Japan is a popular travel destination. Planning your trip right should involve knowing how many airports in Tokyo you can fly to and from the city center.
Tokyo has two airports: Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. Narita Airport is located about 60 km away from Tokyo. It’s the city’s main hub for international flights. Haneda Airport sits right in Tokyo. It mainly serves domestic flights but also caters to some international flights.
Depending on where you’re flying from, you may or may not have a choice in which Tokyo airport to land in. Still, knowing what the possibilities are is good information to have.
Japan: A Prime Destination
Japan is off the east of Asia and is an archipelago with 14,125 islands. Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa are the five main islands with Honshu being the main, largest, and most populous island in the country.
Tokyo is the capital and largest city of Japan. It’s also one of the most populous countries in the world with over 14 million residents as of 2023.
The Tokyo Metropolitan area is the world’s most populous metropolitan area and the second-largest metropolitan economy after New York City.
Aside from these impressive records, Japan is a hotspot for travelers and tourists all year round.
The Tokyo Skytree and the Tokyo Tower are must-see places. Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan are the places to be for anyone who enjoys the magic of theme parks.
Japan’s famous cherry blossoms and its many anime attractions are also reason enough for why many tourists flock to the country all year round and why it’s become a prime holiday destination over the years.
How Many Airports in Tokyo?
An important piece of information is about Japan’s airports, specifically their airports in Tokyo, where you will most likely fly in from.
Two major airports serve Tokyo: Narita Airport and Haneda Airport.
Narita Airport
Contrary to popular belief, Narita International Airport isn’t located in Tokyo. It’s in the Chiba prefecture, about 60 km from central Tokyo, and serves as the main international airport for international flights and travelers.
Up until 2004, the airport was known as the New Tokyo International Airport.
It’s the second-busiest passenger airport in Japan in terms of aircraft movement, after the Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
The airport’s main runway is a 4,000-meter runway and is currently the longest runway in the country.
Due to its proximity to various residential neighborhoods, the airport has strictly controlled air traffic movements. The airport is closed from 12 AM to 6 AM every day to minimize disturbance and noise pollution.
Narita has a wider selection of restaurants and shopping boutiques as it caters to most international flights coming in and out of Tokyo.
It’s also more likely that when you book flights to Japan, you will be Narita-bound as it’s the primary airport for international flights.
Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport sits right in Tokyo and is one of the two international airports bringing travelers in and out of the country to its city center.
Though it still caters to international flights coming in and out of the country, it mostly serves as a domestic airport, serving the country’s two major domestic airlines: Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
Haneda Airport is the busiest airport in all of Asia and the fourth-busiest in the world. True to this testament, the airport serves up to 65 million people annually, mostly on domestic flights.
Situated right in Tokyo, transportation from the airport to downtown Tokyo is less than 30 minutes.
Haneda Airport is also home to various restaurants and shopping boutiques that can keep passengers occupied, although the number is fewer than those that can be found in Narita Airport.
Domestic Flights and International Flights: Why Does Tokyo Have Two Airports?
Before 1978, only one airport served the greater area of Tokyo: Haneda Airport, which was initially known as the Tokyo International Airport.
In the beginning, it served as the aircraft hub for both domestic and international travel.
Soon, the airport would suffer from overcrowding and complaints of noise and air pollution from residents of close neighborhoods. Airport expansion wasn’t possible at the time so they had to build a new airport elsewhere: the Narita Airport.
Once Narita Airport opened, it served as the main hub for international travelers while Haneda stuck to domestic flights.
But Haneda’s recent expansions made it possible for the airport to once again open its doors to serving international travelers, though they still specialize in domestic flights.
Conclusion
Tokyo is a prime destination for business and leisure travel alike. If you’re planning on a Japan holiday, you should know how many airports in Tokyo you can fly to and from.
Two airports serve Tokyo: Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. Narita Airport is situated in the Chiba prefecture, about 60 km away from the city center. It’s Tokyo’s main hub for international travelers. Haneda Airport sits right in and is closer to downtown Tokyo. It mostly caters to domestic flights but now also serves international flights.
Which airport you will fly to and from will depend on what is available in your country and airline. Still, it would be useful information to know which airports in Japan can accommodate you.
