Getting to Tokyo

BY TRAIN

The most popular mode of long distance travel in Japan is by rail. All you need to know about getting to Tokyo by train can be found at the my JR East web page.

BY AIR

The fastest but most expensive way travel between Misawa to Tokyo is by air from Misawa Airport to Haneda Airport. Japan Air Lines operates 3 round trip flights per day. The standard one-way cost of this flight is 17,000 Yen and it takes about an hour.

If you are leaving the country, you will probably have to get across town to Tokyo Narita International Airport. Haneda has some international flights but they are mostly within Asia. There is a limosuine service that costs about 3,000 Yen for the trip across town. It can take anywhere from an hour to three hours to make this trip depending on traffic. However 90 minutes has been the average the last couple of times I used it. To be on the safe side, allow plenty of time

This is the link to the JAL web site. Type Misawa as the departing city and Tokyo as the arrival city with the date you want to fly. Japan Airlines Domestic timetable.

BY CAR

Driving to Tokyo is an option for many folks who don't have to race the clock. There are expressways the entire way but it still takes between 9 and 12 hours depending on how many rest stops you make and traffic.

This option allows you the freedom of seeing the sights along the way and also allows you to travel around the Kanto area at your leisure. However, it is considerably more expensive than taking Misawa ITT’s Narita Shuttle. It is also more expensive than train or plane if you are driving alone. If you have a few folks making the trip, then you can save money over rail and air.

Tolls alone will run you updards of 13,000 Yen if you use the expressways. Gas runs about 180 yen per liter (about $7 per gallon). If you want to do the math, the distance is about 450 miles If you rent a van from Outdoor Rec, the rental cost includes toll tickets but you still have to pay for gas. And if you stop to eat along the way it really adds up. Another consideration is there no parking on the street in Tokyo. You must have a place to put your vehicle when you are not using it (like overnight).

Here are the Driving Instructions to some common Tokyo destinations.