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.jpg/300px-Narita_International_Air_Port_(cropped).jpg) | ||
| Tokyo Narita Airport | ||
| height | 141 feet | |
|---|---|---|
| IATA code | NRT | |
| ICAO code | RJAA | |
| Number of passengers | 40.675.400 (2018) | |
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The Narita Airport(成田空港, Narita Kūkō) in the Chiba prefecture a few kilometers from the eponymous city (成 田 市), is the international airport Tokyoalbeit the old one for several years Tokyo Haneda is increasingly served internationally again. Most surprisingly for Japan, it is one of the worst equipped airports in an Asian industrial nation.
background
The resistance against the planned construction of the airport from 1965, with seven dead, was one of the longest struggles of civil rights movements in Japan, which is otherwise so addicted to harmony. The most important group was the one active until 1983 Sanrizuka-Shibayama Rengo Kūkō Hantai Dōmei (三 里 塚 ・ 芝山 連 合 空港 反 対 同盟). The expropriation proceedings against the local farmers dragged on for years until a special law was passed. For years there was a state of emergency in the nearby village of Sanrizuka, with a massive police crew.[1] One of the most impressive documents of contemporary Japanese history are the film recordings of the “terrorist” who broke into the almost finished tower and smashed the electronic devices of the air traffic control with a hammer on March 26, 1978.
The documentation Summer in Sanrizuka (1974) and Wages of Resistance: Narita Stories (2015) show the history of the resistance that polarized Japan in the early 1970s as much as the fight against it in Germany Wyhl nuclear power plant.
The number of passengers over the past ten years has fluctuated between 30 and 35 million.
Directions
Narita was not directly reachable for 20 years after opening. Passengers had to transfer to special buses, whereby they were subjected to a meticulous security check beforehand.
The Helicopter shuttle service to the ARK Hills Heliport it takes about 20 minutes to get to the Akasaka district. The one-way charter costs ¥ 270,000 (including hotel transfer).
By train
Traveling by train is probably the most sensible way for tourists to get from Tokyo to the airport, which is just under seventy kilometers away. Airport Terminal 2 Station should use passengers departing from Terminal 2 or 3. Departures from Terminal 1 (including JAL and ANA) can be reached from Narita Airport Station.
The private one Skyliner-Express to Ueno (a hub station on the YamanoteRing line) takes 41 minutes to Nippori and costs ¥ 2470. For some time now, combination tickets for the express plus one day underground (note that this only covers a small part of the rail network) for ¥ 2800 Operating company Keisei on the mezzanine (level B1) is 7.00-22.30, there are also ticket machines, all of which can be switched to English.
The company also operates the significantly cheaper trains Keisei Limited Express for ¥ 1230 to Ueno (64 min.). The Pasmo- Prepaid card can also be used for connections with other private transport companies and for purchases.
The state railway JR East On the one hand, there is the express train that runs about every half hour N'EX, via Tokyo Central Station (¥ 3020, 2nd class) and Shinagawa (in the south of the YamanoteLine) also after Yokohama (¥ 4290; 72–90 min.), Hachiōji and Ōfuna (2015 timetable: from Narita and after Narita) continues. From Hamamamtsuchō station you have a transfer connection by means of Tōkyō monorail (13–20 min. For 18 km) to Haneda Airport.
The cheaper alternative are the ordinary trains of the Sobu-Line to Nippori and Ueno (¥ 1320; up to 80 min.), From where there is a connection to all parts of the city on the Yamanote ring line. The Suica-Karte is a rechargeable prepaid card that can be used on JR trains.
The Tsukuba-Express can be reached after changing trains in Ueno from Akihabara.
By bus
There are several airport bus routes that, given the reliability of the rail connections, are only recommended if they go directly to the desired part of Tokyo:
- Keisei bus to Tokyo Central Station: ¥ 900 if booked in advance, otherwise ¥ 1000. Early in the morning and at night: ¥ 2000. Scheduled journey time 70 minutes.
- Access Narita from Ginza Subway over Tokyo Station. ¥ 1000, from 5.00, every 15-20 minutes during the day, travel time 66-80 minutes.
- The centrally located luxury hotels departing Limousine buses cost around ¥ 3000. This is the only line that leaves early enough to reach extremely early check-in times.
With the taxi
The journey by taxi from Tokyo Shinjuku would cost around ¥ 25–28,000 in 2015, depending on traffic. The driving time during the day cannot be estimated due to the constant daily traffic jams on the city motorway.
In the street
Via the city motorway 14 direction Narita. Via Route 51 to Route 295 you get to Gate 2 for Terminals 2 and 3 (no private vehicles there) or Gate 1 for Terminal 1. On Route 296, the Yokaichiba – Sakura or Narita – Matsuo route, you get through Gate 6 to the southern one Part of the airport. (Parking decks and fees.)
You are only allowed to stand briefly in front of the terminals to get on and off.
Airlines and Destinations
Narita is the main international airport in the country, practically all foreign airlines flying to Japan land here. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) and the low-cost airline Jetstar Japan (founded in 2012) are based here.
Terminals
In April 2015, a third terminal opened, which is described as "minimalist" extremely benevolently. There is (still) no S-Bahn connection, hardly any shops, telephones, seating or the like (Overview). The terminal can be reached either by slow shuttle bus or in around ten minutes on foot (no moving walkways).
Arrivals
The international arrival is well organized. In front of the line to the border police, an employee checks whether both sides of the entry form have been filled out and points to the counter with the shortest waiting time. At the counter, as with criminals by foreigners, a fingerprint of the traveler is taken, a sign of the xenophobia of the Japanese.
The duty-free limits in Japan are comparatively generous (3 liters of alcohol, 400 cigarettes, 800 if Japanese-made, or 500 g tobacco; other up to ¥ 200,000). Japanese customs officers - with white gloves - are extremely correct and polite, but quite strict. In addition to the usual bans on explosives, drugs, etc., strict regulations apply to food (plant-based products can possibly be imported after checking at the quarantine counter). All pictures on which pubic hair are visible are considered "pornographic" and therefore forbidden. "Unaccompanied luggage" (English: "unattended personal luggage") can, provided it is declared in writing, later be imported duty-free at the post office, for example.
departure
(New plan)
The corresponding levels and check-in counters of the airlines are adequately signposted.
Change
Shuttle buses run between the terminals between 05.10–22.20 approximately every 7–10 minutes. There is also a bus to the train station Higashi Narita.
For a possible transfer between the two airports (Haneda ↔ Narita) you should allow at least 3½ hours, better still an hour more, between landing and check-in time when using the train.
security
Due to the “threats” described, the airport is monitored extremely closely. Six meter high walls with triple barbed wire are common in the outdoor area. Japanese courtesy makes the security measures much more bearable than the cowboy-like demeanor of German border police officers.
mobility
Terminal 3 is only on foot or can be reached by the shuttle bus, which is about the same speed.
activities
Leave as soon as possible!
Lounges
Lounges in Terminals 1 and 2 can also be rented by individual travelers or groups without tickets in the upper class (Conditions and prices, 90 min.ø 30-40000 yen). In the connected restaurants, meals are also offered that meet the requirements of Koran believers. Bookings should be made at least four days in advance at 81 (0) 476-32-2364 (9:00 am to 6:00 pm).
Planespotting
On the terraces up in the terminal.
shop
Several small, unattractive shops with high prices in the public area. After clearance, the internationally usual ones Duty free Offers, including their prices, are above the Asian average.
Newspaper kiosks offer, as everywhere in Japan, "bulk" cans of beer at normal prices.
kitchen
As at all airports, the restaurants are overpriced, but the quality is at best average. The food options behind the border clearance are simply miserable.
accommodation
One of the most affordable places to stay in Japan is the Ki-no-ne boarding house. Accessible from the local train station Shibayama Chiyoda (芝山 千代 田) via a pedestrian tunnel.
- Ki-no-ne boarding house. Price: ¥ 1000.
The capsule hotel 9h in Terminal 2 (parking deck), I also offer short-term stays for rest during the day.
- 9h (Terminal 2 (parking deck)). Price: ¥ 3900 per night, otherwise ¥ 1500 basic fee, plus ¥ 500 for each additional hour.
Practical advice
Practically all signs are in English today, one shouldn't always expect more than rudimentary foreign language skills from the staff, but the Japanese willingness to help makes up for many deficits.
There are information desks in the terminals on level 1, which are open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, where the staff speaks English. The maps available are particularly useful. On request, bookings for accommodation in the upper price range can also be made.
In the event of delays and the associated possible longer stays in the departure area, no assistance from the staff is to be expected.
There are lockers (¥ 300–500) with a maximum storage period of 8 days on level 2 of Terminal 3. In the other terminals, higher prices apply. There are also left luggage counters (¥ 520 for medium sized suitcases).
Smoking is permitted in designated areas, especially outside on the visitor terraces.
Post offices are available in the departure areas of Terminal 1, 4th floor (8.30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) and in Terminal 2, 3rd floor.
Currency Exchange: In Japan, payment with cash is widespread, even for large sums. It is therefore advisable to change, but the course is about 3–5% worse than in the city, but is much faster than with banks. The counters open between 04.00 / 06.00 and 22.00 / 24.00. Currencies such as Malay ringgit can hardly be changed elsewhere in the country.
SIM cards can be "rented" from various providers in the terminals. These are comparatively expensive package deals that are often only valid for 7 or 14 days. The corresponding counters are open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm / 8:00 pm. There are also machines.
literature
- Apter, David E .; Against the state: politics and social protest in Japan; Cambridge Mass. 1984; ISBN 0674009207
- MacKean, Margaret A .; Environmental protest and citizen politics in Japan; Berkeley 1981 (Univ. Of California Press)
Web links
- https://www.narita-airport.jp/ (Yes) - Tokyo Narita Airport official website
- Terminal 1 and 2 (engl.)
- Terminal 3 (engl.)
- Quarantine regulations: plants and animal products (engl.)
- ↑Bowen, Roger Wilson; Narita Conflict; Asian Survey, Vol. 15, No. 7 (Jul. 1975), pp. 598-615