Narita Airport Line 成田空港線 なりたくうこうせん

The whole line is operated by Keisei Electric Railway, while some parts of the line are operated by other companies as well, such as Hokuso Railway. The new line is used by Skyliner services operating at up to 160 km/h using new Keisei AE series EMUs.

The project involved the refurbishment of 32.3 km of existing track on the Hokusō Line, as well as the construction of 19.1 km of new track to Narita Airport, partly using disused rights-of-way originally planned for the cancelled Narita Shinkansen project. The total cost, according to the Narita Rapid Rail Access website, was estimated to be ¥126 billion, or about US$1.3 billion.

Trains also utilize the Keisei Electric Railway‘s Main Line between Keisei Ueno and Keisei-Takasago. Trains run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h, thus completing the run from Nippori to Airport Terminal 2 in 36 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the previous Skyliner route, which took 51 minutes. Trains also run towards Haneda Airport from Narita Airport via Keisei-Takasago using Toei Asakusa Line, the Keikyu Main Line and the Keikyu Airport Line.This makes it possible to connect the two airports around 65 minutes, as opposed to the previous minimum of 106 minutes. Fare for the route is ¥2,400 from either Nippori or Ueno stations.

Service on this line commenced on July 17, 2010.

There are also plans to build a track from the Toei Asakusa Line to Tōkyō Station, opening a (potentially) faster route to the airport via the Keisei Oshiage Line.    

(from Keisei Information Site)

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/

Useful travel information:

http://www.japan-guide.com/ad/skyliner.html

Japan Airlines 日本航空 にほんこうくう

 

 

then there was that dark, bleak day…

Japan Airlines Flight 123

was a Japan Airlines domestic flight from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) to Osaka International Airport (Itami) on August 12, 1985. The Boeing 747-146SR that made this route, registered JA8119, suffered mechanical failures 12 minutes into the flight and 32 minutes later crashed into two ridges of Mount Takamagahara in Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, 100 kms from Tokyo, on Monday 12 August 1985. The crash site was on Osutaka Ridge, near Mount Osutaka. All 15 crew members and 505 out of 509 passengers died, resulting in a total of 520 deaths and four survivors. At the time we lived in Gunma not far from the site and we certainly knew people who were personally affected by the disaster. It was a very bleak time.

It is currently the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history, and the third deadliest plane crash in history in terms of all fatalities behind the September 11, 2001 Attacks and the Tenerife airport disaster.

One famous passenger on board was the Japanese singer Ryu Sakamoto, famous for his ‘sukiyaki” song.                                                                          (mainly from Wikipedia)

410 Monorail モノレール ものれーる

from Hamamatsu-chō 　　to Haneda International Airport

浜松町から　羽田国際空港まで

はままつちょうから　はねだこくさいくうこうまで

とうきょうの はままつちょうから くうこうまで
from Hamamatsu-cho inTokyo to the airport

ホームから でぐちまでは 400メートルでしょう。
from the platform to the exit seems to be 400 metres

ここから よんかいまでは じゅっぷんぐらいでしょう。
エスカレーターを つかってください。
 from here to the 4th floor seems to be about 10 minutes.
please, use the escalator.

ターミナルから ちゅうしゃじょうまでです。

from the terminal to the parking lot.

はねだからよこはままでは いちばん はやいです。

from Haneda to Yokohama will be the quickest.

うえから したまでは 7メートルぐらいでしょう。

from the top to the bottom seems to be about 7 metres.

みなとから はしまでは 30ぷんぐらいでしょう。

from the harbour to the bridge seems to be about 30 minutes.

ここから はままつちょうまでは 1じかんでしょう。

from here to Hamamatsu-cho seems to be 1 hour.

いまから もう よんかげつぐらいでしょう。

from now it seems to be about four more months.

きょうから はしに はいっては いけませんよ。

from today you won’t be allowed to enter the bridge!

Haneda International Airport 羽田国際空港 はねだこくさいくうこう

 

羽田　はねだ　haneda  featherfield

Taxi タクシー たくしー

takushii    タクシー　たくしい　  taxi

Taxis in Japan are beautifully organised. They are very clean, almost over-decorated with lacy-looking covers. The chauffeur wears a suit, a cap and white gloves. Drivers are identified on the dashboard with a numbered photo in Japanese as well as in English. The car charges are clearly displayed on the outside window of the passenger seat as well as inside the car, so there can be no confusion. The meters are constantly monitored; all taxis have a GPS system, so fares that seem to go the wrong way are very quickly spotted by the computer – discipline is very tight.

This particular car is by now a slightly older model and outside any large city railway station one can usually choose from one hundred taxis or so. What is most noticeable is the service aspect. The chauffeur is very polite, without chatting up the passenger and poking his nose into private business. 

If you want to share your divorce settlement and your emotional issues with a complete stranger/driver, Japan is absolutely not for you. LOL

  

Japanese taxi drivers are very helpful. They will place your suitcase in the back of the car, if need be. They will take you the quickest way,            

                                          BUT…

BUT…

  

BUT…

BUT… 

there are a few matters you need to be aware of:

1. Taxi charges are based on distance AND time.
2. The taxi driver is not responsible for traffic jams or heavy traffic.
3. Quite a few roads and streets are one-way, so the driver needs to drive “around the block” (in a good way).
4. Japanese addresses are NOT based on the western road/street number system. 
5. Japanese addresses are based on blocks and although drivers know an awful lot of blocks and GPS and radio contact with Central etc., they cannot know them all.
6. Taxi drivers do have a sort of “white pages” of addresses.
7. Japanese taxi drivers are licensed and they have to sit examinations to become a driver. It is a reasonable income, so it is something valued.
8. Taxi drivers will contact Central for information and consultation. Your trip is monitored.
9. You can pay with Plastic Fantastic.
10. You can request special vehicles for specific jobs.

                                           BUT… 

there are a few matters you need to know beforehand:

NEVER OPEN OR CLOSE A TAXI DOOR!

It is done automatically by the driver

SIT IN THE BACK!

Unless there are three passengers

YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING!

Be prepared

The easiest way to be prepared is to have the address written down on paper. This is important as kanji can be essential in an address. Often Japanese themselves have company MEISHI (business cards) of the place where they are going. Companies issue them. These days you can download them from the net. Drivers can do that too via  Central.

The meter is sealed

NO SMOKING    禁煙　きんえん　KIN-EN

(FILTHY HABIT anyway)

BUT BEST OF ALL: NO TIPPING
(another disgusting western habit of legalised begging – personal opinion)

By the way, to take a taxi from Tokyo Airport to anywhere downtown  Tokyo is extremely expensive. To Yokohama it will cost an arm and a leg. 

From Osaka Airport there are no taxis as it is on an island and you need to take an express train. 

Most people would take an express train from Tokyo as well. Tokyo International Airport Narita is 70 kms from downtown.               

Narita Airport Express

Narita Limousine Bus

Narita Airport Line

If you can do and remember all of these things, you will absolutely love Japanese taxis – Heaven on Wheels!



Kansai Airport 関西空港 かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

One important fact needs to be remembered about Kansai International Airport and it is that the airport is built on an island. Therefore there are only two ways on and two ways off the island: either by plane, or by train. There are no cars on the island for passengers. As you can see from the following photos, train transport is extremely well organised. English is not a problem. You cannot go wrong, as they say.

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

The airport itself is well laid out and easy to find your way around, even when there is a crowd. There are lots of shops and restaurants, should you be on your way through somewhere and there is entertainment too. The website link is at the bottom of this page.

The airports code  is KIX, which is a reference to the district of Kinki, where the airport is situated. 

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

By the way there is another airport in Osaka, which is commonly called Itami Airport (officially ‘Osaka International Airport), but it is now only for national flights.

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

While we have your attention, assuming you read this BEFORE you travel to Osaka, please consider the Japan Rail Pass for the bullet train. The pass can only be bought outside Japan and acquired in Japan through a voucher system. This option will save you a fortune in travel expenses. Here is the link:

Railpass

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

For more information on 

Kansai International Airport:

http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp

(other language options are on the page)

Itami (Osaka International) Airport:

http://osaka-airport.co.jp/en/

(other language options are on the page)

Here are two pictures to give you an idea about Itami Airport:

Narita Airport Express 成田エクスプレス なりたえくすぷれす

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Narita Airport Express  成田エクスプレス

なりたえくすぷれす  narita-ekusupuresu

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The Narita Express Train departs from the basement and takes you within the hour to downtown Tokyo 東京 とうきょう tōkyō, or further to Yokohama 横浜 よこはま yokohama. Just go to the ticket counter and the assistants will help you with any bookings. Every 20 minutes or so another train leaves, so you won’t have to wait for very long. Seating arrangements for the train are marked on the platform on the ground, but also overhead on electronic sign boards. You can’t go wrong. There are plenty of staff who would be of assistance as well. They are in the business of moving many people efficiently and quickly and pleasantly!

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ticket   切符　きっぷ  kippu

From Shinjuku to Narita Airport

Express Train 29 – 4th carriage – 8th row – Seat A (non smoking)

Train leaves Shinjuku at 14:42 and arrives at 15:57

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on the bus  バスの中で　ばすのなかで  basu no naka de

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in front of the train   電車の前　でんしゃのまえ  densha no mae

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ticket counter  切符売り場　きっぷうりば   kippu-uriba

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You may feel assured that all your plans will be fine. You will receive all the assistance you need for all your travel plans. One thing though:

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YOU NEED LOTS OF MONEY – JAPAN IS EXPENSIVE!
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Narita Airport 成田空港 なりたくうこう

 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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aeroplane　 飛行機　ひこうき  hikōki

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Narita Airport 成田空港 なりたくうこうNarita is a large modern airport, about 70 kilometres from the centre of 東京 とうきょう tōkyō Tokyo.

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Japan Airlines 日本航空 にほんこうくう nihon-kōkū

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It is a hub of activity and designed to cater for modern air travel. Although all announcements are in Japanese, an English translation, or a translation in the language of the target group is provided. All signage has English, Chinese and Korean translations as well.

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your most important piece of paper:

パスポート　pasupōto  passport

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(Or the one from your own country. Do check whether you need a visa. Many countries have agreements with Japan, so for tourist purposes under a certain length of time a visa is not needed).

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Your very smart piece of paper: レールパス reeru-pasu  rail-pass

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This can only be bought OUTSIDE Japan.

It saves you an awful lot of money.

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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それはちょっとねえ–え

sore wa chotto neee

That’s a little… (cheeky)

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Carrying suitcases is not a problem as elevators, escalators automatic walkways and conveyor belts are everywhere. We would have taken the elevator, but well… hey, why not the escalator, some people seem to think! It’s an -ator after all, isn’t it?! Close enough.

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Ever tried running on one of these?  not very Japanese…

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  成田空港 Narita Airport なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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 And then there is East and South and West

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North　北　きた  kita

East　東　ひがし  higashi

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South　南　みなみ  minami

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West　西　にし  nishi

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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There are many arrivals and departures all day long, so please keep an eye on the different boards. However, if you speak Japanese or English you won’t have a problem. The Japanese have a reputation for being just superbly well-organised. Unbelievable! They even manage to smile to their guests while being very busy.

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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Welcome to Japan

yōkoso

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成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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