Originally Posted by jsimon926

I've been to Japan a few times before on business, but I've always flown into a TYO airport. I'm planning an upcoming tourism trip where my first night is in Osaka and my last night is Tokyo. My current flight lands at HND around 3:30 PM and I just planned on hopping on a Nozomi train once I got to Shinagawa station from HND. Is it worth considering flying from HND to ITM? The earliest flight I'd feel comfortable booking is ~5:30 PM. I think this puts me at my hotel in Osaka at roughly ~8:00 PM which is pretty much the same time I'd expect to get to the hotel if I used the Shinkansen.

Originally Posted by NYC2SGN

ExpertFlyer says the MCT for Narita is 90 minutes. But, there was also someone upthread who had a 60 minute connection.

Does anyone know what the real MCT is for Narita for Int’l to Int’l?

How much time do I need if I have to transit from T1 to T2?

Originally Posted by nishimark

Flight from HND to ITM is more convenient, as you don't have to exit the airport to catch a train to the shinkansen station and then navigate that station to catch your next train, especially with any kind of luggage. It's what locals do. ITM is a small domestic only airport, so deplaning to out the door is quick. Local flights are often much cheaper as well, though you might need to shop around a bit. From ITM there are buses into the various parts of Osaka. Here's that website.
https://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/route/itm/

As noted above, some hotels may also have direct buses from ITM.

Originally Posted by jsimon926

Thanks for the info. Would I have to switch terminals at HND if coming from international arrival to domestic departure? Are there separate lanes for immigration and connecting flights or do I have to do through international immigration and then go through the domestic check-in counter?

Originally Posted by Only ANA

Currently all international flights land in T3 and T1 (JAL) and T2 (ANA) are domestic only. They are not connected airside, so you will have to clear immigration at T3 before taking a train or bus to the other terminals. There is no separate lane for connecting domestic flights.

ANA built an international section of T2, but it has not operated since the pandemic.

Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer

The MCT depends on your specific connection, what airline to what airline, and whether it include a terminal change.

On a single ticket 1.5 to 2 hours should be fine for a terminal change. For separate tickets, you'd need to add whatever amount you feel is good to cover for potential delays and not having to pay for a new flight/rebooking in case of a delay.

Originally Posted by NYC2SGN

it would be two separate tickets. Inbound is LX and outbound would be JL —that would mean having to change terminals within 50 minutes. JL operates a later flight to my final destination, so I could always rebook, but ideally I would rather make a run for a tight connection over spending eight hours at Narita. I won’t have any checked bags btw.

Originally Posted by jsimon926

Thanks for the info. Would I have to switch terminals at HND if coming from international arrival to domestic departure? Are there separate lanes for immigration and connecting flights or do I have to do through international immigration and then go through the domestic check-in counter?

Originally Posted by Natasha Keswani

thanks! But that’s not correct. I called JAL and they have a baggage relationship with many airlines including EA. They assured me (after calling SFO agents to confirm) they could check my bags all the way through to Seoul despite being on two separate itineraries in different airline groups. I just need to bring printed copies of my entire itinerary.

Originally Posted by nishimark

Here's the latest information provided by HND about International to Domestic transfer. You will likely have to go through immigration, then to domestic check-in. However, as shown in the web page below, "In some cases, domestic boarding procedures can be performed at the Domestic Transit Counter in Terminal 3. Please ask your airline for details."
https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/flight/transit/int_dms.html

Originally Posted by seigex

If you can check in remotely (or even better, check all the way through at ORD, which will likely happen if you're checking bags through) and your flight has a pretty good on-time record, it should be fine. Coming from the US, you won't have any inspection, so it's just the time taking the bus. I would personally be comfortable making that connection.

I had an hour on two separate tickets coming back from BKK with checked bags and had to go through security inspection since it was inbound from SEA, and still made it to my terminal with 10 minutes to spare after 25 minutes of going through the security lines. I was in Y, but about 10 rows back from the door. That said, there's risk, so it'll come down to how much risk you are willing to handle and how fast you can be to get between terminals.

Also worth adding I was solo. If it's 2 people probably fine. If you have kids and lots of carry-on, or more than 3 people, I'd definitely move to a later connection if possible.

Originally Posted by eat.drink enjoy.repeat

To confirm, flights coming from US does not require security or inspection? So i can just go straight to the transfer bus since i also will need to transfer from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.