When to Fly Instead of Taking the Train
The shinkansen is king for distances under 600km (Tokyo-Osaka, Tokyo-Kyoto, Tokyo-Sendai). But for longer routes, flying saves hours: Tokyo to Sapporo (1h30m flight vs 8h+ train), Tokyo to Okinawa (2h30m, no train exists), Tokyo to Fukuoka (2h flight vs 5h shinkansen), Osaka to Sapporo (2h flight vs impractical by train). Factor in airport transfer and check-in time (arrive 60-90 min early for domestic flights). Total door-to-door time often favors flights for routes over 800km.
Tip: Book LCC flights 2-3 months ahead for ¥4,000-7,000 fares. Last-minute domestic flights on ANA/JAL cost ¥15,000-35,000 — still cheaper than international carriers.
Airlines: Full-Service vs Low-Cost
ANA and JAL (full-service): Premium experience, included baggage (20kg), drinks, punctual. Domestic fares ¥12,000-35,000. Both offer tourist discount fares: ANA Experience Japan (from ¥10,500) and JAL Japan Explorer Pass (from ¥11,000) — must be purchased with international ticket. Peach Aviation (LCC, ANA subsidiary): Japan's largest budget carrier, based at Kansai/Narita. Fares from ¥3,490. Jetstar Japan: Narita-based, fares from ¥3,990. Spring Japan: Chinese-owned LCC, cheapest fares from ¥2,737. Skymark: Mid-range, good Haneda routes, ¥8,000-15,000.
Budget Airline Tips and Gotchas
LCC savings evaporate with add-ons: Checked baggage ¥1,500-3,000 per bag (carry-on limit is 7kg). Seat selection ¥300-800. Payment fees ¥500-600 for credit cards (konbini payment avoids this on some airlines). Terminal access: LCCs often use remote terminals — Narita Terminal 3 is a 15-minute walk from the train station. Cancellation: Non-refundable on basic fares. Book directly on airline websites (not aggregators) for cheapest fares and easier changes. Weight limits are strict — Peach charges ¥2,000-4,500 for exceeding hand luggage weight at the gate.
Major Airports and Access
Tokyo Haneda (HND): 20 minutes from city center by monorail, preferred for domestic flights. Tokyo Narita (NRT): 60-90 minutes from city, LCC hub. Access via Narita Express (¥3,250) or Keisei Skyliner (¥2,520). Osaka Kansai (KIX): Peach hub, 50 minutes to Namba by Nankai Rapi:t (¥1,450). Osaka Itami (ITM): Domestic-only, closer to city (30 minutes by bus). Sapporo Chitose (CTS): 40 minutes to Sapporo by JR (¥1,150). Fukuoka (FUK): Subway directly to Hakata in 5 minutes — Japan's most convenient airport.
Booking Strategies
For ANA/JAL discount fares: book 75 days ahead ('Super Value 75') for up to 80% off standard fares. 55-day and 28-day advance fares also offer significant savings. Use Skyscanner Japan or Google Flights to compare across all airlines. For LCCs: Tuesday and Wednesday flights are cheapest; Friday evening and Monday morning are most expensive. Sale alerts: Peach runs ¥1-500 flash sales during campaign periods (follow their social media). ANA sometimes offers ¥7,000 domestic fares to foreign passport holders via their 'ANA Discover Japan' program.
