10 Comments

• 

  maryhinge at 06:10 PM JST - 3rd January

  I just got back from Guam. There were not many Japanese there. Gallaria was empty as was Micronesia Mall. They certainly were not many by the pool or the beach either. Great place for a cheap hol and without the crowds.

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  Dogdog at 06:51 PM JST - 3rd January

  I think a lot of this is hot air. I think, judging by the crowds in Seiyu on New Year's eve, a lot of people stayed home, instead of traveling this year.

  Yet we must go thru this bi-annual press ceremony of reporting the mass exodus/return of Japanese, behaviourism at its worst, even when it doesn't really have much substance.

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  some14some at 07:38 PM JST - 3rd January

  Welcome back and encash your un-used cash/travellers's chqs fast, yen is weakening...what shall i say to domestic travellers?

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  Yelnats at 06:10 AM JST - 4th January

  If all airports could run as well as Narita, traveling would be super easy. These people know how to make things work. I would love to see the same efficiency occur when someone jumps in front of a train. Talk about lack of crowd control. The whole Japanese airport situation is wonderful!

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  Pukey2 at 02:07 AM JST - 5th January

  If all airports could run as well as Narita, traveling would be super easy. These people know how to make things work.

  Yes, but what a shame it's in the middle of nowhere. Notice, the word Tokyo doesn't appear in the airport's name anymore. Took me more than two-flipping hours on the train to get there, and I live in the metropolis. And the airport is boring as hell once you go pass immigration. crap shops and difficult to find a good convenience store where you can onigiris or drinks (at reasonable prices).

  I'm glad I left before the rush started and going back after the rush ends. And I can't wait for more international flights to depart from Haneda.

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  UnagiDon at 03:07 AM JST - 5th January

  Pukey2;

  More than two hours? You must be in far west Tokyo or Yokohama. It's never taken me more than 75 minutes to get to Ueno/Nippori or Tokyo/Shinagawa on either the Keisei or NEX, and even the limo bus from Shinjuku takes 90 minutes. Personally I think the thing about Narita being so remote is overrated - it is far in km but not in terms of time to get there, and at least by train you can sit and chill. I may be spoiled because here in Toronto it takes me an hour by car or taxi (no train) to get to the international airport and I only live about 30km away, so an hour on a train ain't so bad.

  But yes, Haneda is way better and I'd much rather fly out of it.

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  Kameleon at 01:49 PM JST - 5th January

  I got back to Narita on Saturday afternoon, it wasn't half as bad as Heathrow: Heathrow is MAD.

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  YuriOtani at 09:15 PM JST - 5th January

  I live in Okinawa and would LOVE to connect someplace other than Narita. If you think the departure lounge is bad for international, you should see the one for domestic in Terminal 1!There is a little snack bar and bathrooms. What gets to me is that there are no gates for domestic flight. One gets to ride the bus out to the gate. Stupid airline boards the bus like the plane. Though in this case it is best to be the last person on the bus first person on the aircraft stairs. The airlines are sending most of their flights through Narita as a cost saving method. Osaka Kansai airport is much nicer to connect through!

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  electric2004 at 12:35 AM JST - 6th January

  Airports:

  One day after christmas on 25th from Narita via London Heathrow to Germany. When the bus from the hotel arrived at Terminal 1, I first went to the wrong wing - there is a south and a north wing. But not enough information at first where to go. But everything else went well. I had the liquids in a transparent plastic bag, each item below 100ml. After passing through security, I noticed I forgot to take it out of the hand luggage. Well.

  At London Heathrow: Incompetence. One person at a connection counter said, I have to line up for checking my boarding pass. Then after lining up, the other person at the counter said, it was not necessary.

  Then when going to the connection flights, one has to select the way to go (5 choices). But no table there to display the relation between airline and the way to go. Actually there was such a display. Back 300m and 2 stairs up.

  Then again safety check. A board explains to leave your notebook in the hand luggage, to dispose drinks, and to put valuables on trays. Some Japanese travelers removed their belts, it was not written and was not necessary. Also it was NOT written to take of shoes, but it was necessary. I complained and the guards explained that they don't like to change the explanation board, because sometimes the rules change. Well.

  But, before the gates ... no gate information. One only gets to know which gate for departure approximately 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Well.

  Finally in Duesseldorf confusing train information.

  Returning on 31st from Duesseldorf via Frankfurt to Narita.

  Duesseldorf: In the morning I was alone at check-in. No crowds. No problem.

  Then Frankfurt: Boring and expensive. One set of french-fries for 4.80 Euro. And both Mc Donalds and Mc Cafe closed at 17:00. That's service!

  Thanks - no thanks. The boarding gate had changed from 42 to 45. Still I saw people (Japanese and probably Germans) sitting in the area of the wrong gate. I explained this to the person in charge at the right gate, and I was lucky to receive an upgrade to economy extra. And I learned that now Japan likes to know Passport numbers before departure. Looks like copying an idea from the USA. Well, no problem.

  Narita: Happy to be back in Japan on 1st of January. Only one person in front of me at immigration. Fingerprint, picture, stamp - through in less than 2 minutes. That is fast and efficient.

  My final rating:

  Narita: best.

  Duesseldorf: Some signs at the airport are confusing.

  Frankfurt: Boring and expensive.

  Heathrow: Best to avoid.

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