Japan Travel News: July 2012

With the start of the second half of 2012, various new travel offers and services are being introduced:

FROM JULY 1, 2012 Icoca & Haruka

For foreign tourists only - Similar to the already existing Suica & NEX package for foreign travelers arriving at Tokyo's Narita Airport, the new Icoca & Haruka package went on sale on July 1 for foreign tourists arriving at Osaka's Kansai Airport. The new discount package provides transportation from the airport into the city by the Haruka limited express train and an Icoca prepaid card for use on urban transportation at a highly discounted price.

FROM JULY 3, 2012 Jetstar Japan - New Discount Airline

This new discount airline started operating on July 3 on the Narita-Sapporo and Narita-Fukuoka routes, on July 9 on the Narita-Okinawa and Narita-Kansai routes, and will start operating on August 24 on the Kansai-Fukuoka and Kansai-Sapporo routes. More routes, including some international ones, are planned for 2013. One way fares by Jetstar Japan tend to be below 10,000 yen and will further intensify the competition in the domestic transportation industry.

FROM JULY 3, 2012 Tokyo Shuttle - New Bus Service for Narita Airport

With the start of operations of the discount airline Jetstar Japan (see above), a new low-cost bus service started operation between Narita Airport and Tokyo Station on July 3. The regular one way fare is 2000 yen, but if reserved in advance, the ride from Tokyo to the airport (but not in the opposite direction) will cost only 1000 yen (if reserved at least one month ahead of travel) or 1500 yen (if reserved at least one day ahead of travel). Furthermore, a special discount fare of 800 yen applies to all travelers and in both direction until September 8, 2012.

FROM JULY 12, 2012 ANA Experience Japan Fare

For foreign tourists only - Similar to the already existing air passes, this new fare allows tourists to book any domestic ANA flight in Japan at a flat rate of 10,500 yen. It differs from the existing air passes in that purchase and reservations are done online and that - so far - no blackout dates apply.

FROM AUGUST 1, 2012 Air Asia Japan - New Discount Airline

This new discount airline started operating on August 1 on the Narita-Sapporo and Narita-Fukuoka routes, on August 3 on the Narita-Okinawa route, and will start operating on October 1 on the Narita-Seoul and Narita-Busan routes. Many more routes are planned for the coming years. Air Asia Japan is the third new discount airline after Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan to enter the Japanese market in 2012.