Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [645]
Travel Cuts (800-667-2887; www.travelcuts.com) is Canada’s national student travel agency. For online bookings, try www.expedia.ca and www.travelocity.ca.
China
There are several daily flights between Japan and Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, as well as on JAL and ANA. In Hong Kong try Four Seas Tours (0852-2200-7777; www.fourseastravel.com/fs/en). There are also flights between Japan and Beijing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shanghai, Shenyang and Xian.
Continental Europe
Most direct flights between Europe and Japan fly into Tokyo, but there are also some flights into Kansai. The following are recommended travel agencies in continental Europe.
FRANCE
Anyway (08 92 89 38 92; www.anyway.fr, in French)
Lastminute (08 99 78 50 00; www.fr.lastminute.com, in French)
Nouvelles Frontières (08 25 00 07 47; www.nouvelles-frontieres.fr, in French)
OTU Voyages (01 55 82 32 32; www.otu.fr, in French) This agency specialises in student and youth travellers.
Voyageurs du Monde (08 92 23 56 56; www.vdm.com, in French)
GERMANY
Expedia (01805-007146; www.expedia.de, in German)
Just Travel (089-747 33 30; www.justtravel.de)
STA Travel (069-743 032 92; www.statravel.de) For travellers under the age of 26.
ITALY
CTS Viaggi (064 41 11 66; www.cts.it, in Italian)
THE NETHERLANDS
Airfair (0900-771 77 17; www.airfair.nl, in Dutch)
SPAIN
Barcelo Viajes (902 20 04 00; www.barceloviajes.com, in Spanish)
New Zealand
Airlines that fly between Japan and New Zealand (Auckland) include Malaysian Airlines, Thai International, Qantas and Air New Zealand (direct). You’ll save money by taking one of the Asian airlines via an Asian city rather than flying direct.
Both Flight Centre (0800 243 544; www.flightcentre.co.nz) and STA Travel (0508 782 872; www.statravel.co.nz) have branches throughout New Zealand.
South Korea
Numerous flights link Seoul and Busan with Japan. In Seoul, try the Korean International Student Exchange Society (Kises; 02-733-9494; www.kises.co.kr, in Korean; 5th fl, YMCA Bldg, Chongno 2-ga).
Click here for information on sea-travel bargains between Korea and Japan.
Taiwan
There are plentiful connections between Taipai and various airports in Japan. Flights also operate between Kaohsiung and Osaka or Tokyo.
UK
ANA and JAL offer direct flights between London and Japan. Air France is also a reliable choice for flights to Japan (usually Tokyo), but you’ll have to change in Paris. You’ll often save a lot of money by taking a Middle Eastern airline, but this will involve a stop somewhere en route. The following travel agencies are recommended:
Flight Centre (087-0499 0040; www.flightcentre.co.uk)
Flightbookers (087-1223 5000; www.ebookers.com)
North-South Travel (01245 608291; www.northsouthtravel.co.uk/) North-South Travel donates part of its profit to projects in the developing world.
Quest Travel (087-1423 0135; www.questtravel.com)
STA Travel (087-1230 0040; www.statravel.co.uk) For travellers under the age of 26.
Trailfinders (084-5058 5858; www.trailfinders.co.uk)
Travel Bag (080- 0082 5000; www.travelbag.co.uk)
USA
There are flights between several American cities and Japan (mostly to Narita, but also to Kansai and a few other airports). Some carriers to check include JAL, ANA, United Airlines and Northwest Airlines. If you don’t mind flying via another Asian country, you can sometimes save money by flying with a Chinese, Taiwanese or Korean airline, but this will involve backtracking to Japan.
IACE Travel USA (800-872-4223, 212-972-3200; www.iace-usa.com/us/index.php) is a travel agency specialising in travel between the USA and Japan that can often dig up cheap fares. San Francisco’s Avia Travel (800-950-2842, 510-558-2150; www.aviatravel.com) is a favourite of Japan-based English teachers and can arrange