Domestic Flights in Japan
Haneda Airport
The land of Japan is long from north to south.
As an example, when you go from Tokyo to Hokkaido, Kyushu or Okinawa, you must travel relatively long distance.
Therefore, it is a good way that you use domestic flights efficiently.
Because there are many regional airports all parts of Japan, you should check the info.
Around Tokyo area
Narita Airport
From Narita Airport, the domestic flights to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo), Kansai, Matsuyama (Shikoku), Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa) are operated frequently.
And the flights to some other regional cities are operated a few times a day.
There are three passenger terminal buildings.
Each airline company is assined to any of the terminals.
Therefore, when you transfer to a domestic flight, you must move to the terminal with the airline company.
The distance between the terminals is about 1km. So, free terminal shuttle bus is operated frequently.
Haneda Airport
Haneda is the largest domestic airport in Japan, and has the flight to and from most regional cities in Japan.
Especially, the flights to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo), Kansai, Itami (Osaka), Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa) are very frequently.
If you use a domestic flight in Tokyo area, Haneda is more convenient and efficient than Narita.
In Haneda, There are two domestic passenger terminal buildings and an international passenger terminal building.
The distance between two domestic terminals is about 400 meters, but the international terminal is about 1.5km away from the domestic terminals.
So, free terminal shuttle bus is operated frequently.
Between Narita Airport and Haneda Airport, express buses are operated. (Of courese, you need to pay the fare.)
It takes about 1.5 hours.
Around Osaka area
Kansai Airport
From Kansai Airport, the domestic flights to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo), Kansai, Narita, Haneda, Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa) are operated about 10 times a day.
And the flights to some other regional cities are operated a few times a day.
There are the 1st and 2nd terminal buildings.
The 1st terminal has both the international flights and the domestic flights in the same buildings.
The 2nd terminal is for low-cost carrier (LCC), and is about 2km away from the 1st terminal.
So, free terminal shuttle bus is operated every four minutes.
Itami Airport
Itami Airport is located about 10km north‐northwest of Osaka city.
The formal name is "Osaka International Airport", but it has no international flights now.
It is sometimes called "Osaka Airport".
Itami has been the central domestic airport in Kansai region, and has more destinations and flights than Kansai Airport.
From Itami Airport, the domestic flights to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo), Sendai, Niigata, Haneda, Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa) are operated about 10 times a day.
And the flights to many other regional cities are operated a few times a day.
To Itami Airport, Osaka Monorail runs as a railway.
But it doesn't run in central Osaka city.
So when you use it, you must take the train of Subway Midosuji Line in central Osaka and transfer to the monorail at Senri-Chuo station.
(The north part of the subway is called "Kita-Osaka Kyuko Line".)
Or, when you take the train of Takarazuka Line of Hankyu Railway from Umeda (One of main terminals in Osaka), you must transfer at Hotaruga-ike station.
Probably, express bus is more convenient, I think.
The express buses are operated frequently from many stations, main cities Kansai area and Kansai Airport.
In addition, there is Kobe Airport near Kobe city.
Kobe is a large city near Osaka, and it is an idea to use the airport as a domestic flight from Osaka area.
Around Nagoya area
Chubu Airport
From Chubu Airport, the domestic flights to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo), Fukuoka and Naha (Okinawa) are operated about 10 times a day.
And the flights to some other regional cities are operated a few times a day.
To Haneda and Narita, a few flights are operated.
And no flights are operated to Kansai and Itami.
Because, these airports are too close for flight.
When you transfer between international and domestic flight, Chubu Airport is very convenient.
The departure gate of both international and domestic flight is on the 3rd floor of the terminal building, and the arrival gate is on the 2nd floor.
Nagoya Airport
Nagoya Airport is located about 10 km north of Nagoya city.
From this airport, the flights to some regional cities are operated a few times a day.
This airport is closer to the center of Nagoya city than Chubu Airport.
By route bus, you can go to this airport for about 30 minutes.
Approximate flight time in Japan
From Tokyo
Haneda - Shin-chitose (Sapporo) : 1H 30M
Haneda - Itami : 1H 00M
Haneda - Fukuoka : 1H 50M
Haneda - Naha (Okinawa) : 2H 30M-45M
From Itami
Itami - Shin-chitose (Sapporo) : 1H 50M
Itami - Fukuoka : 1H 15M
Itami - Naha (Okinawa) : 2H 00M-05M
Other main regional airports
There are many regional airports in Japan.
Many of them have a few international flights to neighboring countries.
Of course, they are important airports connecting between the area and big cities in Japan.
In this sense, they are convenient transportations for the tourists who want to visit local areas from the main cities.
Please check the following regional airports. (Some websites are in Japanese.)