita Airport Station (Terminal 1) and Airport Terminal 2 and travels to Ueno Station in Tokyo in about an hour, with a stop at Nippori Station on the way. You'll find Keisei Skyliner counters in the arrival lobbies of both terminals. Trains depart approximately every 40 minutes between 7:49am and 10pm. The fare from Narita Airport to Ueno Station in Tokyo is ¥1,920 ($18) one-way; early morning and evening fares are cheaper. Travelers on a budget can take one of Keisei's slower limited express trains to Ueno Station; fares start at ¥1,000 ($9.50) for the 71-minute trip. At Ueno Station you can take either the subway or the JR Yamanote Line to other parts of Tokyo. Plenty of taxis are available.

Getting From Haneda Airport To Central Tokyo

If you're arriving at Haneda Airport (tel. 03/5757-8111), located near the center of Tokyo and used mainly for domestic flights, you can take the Airport Limousine Bus to Shinjuku Station, Tokyo Station, the Tokyo City Air Terminal (TCAT) in downtown Tokyo, and hotels in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Akasaka. Fares run ¥900 to ¥1,200 ($8.55-$11). Locals, however, are more likely to take the monorail from Haneda Airport 15 minutes to Hamamatsucho Station (fare: ¥470/$4.45), or the Keikyu Line 19 minutes to Shinagawa (fare: ¥400/$3.80). Both Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa connect to the very useful Yamanote Line, which travels to major stations, including Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station. Be sure to stop by the Tokyo Tourist Information Center (tel. 03/5757-9345) in Haneda Airport, open daily 9am to 10pm.