Air
Tokyo is Japan’s main international air gateway and the New Tokyo International Airport, better known as Narita, is about 41 miles east of the city centre. The fastest way in by public transport is by the frequent JR or Keisei trains that depart from the basements of both terminals. The journey will be between 75 and 90 minutes. Limousine buses are useful if you’re weighed down by luggage, though they’re prone to delays in traffic. Although the tickets are pricier than the train, once you factor in the cost of a taxi from one of the train stations to your hotel, these buses are probably a better deal. You buy tickets at the limousine bus counters in each of the arrival lobbies; the buses depart directly outside and stop at a wide range of places around the city including all the major hotels and train stations. The journey time will be about 90 minutes. Taxis to the city centre can be caught from Stand 9 outside the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 and Stand 30 outside the arrivals hall of Terminal 2. The cost of the train will be about 2,000 Yen (around £8.50/$17), the bus 3,000 (£13/$25.50) and the taxi 20,000 (£87/$170). Full details of transport and other services at Narita can be found at www.narita-airport.jp/en/index
Most domestic flights touch down at Haneda Airport which is located on a spit of land jutting into Tokyo Bay, 12 miles south of the Imperial Palace. From there, it’s a 20-minute monorail journey in. Limousine buses and taxis are also available. Details of transport and other services at Haneda can be found at www.japan-guide.com/e/e2430
Train
If you’re coming in to Tokyo by JR train from Osaka, Kyoto and other points west, you’ll pull in to Tokyo Station, close to the Imperial Palace, or Shinagawa Station, about 4 miles south-west. These stations are both connected to several subway lines, putting them within reach of most of the capital.
