Narita Airport Tokyo Japan

[olemanoman1950]

Hello:

 

I leave this Friday for Trip to Guangzhou and Nanning. First stop is Japan with a 3 hour layover. Any one been thru this Airport and had to Change Terminals for Next Flight to Guangzhou?

[turtle]

It's very easy, actually a nice airport. There is a sony store in the terminal where you can find some nice deals, too.

[Guest jimb]

If you have the time, a one or 2 day layover in Japan would be wonderful. Love Japanese food, and so much to see there. Bring lots of money though. Everything in Japan is expensive. If this is the only time you will have to go there, well worth the cost.

 

jimb

[calaf&turandot]

I'm leaving for GZ this Saturday via HK.

It's really easy at Narita; after getting off the plane, just follow the "Connecting Flights" (in plain English) sign. I believe you go through a security check (they may ask you to take your shoes off, following American trend) and to the International Departure concourse.

 

Have a nice flight.

[lele]

Hello:

 

      I leave this Friday for Trip to Guangzhou and Nanning. First stop is Japan with a 3 hour layover.  Any one been thru this Airport and had to Change Terminals for Next Flight to Guangzhou?

My father went through there when connecting to meet me in Shanghai more than 1 year ago. His experience was it was EXTREMELY EASY, once in the Airport. However, it was extremely tough going through the customs check. It seems that they specifically target Americans in general, and he said that every American male over the age of about 15, at least on his flight, had all of their bags searched. I am not sure if it was just something with the day that he came through, but I would be careful to add in some extra time for that.

 

GL!

[oregonknl]

Narita is a constant work in progress..... I have flown in there infrequently over the years, and am amazed by the changes --- not always good.

 

Narita was, even after 9-11 a very unsecure airport, with with seemed like Japanese teenage girl "greeters" in their cute little uniforms, but not making ANY effort to check luggage as you came off the plane to go to connecting flights....

 

That has all changed on my last two flights through there in June and July ----- now they are doing the full security check when you get off the plane, but at NWA, at least, they haven't provided any additional space to accommodate passengers --- so everyone is crowded in an area that you would normally pass through to get to the main terminal --- for 20 minutes to a half hour --- big crowd, poor air circulaton, no fun --- particularly in summer.... I also will be going back through Narita in early December ---- crossin' my fingers!

[mari]

I've been to Narita 3 times, very easy to get around, there's buses that take you to the different terminals, but the one thing I hated last December was that I had to go through two security checkpoints. At the second one there were around 150 people waiting in line, so I had to squeeze myself in front of it in order to catch my plane to Beijing. As much as I hate to do this, I kept telling myself: "either you do this or you will not see Qisheng tonight".

[cosmiclobster]

Wayne: I had 2 stopovers in Osaka. Since you are just tranferring to another country, you will only pass through a sequestered part of the airport. There is no customs to pass through. Just find your departing gate and wait. It should be no problem.

I can't say for sure how Narita is, but since you are on an international arrival going to an international departure on the same airline, I would think it would be just going to a different gate in the same section of the airport. Again, I have not been there so this is just a guess.

I would like to spend a few days in Tokyo, but the difference in airfare to pass through VS. stay for few days is exorbitant - $600 RT or $1100 to stop for a few days.

[Jeikun]

I went through Narita twice. I was on my way to South Korea, and at that time anyway, Northwest allowed a free stopover in Tokyo so I stayed a week. Nice airport, and Tokyo is an amazing city. I'll likely never see it again though, as Jun would just as soon burn it down as visit it.

[Maui & China]

Been thru 4 Narita times, as my flights from Honolulu always stops in Narita for aircraft change. Very easy to find your way around. Never had any problems as most of the signs are in English. Had to change airlines 1 time and that meant going from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, but they had helpful signs and guides as well as the buses that Mari spoke of. They even have places for internet access for a small fee. The rest rooms had western toilets as well as your standard asian squatter.

[cosmiclobster]

Tokyo is an amazing city.  I'll likely never see it again though, as Jun would just as soon burn it down as visit it.

I don't blame Jun for wanting to burn it down. Her country was invaded and occupied by another country.

Do you suppose the people in Iraq and going to feel the same way???

 

Sorry for the off topic post - this will be my only post and I will not reply to anyone elses post as it is off topic.

[cosmiclobster]

Been thru 4 Narita times,  They even have places for internet access for a small fee.

Jon: Osaka has internet terminals for free. They are set up mostly as information kiosks, but you can type in an internet address and go. I was able to get and send e mails.

 

BTW, I thought of stopping in Hawaii on the way back to break up the flight.

I can go to China RT for $600 or so, but they want $500 to go RT to Hawaii!! What airline do you use?

[lele]

Been thru 4 Narita times,  They even have places for internet access for a small fee.

Jon: Osaka has internet terminals for free. They are set up mostly as information kiosks, but you can type in an internet address and go. I was able to get and send e mails.

 

BTW, I thought of stopping in Hawaii on the way back to break up the flight.

I can go to China RT for $600 or so, but they want $500 to go RT to Hawaii!! What airline do you use?

Actually, this is not so unreasonable. The shortest way from New York City to Beijing is over the North Pole, and hence it is only about 2 hours longer than from SF. Yet, from New York to SF is at least 5 hours and 15 minutes of flight time. To go from SF to Hawaii is not that much less far, in retrospect. It is really amazing, but it works out. If you do not trust me on this, go and find a globe (not a 2D map), use a piece of string, and start measuring!!!

 

LeLe

[Maui & China]

Cosmic,

 

I usually end up flying China Airlines from Honolulu to Hong Kong. I know it's not considered the safest airline in the world, but it gets me to Hong Kong at a decent hour to cross over into Shenzhen. LeLe is also correct about the flight times. But the price shock you felt is pretty standard for flights in and out of Hawaii. Because Hawaii is a prime tourist destination, the airlines really hammer you on the prices. That's why it's cheaper to fly from SF to NY, than SF to Hawaii even though it's almost the same distance.

 

The thing that always bothered me is even though I live closer to China than most of you, I'm further behind in time. 18 hours behind! So I'm always waking up around 3 or 4am to call Ling. Been doing it for over 1-1/2 years now and I think I forgot what a good nights sleep is anymore.

[oregonknl]

Jon's right about the safety record of China Airlines..

 

Although it must have improved in the last several years, since I haven't heard of any problems.. in the past it had some spectacular mishaps.. Including one that amazingly, wasn't so bad. They landed one plane upside down during bad weather in Hong Kong.

 

There is a website about air disasters, that has vidio and audio footage of various plane crashes --- and they have footage of this landing (if you can call it that), sorry I don't remember the name of the site --- but its an easy Goggle --- unfortunately it is a long download on dial-up with a slow computer like mine --- so I had to cut it off long before the "touch down"