Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [643]
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Transport
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CONTENTS
Getting There & Away
Entering The Country
Air
Land
Sea
Getting Around
Air
Bicycle
Boat
Bus
Car & Motorcycle
Hitching
Local Transport
Train
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
ENTERING THE COUNTRY
While most travellers to Japan fly via Tokyo, there are several other ways of getting into and out of the country. For a start, there are many other airports in Japan, which can make better entry points than Tokyo’s somewhat inconvenient Narita International Airport. It’s also possible to arrive in Japan by sea from South Korea, China and Russia.
Passport
A passport is essential. If your passport is within a few months of expiry, get a new one now – you will not be issued a visa if your passport is due to expire before the visa. For information on visas, Click here.
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AIR
There are flights to Japan from all over the world, usually to Tokyo, but also to a number of other Japanese airports. Although Tokyo may seem the obvious arrival and departure point in Japan, for many visitors this may not be the case. For example, if you plan on exploring western Japan or the Kansai region, it might be more convenient to fly into Kansai International Airport near Osaka.
Airports & Airlines
There are international airports situated on the main island of Honshū (Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka/Kansai and Tokyo Narita), and on Kyūshū (Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Nagasaki), Okinawa (Naha) and Hokkaidō (Sapporo).
NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
With the exception of a handful of flights, almost all international flights to/from Tokyo use Narita International Airport (NRT; www.narita-airport.or.jp/airport_e). Since Narita is the most popular arrival/departure point in Japan, flights via Narita are often cheaper than those using other airports. See also Click here.
KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
All of Osaka’s international flights now go via Kansai International Airport (KIX; www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp). It serves the key Kansai cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kōbe. Airport transport to any of these cities is fast and reliable (though it can be expensive if you’re going all the way to Kyoto).
CENTRAL JAPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CENTRAIR)
Conveniently located near Nagoya, Central Japan International Airport (Centrair; NGO; www.centrair.jp) is Japan’s newest international airport. Centrair has connections with China, Dubai, Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Saipan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.
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THINGS CHANGE…
The information in this chapter is particularly vulnerable to change. Check directly with the airline or a travel agent to make sure you understand how a fare (and ticket you may buy) works and be aware of the security requirements for international travel. Shop carefully. The details given in this chapter should be regarded as pointers and are not a substitute for your own careful, up-to-date research.
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CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL
Climate change is a serious threat to the ecosystems that humans rely upon, and air travel is the fastest-growing contributor to the problem. Lonely Planet regards travel, overall, as a global benefit, but believes we all have a responsibility to limit our personal impact on global warming.
Flying & Climate Change
Pretty much every form of motor travel generates CO2 (the main cause of human-induced climate change) but planes are far and away the worst offenders, not just because of the sheer distances they allow us to travel, but because they release greenhouse gases high into the atmosphere. The statistics are frightening: two people taking a return flight between Europe and the US will contribute as much to climate change as an average household’s gas and electricity consumption over a whole year.
Carbon Offset Schemes
Climatecare.org and other websites