Planning flights in 2-3 month time for 2 different arrival flights into NRT and need to determine what's best.

Arriving NRT at 4:55pm on AC and another passenger flight on 3:40pm on NH, need to buy a separate ticket to OSA, there's NH at 5:30pm and JL at 6:15pm to ITM, but I think MCT is not met for the AC connection plus clearing custom/immigration and terminal switch then check-in.

Alternative, peach and jetstar have flights at 7:45pm and 8:30pm to KIX which are somewhat safer bet but longer travel to final Osaka city center .

I am arriving in a week's time, BA from Heathrow - Haneda - Itami on same ticket, both operated by BA. Transit time is 2 hours (arrival Haneda morning 7ish). I am reading different messages and got a bit confused.

My question: is it correct that baggages cannot be put through from London to Itami? I need to be claimed at Haneda, through immigration/security again for domestic flight? Any idea how long the baggage claim could take at current time?

For my return flight Itami - Haneda - Heathrow, it is operate by JAL and BA and transit time is only 90mins at Haneda.

Question 2: will I be able to check baggages through to London from Itami? is 90mins too tight given just over MCT?

Thanks all.

Yes, you must collect bags after immigration in Haneda and take them to the domestic luggage check-in area. It's very likely that your bags will be waiting for you after you clear the passport control/immigration area. You will have enough time, but likely not enough to shop or get something to eat before moving to domestic departure gates. For return, yes, you will check bags at Itami all the way through to your final destination, with 90 minutes enough time to transfer to international departure. Another note. You will only need to arrive at Itami at about an hour or maybe a bit more for check-in. It's a small airport and very efficient. There is a special check-in area for domestic flights that transfer to international in Tokyo with manned check-in counters.

I'd probably throw a vote for Narita Express and Shinkansen.

The connection time for the NH and JAL flights is too short. Peach is probably OK, but by the time you throw in the travel time from Kansai International, the Shinkansen looks mightily appealing. You loose protection on a separate ticket if one of tee inbound are late.

Thank you so much for your reply!! This is a big relief. I've done VJW so hopefully also helps to speed things up a bit when arriving at Haneda.

Just looks like I won't be able to do any duty free shopping at Itami/Haneda given early flight/limited transit time.

OK I'll look into that, in that case I may opt to get a JR pass since will need to fly out from TYO again in 7 days.

16+ hours overnight layover at KIX in early December for 2 adults and one kid - need input and recommendations for accommodations and airport shuttle
Arriving at KIX at 18:50 and departing the next day at 11:00 AM
Also, would they (JL) keep our checked in luggage?
Thank you

I would probably suggest the airport hotel. You are looking at 30 to 60 minutes from landing until your are ready to buy a transpiration ticket, and easily an hour before you are at a decent and well placed hotel in Osaka. And then a trek back in the morning. But it can be done for the sure, if you want a bit nicer dinner than the airport hotel, but unless you know Osaka well, I think it might just be more rushed than fun.

JAL should keep your checked luggage overnight.

On the island - Hotel Nikko Kansai airport is the only full service hotel in walking distance of the terminal. Most convenient and most expensive.

Off island (Rinku Town) - e.g. Stargate and Washington hotels. Immediately next to the airport bridge with free shuttle buses and access by local train. Close to shopping malls - Rinku Pleasure Town Seacle, Rinku Premium Outlets.

Off island (Izumi sano) - e.g. Izumi Sano Center Hotel. Also accessible by shuttle bus or local train. An ordinary commuter town with stores and restaurants. Not much different from the Rinku Town hotels in terms of convenience of access. Worth considering if you want to step outside the hotel and be in a walkable town center.

Namba - e.g. Dozens of choices. 40+ minutes by express train. Downtown Osaka with bright lights and nightlife. The choice for folks who want to go out for drinks and nightlife.

With this kind of hectic schedule I would stay at the Nikko on the airport island, especially if the kid is young. You can easily walk to the hotel from T1 and it's a very quick bus ride to T2. By the time you get through immigration it will probably be too late to enjoy anything even in Rinku Town, much less in Namba.

OK so with JR pass, it looks like taking NEX to Tokyo then to shin-Osaka will likely arrive between 11pm and midnight at Shin-Osaka station.

What does transportation look like around that time or later? Is it still possible to take subway to hotel or should I just book the holiday inn or courtyard at the station for the first night?

You needn't stay near Shin-Osaka. Assuming that your flight is on time and you take an hour or so to enter Japan and exchange your JR pass, you should reach Shin-Osaka by 10:30pm. The last Shinkansen service reaches Shin-Osaka at 11:45pm. Local trains and subway services from Shin-Osaka are still operating at that time.

I would transfer at Shinagawa, because it's less crowded and much less confusing than Tokyo. If you are just doing a round trip from Narita to Osaka and back, I would also consider paying a little more for a round-trip Nozomi ticket, which is faster and has far more frequencies than the Hikari service available on the pass (trains every 10 minutes vs. every 30-60 minutes). You should be able to get to Osaka around 10pm that way, and would have flexibility to take a break in Shinagawa for dinner or a drink before getting on the long train ride.

You might also consider spending the first night at Tokyo or Shinagawa and then taking the 6 AM shinkansen to Osaka -- coming from North America you'll probably be waking up very early on the first couple of days anyway.

Thanks, can I do round trip Nozomi as Tokyo-Osaka, Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo (or just Kyoto-Tokyo) and do I need to specify train reservation at time of purchase? We'll be meeting with others arriving at KIX that day and spend 3 nights in Osaka, 1 night in Kyoto then return to Tokyo so thought the JR pass may be easier and will likely only know what train time to take the day of/before.

Also, where can I get bento at Shinagawa/Tokyo for dinner on the train?

Nozimi on Shinkansen has non-reserved seat so that you do not have to specify the train. Buying Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo will apply roundtrip discount so will be slightly cheaper than buying Tokyo-Osaka and Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo separately. Since your trip will be a simple round trip of Tokyo-Osaka, JR Pass will come out slightly more expensive than buying ticket for Tokyo-Osaka round trip. Also, JR Pass will only allow you to ride on Hikari which runs only twice every hour. With purchasing a ticket you can ride on Nozomi which runs every 12 min. Unless it is a major holiday, you will be fine buying Shinkansen ticket a day before. Having reserved seat will ensure that everybody in your party will sit together. Non-reserved seat have a chance of everybody in your party not able to sit togather.

Bento at Shinagawa station, map of Shinagawa station (PDF file), area says "Food Area" has most selection of Ekiben at Shinagawa station. There are Ekiben sold at Shinkansen platform at Shinagawa station also, but this location has most selection. This "Food Area" is after entering the ticket gate to regular trains and before entering the gate for Shinkansen. This is the only thing you need to be aware.

Bento at Tokyo station, map of Tokyo Station, first floor on Central Passage (area surrounded by "6", "8", an "9") you should see the store "Bento Shop" This place sell Ekiben from all over Japan with a lot of selections. This place is always busy when I have been there. Again, Ekiben are sold at Shinkansen platform at Tokyo station also. But this "Bento Shop" has far more selections. This "Bento Shop" is after entering the ticket gate for regular trains, but before entering the ticket gate for Shinkansen.