Japan Travel News - Summer 2010
Over the coming months several large travel related infrastructure projects will be completed, including the opening of new shinkansen routes and an increased number of international flights to Tokyo's more centrally located Haneda Airport. A new train line to Narita Airport has already been opened in July.
| Access to Narita Airport: New Skyliner opened on July 17 |
On July 17, 2010, the "New Skyliner" started operation, providing a new, faster train connection between central Tokyo (Keisei-Ueno and Nippori Stations) and Narita Airport.
 New Skyliner trains depart every 20-40 minutes, run at up to 160 km/h, and take as littles as 36 minutes to travel from Nippori Station to the airport, compared to 50-60 minutes required previously by the fastest trains. The one way fare for the New Skyliner is 2400 yen, 480 yen more expensive than the old Skyliner, but cheaper than the regular fare of the Narita Express. During daytime, hourly Cityliner trains continue to run along the Skyliner's old route, stopping at Narita, Funabashi and Aoto along the way. The one way trip between the airport and central Tokyo by Cityliner takes about 70 minutes and costs the same as the old Skyliner (1920 yen). Access Tokkyu and Airport Kaitoku trains newly run approximately every 40 minutes from Narita Airport along the new route to Aoto Station and then continue via the Asakusa Subway Line and Keikyu Line all the way to Haneda Airport. The one way trip between the two airports takes around 105 minutes and costs 1740 yen, creating a competitive alternative to the limousine buses. Regular Limited Express trains continue to run approximately every 20 minutes along the old route between the airport and central Tokyo. Travel duration (75 minutes) and fares (1000 yen) remained unchanged. In the mornings and evenings, some Access Tokkyu trains run along the new route between the airport and Ueno at a reduced travel duration but for an additional 200 yen. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on any of the above mentioned trains. |
| October 2010: Haneda Airport becomes international again |
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On October 21, 2010, a fourth runway and a new international terminal building will be opened at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, which has been handling mostly domestic flights since the opening of Narita Airport in 1978. Haneda's new infrastructure in combination with a change in politics by the Transport Ministry will reintroduce regular international air traffic to the airport from October 31. Because Haneda Airport is more centrally located than Narita Airport, many airlines have been keen to secure international flight slots there. A lot of details have not been decided yet, but from October 31 direct regular flights are expected to be offered between Haneda and various destinations in China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, Canada, India, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom. However, international flights will initially be limited to early morning (before 6am) and late evening (after 10pm) arrivals and departures, except for some flights to China, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In order to conveniently serve the new international terminal building, new stations (named Haneda Airport International Terminal Station) will be opened along the Tokyo Monorail and the Keikyu Airport Line on October 21. Please visit our Haneda Airport page for details on airport access.
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| December 2010: Extension of the Tohoku Shinkansen to Aomori |
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On December 4, 2010, the Tohoku Shinkansen will be extended by about 80 kilometers from its current terminus at Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori Station just outside of central Aomori City, reducing travel time between Tokyo by almost an hour to 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Furthermore, new faster train sets will be introduced on the Tohoku Shinkansen from March 2011. Running under the new nickname "Hayabusa", the trains will feature a new "Gran Class" with even more comfortable seats than in the Green Car. From spring 2013, the new train sets are scheduled to increase their top speeds from 300 km/h to 320 km/h, resulting in a further drop in travel times. As a result of the shinkansen extension, the "Hakucho" and "Super Hakucho" limited express trains, which currently run between Hachinohe and Hakodate, will be re-routed to run between Shin-Aomori, Aomori and Hakodate. The "Tsugaru" limited express, which is currently running between Hachinohe and Hirosaki, will new be running between Aomori, Shin-Aomori, Hirosaki and Akita. Furthermore, JR East is scheduled to transfer the non-shinkansen railway tracks between Hachinohe and Aomori to Aoimori Railways, a non-JR company, which will result in increased supplement fees to be paid by Japan Rail Pass holders using the Cassiopeia or Hokutosei night trains.
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| March 2011: Completion of the Kyushu Shinkansen | ||||
On March 12, 2011, the missing northern half of the Kyushu Shinkansen between Hakata and Shin-Yatsushiro Stations will finally be opened, reducing travel time between Fukuoka and Kagoshima from the current 2.5 hours to just over one hour.
 Furthermore, new direct trains will start operating between Osaka and Kagoshima, using newly designed train sets based on the N700 series. Named "Mizuho" and "Sakura", the new 8-car trains will feature luxurious green car seats (4 per row), reserved ordinary seats which are almost as comfortable as the green car seats (4 per row) and non-reserved ordinary seats (5 per row). The "Mizuho" will be the fastest trains, requiring about 3 hours and 45 minutes for the trip between Osaka and Kagoshima (down from currently over 5 hours). Only slightly slower will be "Sakura" trains along the same route, which are expected to eventually replace the "Hikari Railstar" trains. The Japan Rail Pass will be valid on Sakura trains, but it has not been decided yet whether it will also be valid on Mizuho trains. A decision is expected in mid December 2010.
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