HOW TO get TO OKINAWA as well as WHY IT’S worth THE effort

With its tropical weather, Hawaii-like shores as well as special culture, Okinawa uses the best mix of island time as well as Japanese sophistication. however exactly how do you get there?

Okinawa is Japan’s a lot of southerly prefecture. Its string-of-pearl archipelago reaches nearly within sight of the shores of Taiwan. as well as its ancient culture makes it as different as it is far from its mainland kin.

We like the interesting blend of Ryokyu (Okinawa’s original name) as well as the broader Japanese cultures you discover in here. It one of the lots of things that make Okinawa a terrific travel destination.

However, getting to Okinawa isn’t necessarily the simplest thing in the world. right here are our ideas for navigating your method to Okinawa as well as making the most of your trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

How to get to Okinawa as well as why it’s worth the effort:

Direct flights to Okinawa

Flights to Japan – particularly Tokyo – are ending up being ever-more regular as well as affordable. however flying directly to Okinawa isn’t always that easy.

If you’re in China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore, you’ll be able to fly direct to Naha, Okinawa’s worldwide flight terminal (and Japan’s 7th busiest).

But if you’re coming from anywhere else in the world, you’ll have to get a linking flight south. The great news (if you’re flying from Tokyo) is there’s a possibility you’ll see install Fuji from your airplane window!

Connecting flights to Okinawa

Of course, great deals of flights as well as great deals of flight business leave Tokyo for Okinawa.

But here’s the problem.

There are two primary airports in Tokyo – Narita worldwide as well as Tokyo-Haneda worldwide – as well as not all airlines utilize the exact same flight terminal for Tokyo arrivals as well as Okinawa departures.

JAL for example has worldwide flights showing up into Narita, however its linking flights to Okinawa fly from Haneda. as well as it can be a 2-hour trip between airports.

Triple-check your linking flights as well as flight times to make sure you understand which flight terminal you requirement to be in as well as that there’s sufficient time between flights if you have to reach the other airport.

If you want to make things incredibly simple after a long flight, you can organise a concierge meet-and-greet to discover you at arrivals as well as assist you to your next flight or anywhere you want to go.

Click right here to go to the JR Pass site where you can book this arrivals angel.

How to get from Narita flight terminal to Haneda Airport

As you’d expect with Japan’s greatest city, there is a multitude of methods to travel between Narita flight terminal as well as Haneda Airport.

The finest choice we found, which was affordable, convenient, quick as well as simple, was to book seats on the Narita Limousine Bus. You can book seats in development or just pay when you get there.

This direct instructor service takes between 60-90 minutes (depending on traffic) as well as costs around $30pp each way.

Uber/Taxis are one more option, however they’re not inexpensive in Japan. In fact, a research study on taxis around the world names Tokyo as the most expensive.

Trains leave Narita for the city extremely routinely as well as are affordable. However, to get to Haneda, you’ll have to modification trains – potentially a lot more than once. Not perfect when you’re carrying bags around.

If you’re planning on getting a lot more utilize out of the honestly outstanding train network throughout Japan, it’s truly worth looking into getting a JR Pass.

You can save a great deal of time as well as money with a national Pass – here’s a link to get yours before you go.

Making the most of your Tokyo time

When we very first shown up in Tokyo, we flew into Narita, however booked a night in a hotel near Haneda flight terminal so we wouldn’t have to rush for our Okinawa flight the next day.

We took the Narita Limousine Bus to Haneda, inspected in then hopped on a train into the city.

The Kelkyu-Kuku train goes from Haneda flight terminal to Higashi-Ginza station in about 35 minutes as well as costs around $7 per person each way, then it’s about a 10-minute walk to the centre of Ginza as well as the heart of Tokyo’s buying as well as mixed drink bar district.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi, which is undoubtedly much quicker.

How to take a taxi in Japan

While I’m on the subject, taking taxis in Tokyo is rather an experience. The vehicles themselves look rather boxy as well as old, however they are in truth rather modern.

But there’s a process to utilizing taxis here.

Always technique the taxi from the curb side, never from the web traffic side.

You won’t be able to flag taxis down in the street in Ginza. You can only catch one at a taxi stand. other parts of the city, you’ll be able to just hail taxis in the street though.

Don’t try to opHOW TO get TO OKINAWA as well as WHY IT’S worth THE effort (###) With its tropical weather, Hawaii-like shores as well as special culture, Okinawa uses the best mix of island time as well as Japanese sophistication. however exactly how do you get there?