From the Netherlands, you can easily get to Tokyo by flying. KLM flies once or twice a day directly from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the capital of Japan. The flight time is about 11 hours. It is an overnight flight: you leave in the afternoon and arrive in Tokyo the next morning. So, you won't waste any precious time (at least if you can sleep on the plane).
With KLM, you already get into Japanese spheres when you fly to Tokyo. On board, some of the crew are Japanese and you can choose a Japanese menu or Japanese snacks. Air tickets are on sale from €479. You will pay the most for a plane ticket in the spring and summer months. You'll have a cheap flight ticket Tokyo in the winter months of January and February.
There are also direct flights to Tokyo from Brussels. A plane of the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways departs daily. It is an approximately 11½-hour flight. If you live near the German border, it may be attractive to fly from Düsseldorf. All Nippon Airways also operates a direct daily flight from this German city.
Once you reach Tokyo, finding comfy and affordable accommodation can be a bit overwhelming because of the numerous options available. Check out this link http://www.tokyo-hotels-stay.com/en/type/hotels-12/ for the best hotel deals in Tokyo. It's convenient and user-friendly, making your hotel hunting much easier.
Flying to Tokyo with a transfer
You can sometimes spend less money on a plane ticket if you fly to Tokyo with a transfer. Of course, you'll be on the road longer, although it gives you a chance to stretch your legs if you don't like long flights.
A common option is to fly to Tokyo with Finnair, changing in the Finnish capital Helsinki. Total travel time is then about 13 hours. Since you also fly from Amsterdam to Helsinki with Finnair, you only need to check in your luggage at Schiphol Airport.
Another option is to fly from Amsterdam with Russian airline Aeroflot and make a stopover in the Russian capital Moscow. Travel time to Tokyo is still manageable at about 14 hours and 15 minutes. There are also direct flights to Tokyo from all other major European cities. ► Compare cheap flight tickets to Tokyo here from € 405
Tokyo airports
Note that Tokyo has two major airports: Narita International Airport and Haneda International Airport. Narita is Japan's main international airport and is located about 66 kilometres east of the city. Haneda is mainly the airport for domestic flights and is located about 14 kilometres south of Tokyo.
Almost all flights from Europe arrive at Narita airport, even if you fly from Amsterdam, Brussels, Düsseldorf or Helsinki. If you prefer to fly to Haneda, there are some direct flights from Europe. You will then always have to deal with a transfer. Lufthansa, for instance, flies directly from Frankfurt to Haneda airport. From Paris, you can fly to Haneda with Air France.
Flying to Narita airport in Tokyo
Most international flights arrive at Narita International Airport (NRT), Tokyo's largest airport which opened in 1978. There are three terminals 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 1 is divided into a north wing and a south wing. If you fly with KLM, you will arrive at the north wing. Terminal 3 is mostly used by low budget airlines, so expect less space and facilities here.
A free shuttle bus runs between the different terminals and takes about 10 minutes. The bus leaves every 7 to 10 minutes during the day. Between terminals 2 and 3, you can also walk (15 minutes), in addition to taking the shuttle bus (3 minutes). Make sure you have plenty of time if you need to take a shuttle bus so you don't miss your connection. Due to traffic congestion, the bus may take longer.
Facilities at Narita airport
Narita airport has ATMs, money exchange offices, banks and post offices. Some ATMs may be out of service during Golden Week, Christmas and New Year. There are two clinics offering urgent medical care, in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There are pharmacies in all terminals.
The airport has more than 80 places to eat and drink, from restaurants and cafes to coffee bars and fast food joints. The eateries cater to Asian, as well as Western appetites. In addition, many places also offer vegetarian dishes. Each terminal has a duty-free shop and there are many shopping opportunities, including boutiques, bookshops, souvenir shops, toy shops, electronics shops and delis. Most shops close around 9pm, but some convenience stores are open 24 hours a day.
The airport also has hairdressers, beauty salons and massage chairs. Wi-Fi is free for all passengers and there are several screens on which you can surf the internet. There are counters throughout the airport where you can buy prepaid SIM cards or rent a mobile phone. There are also SIM card vending machines.
Transport from Narita airport to Tokyo
For public transport from Narita airport to central Tokyo, you can use two fast trains, a regular train and a bus. The Narita Express is the fastest way to travel to Tokyo. ► Read more about public transport from Narita to Tokyo here
Outside the arrivals area of all terminals, you will find a taxi rank where you can take a taxi to Tokyo 24 hours a day. You can use regular taxis with a meter, but there are also taxis that work with fixed rates for the different districts of Tokyo. Ask the price to the taxi driver when boarding. You can check the official fares on the airport's website.
Relaxation at Narita airport
In terms of relaxation and entertainment, this Tokyo airport is one of the best to fly to. There are showers in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 that you can use for a fee if you want to freshen up after a long flight. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, bath towels, flannels and hairdryers are available in the showers. There are also areas(nap rooms) where you can take a nap. Single and double rooms are available, and you pay by the hour.
For a slightly longer night's sleep, visit the capsule hotel 9h Ninehours (www.ninehours.co.jp), which includes a shower. This can be handy if you're flying very early in the morning or need to tide you over for a while during a long layover in Tokyo.
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have a free-access observation deck where you can watch planes land and take off. If you have time to spare, you can visit an art gallery, participate in a workshop or sign up for a guided tour of Narita Airport. For children, there are play areas in all terminals. Airport website: www.narita-airport.jp
Flying to Haneda airport in Tokyo
Haneda International Airport (HND) is a hub for domestic air travel in Japan. You will use this airport for domestic flights to and from Tokyo, although there are also some international flights to Haneda airport (as we mentioned above). By the way, it is also known as Tokyo International Airport.
Haneda International Airport is south of the city and much closer to Tokyo than Narita airport. From the airport, you can be in the city centre in 30 minutes. So it seems convenient to fly to Haneda, only there are no direct flights to it from the Netherlands. So the savings in travel time in Tokyo are negated by the extra transfer time. However, it may be convenient to fly to Haneda if you need to have a domestic flight in Japan afterwards.
Haneda is anything but regional. The airport is among the busiest in the world, handling more than 60 million passengers a year. Haneda Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 3 is used for international flights. There is an underground passage between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For transport from the domestic terminals to the international terminal, you can use a free shuttle bus.
Facilities at Haneda Airport
Haneda Airport has banks, money exchange offices and dozens of ATMs. There are two medical clinics, two pharmacies and an emergency dentist. Free Wi-Fi is available for passengers in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The airport has two hotels: the First Cabin Hotel in Terminal 1 (rooms can also be booked by the hour) and the Haneda Excel Tokyu Hotel adjacent to the Terminal 2 departure hall.
There are several cafés, restaurants, coffee bars and fast food joints. Japanese as well as Chinese, Korean and Western dishes are available. In both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, there is an observation deck with a restaurant on the top floor where you can watch the aircraft planeform. For shopping, you have a wide choice, from duty-free shops to souvenir shops, boutiques, bookshops, toy shops and convenience stores. Airport website: www.tokyo-airport-bldg.co.jp. The international terminal has its own website: www.haneda-airport.jp
Transport from Haneda Airport to Tokyo
By train or metro, you can travel from the airport to central Tokyo in half an hour. The fastest is the Tokyo Monorail(www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp). This metro leaves every 4 minutes to Hamamatsucho Station in Tokyo, a 20-minute ride. Here you can transfer to another train or metro.
You can also take a train from Keikyu Railways(www.keikyu.co.jp) to Shinagawa Station (20 minutes). The Limousine Bus(www.limousinebus.co.jp) runs from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station. Depending on traffic, this bus ride takes 45 to 60 minutes. The bus leaves once or twice an hour. Outside the arrivals hall is a taxi stand where you can take a taxi.