Job Discussion Forums

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Hi, I'm flying out in July to Kansai. Probably flying Lufthansa from the UK. My other alternative would be to use a friend's Virgin airmiles as far as Narita and pay for a seperate internal flight from Narita to Kansai.

Could anyone tell me what I could expect to pay one-way Narita to Kansai if I booked now (ie 6 weeks in advance), whether it would be a complete pain involving changing terminals and lugging luggage all over Narita and where I could buy tickets online.

Thanks a million.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Between 10,000 and 15,000 yen. You could take an over night bus for 7000 or the Shinkansen for around the same as a flight.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

you will need to find out when you will arrive at Narita and when flights are from Narita to Kansai (I don`t think it is so often). My girlfriend did this once (although she may have flown to Itami). We arrived around 5:30 p.m. and she didn`t have to wait long for the flight to Osaka.
Most flights from Tokyo to Osaka go from Haneda to Itami airport (one per hour I think).
There are buses than go from Narita to Haneda.

JAL and ANA both have websites so you can see when departures are.
ANA and Lufthansa are both in the Star Alliance, so connecting with ANA may be easier than with JAL.

Obviously it is nicer to fly directly to Osaka but the thing is there are so many more flights to Tokyo, so there is more selection.
I think that in the future Kansai airport will have less flights since both Kobe will get its own airport and Nagoya will get an international airport next year.
But I prefer Kansai airport since it is smaller and less congested. Narita probably has more than double the amount of passengers.

I did read about a night bus from Tokyo to Osaka for as low as 3900, by the way.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Thanks Canucck and Brooks.

I would have been arriving Narita 0730 ish from LHR and not feeling up to dragging myself and luggage from Narita to Haneda and then from Itami to Kansai have just booked with Lufthansa to fly direct - well, changing at Frankfurt but same terminal and early on in journey when I'm still feeling human!

After all it's only money ... (tee hee).

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

Where's your final destination in Japan? You realise Kansai is the name of the area as well as the name of the airport so everything is a touch confusing.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Oops! Final destination Shikoku but need to fly in to Kansai International! Should have stuck to my original intention of referring to airport as KIX!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

What city in Shikoku in particular? I may be able to give some advice here.

David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Kochi! Kochi! Kochi!

Thanks Gordon, Thanks David W. I Have to end up in KIX as am being met there to be spirited away for reprogramming until judged fit to be let loose on the unsuspecting hordes of eager and willing language learners.

Hai!

I'll be in touch.

steve

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

If they're meeting you at KIX then there's not much we can tell you. Kochi is about a 4-5 hour bus trip away from Kansai airport. You picked a nice city.