Conversation at the airport　空港での会話

✈️ Airports in Japan – A Detailed Overview

Japan has a highly developed and efficient air travel system, with both international and domestic airports located throughout the country. Japanese airports are known for their cleanliness, punctuality, helpful staff, and clear signage (usually in Japanese and English).

🏙️ Major International Airports

1. Narita International Airport (NRT) – Tokyo

• Location: About 60 km (37 miles) east of central Tokyo.
• Use: Primarily for international flights.
• Terminals: 3 terminals (Terminal 1, 2, and 3).
• Access:
  • Narita Express (N'EX) train
  • Keisei Skyliner
  • Airport limousine buses
  • Taxis (expensive)

Note: It takes about 1 hour to reach central Tokyo from Narita.

2. Haneda Airport (HND) – Tokyo

• Location: Much closer to central Tokyo (about 15 km).
• Use: Domestic and international flights (increasingly international in recent years).
• Access:
  • Tokyo Monorail
  • Keikyu Line
  • Buses and taxis

Tip: Haneda is the preferred airport for convenience due to its proximity to Tokyo.

3. Kansai International Airport (KIX) – Osaka

• Location: Built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay.
• Use: Western Japan’s major international hub.
• Access:
  • JR Kansai Airport Line
  • Nankai Airport Line
  • Buses, ferries, and taxis

Note: It serves Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and surrounding areas.

4. Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) – Aichi

• Location: Built on an artificial island near Nagoya.
• Use: International and domestic flights.
• Features: Sky Deck, shopping mall, hot spring bath with airport views!

5. Fukuoka Airport (FUK) – Fukuoka

• Location: Very close to the city center.
• Use: Domestic and regional international flights (especially to Korea, China, and Taiwan).
• Access: Subway (only about 10 minutes from downtown!)

🛫 Domestic Airports

Japan has dozens of regional and domestic airports across the country, including:

• Sapporo (New Chitose Airport - CTS)
• Okinawa (Naha Airport - OKA)
• Hiroshima Airport
• Sendai Airport

Domestic air travel is efficient, punctual, and well-integrated with public transportation.

🧳 What to Expect at Japanese Airports

• Clean, organized terminals
• Multilingual signage (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean)
• Polite and helpful staff
• On-time departures and arrivals
• High-tech amenities (smart toilets, free Wi-Fi)
• Lots of food options, including sushi, ramen, and convenience stores
• Luggage forwarding services (very useful for travelers)

🚆 Airport to City Transportation

Japan's public transportation system is world-class. Most airports are connected to major cities by:

• Trains (including high-speed and express lines)
• Airport buses (limousine buses)
• Taxis (expensive, but clean and safe)
• Car rentals (available, but less common for tourists)

🇯🇵 Tips for Travelers

• Always arrive at least 2 hours early for international flights.
• JR Pass does not cover airport express trains like the Keisei Skyliner.
• Japan has strict immigration and customs rules, so declare items properly.
• Cash and IC cards (like Suica or Pasmo) are handy even at the airport.

1. 道 (みち) をたずねる (Asking for directions)

Customer (Anata):

• すみません Sumimasen, [場所 (ばしょ) ]はどこですか？ [place] wa doko desu ka?
  (Excuse me, where is [place]?)
• すみません Sumimasen, チャックインカウンターはどこですか？chekkuin kaunta- wa doko desu ka?
  (Where is the check-in counter?)
• すみません Sumimasen, トイレはどこですか？ toire wa doko desu ka?
  (Where is the restroom?)
• すみません Sumimasen, 国際線 (こくさいせん) ロビーはどこですか？ kokusai-sen robi- wa doko desu ka?
  (Where is the international terminal lobby?)

Staff:

• 真っ直 (ま す) ぐ行 (い) って 右側 (みぎがわ) にあります Massugu itte, migi gawa ni arimasu.
  (Go straight and it's on the right side.)
• あのエレベーターで2階 (かい) に行 (い) ってください Ano erebeeta- de ni-kai ni itte kudasai.
  (Please go to the 2nd floor using that elevator.)

2. チェックインカウンター (Check-in counter)

Staff:

• 荷物 (にもつ) はここに置 (お) いてください。Nimotsu wa koko ni oite kudasai.
  (Please place your luggage here.)
• お持 (も) ちの荷物 (にもつ) は一 (ひと) つですか？ Omochi no nimotsu wa hitotsu desu ka?
  (Do you have only one piece of luggage?)

Customer:

• はい。一 (ひと) つだけです。Hai, hitotsu dake desu.
  (Yes, just one.)
• いいえ。二 (ふた) つあります。iie, futatsu arimasu.
  (No, I have two.)

Staff:

• こんにちは。どこからですか？ Konnichiwa. Doko kara desu ka?
  (Hello. Where are you from?)

Customer:

• アメリカのロサンゼルスからです。Amerika no Los Angeles kara desu.
  (I'm from Los Angeles, USA)

Staff:

• パスポートを見 (み) せてください。Pasupooto wo onegaishimasu.
  (Your passport, please.)

Customer:

• はい。お願 (ねが) いします。Hai, onegaishimasu.
  (Here you are.Please.)

3. セキュリティチェック (Security check)

Staff:

• 金属 (きんぞく) 類 (るい) は外 (はず) してください。kinzokurui wa hazushite kudasai
  (Please remove any metal objects.)
• ここに乗 (の) ってください。Koko ni notte kudasai.
  (Please step on here [for body scanner].)

Customer:

• はい。Hai. (Yes.)
• これはいいですか？Kore wa ii desu ka?
  (Is this okay?)

4. 出国 (しゅっこく) 審査 (しんさ) （Immigration）

Officer:

• どこへいきますか？ Doko e ikimasu ka?
  (Where are you going?)

Customer:

• 東京 (とうきょう) へ行 (い) きます。 Tokyo e ikimasu.
  (I’m going to the Tokyo.)

Officer:

• 目的 (もくてき) は何 (なん) ですか？ Mokuteki wa nan desu ka?
  (What is the purpose of your visit?)

Customer:

• 観光 (かんこう) です。Kankou desu.
  (Tourism.)
• 仕事 (しごと) です。Shigoto desu.
  (Business.)

Officer:

• 何 (なに) 日間 (にちかん) 滞在 (たいざい) しますか？Nannichi kan taizai shimasu ka?
  (How many days will you stay?)

Customer:

• 七日間（なのかかん）です。nanoka kan desu.
  (For 7 days.)

5. 飛行機 (ひこうき) に乗 (の) る前 (まえ) (Before boarding the plane)

Customer:

• すみません。ゲートB3はどこですか？ Sumimasen, ge-to B3 wa doko desu ka?
  (Excuse me, where is gate B3?)

Staff:

• あの道 (みち) を真っ直 (ま　す) ぐ行 (い) って、左側 (ひだりがわ) にあります。Ano michi wo massugu itte, hidari gawa ni arimasu.
  (Go straight down that way, and it’s on the left side.)

6. 荷物が出てこない（到着時）When you can't find your luggage (upon arrival)

Customer:

• すみません。私 (わたし) の荷物 (にもつ) が出 (で) て来 (き) ません。Sumimasen, watashi no nimotsu ga dete kimasen.
  (My luggage hasn’t come out.)

Staff:

• お客様 (きゃくさま) のパスポートとバッグのタグを見 (み) せてください。Okyakusama no pasupo-to to baggu no taggu wo misete kudasai.
  (Could you please show your passport and baggage tag?)

Customer:

• はい。どうぞ。Hai, douzo.
  (Here you are.)

7. 税関（ぜいかん）Customs

Officer:

• 何 (なに) か持ち込 (もちこ) んでいるものはありますか？ Nani ka mochikonde iru mono wa arimasu ka?
  (Are you bringing anything in?)

Customer:

• お土産 (みやげ) だけです。Omiyage dake desu.
  (Only souvenirs.)

8. トラブル時

• パスポートを無 (な) くしました。Pasupo-to wo nakushimashita.
  (I lost my passport.)
• 飛行機 (ひこうき) に乗り遅 (の おく) れました。hikoukini noriokure mashita
  (I missed my flight.)
• 助 (たす) けてください。Tasukete kudasai.
  (Please help me.)
• 英語 (えいご) を話 (はな) せますか？ Eigo wo hanasemasu ka?
  (Can you speak English?)
• 英語 (えいご) を話 (はな) しますか？ Eigowo hanashimasuka?
  (Do you speak English?)

よく使（つか）うフレーズ (Frequently used phrases)

日本語 (にほんご)	意味（English）
すみませんSumimasen	Excuse me
ありがとうございますArigatou gozaimasu	Thank you very much
おねがいしますOnegaishimasu	Please (polite)
どうぞDouzo	Here you are
はい/いいえ Hai / Iie	Yes / No
わかりません Wakarimasen	I don’t understand
もう一度 (いちど) お願 (ねが) いします Mou ichido onegaishimasu	One more time, please
大丈夫 (だいじょうぶ) です Daijoubu desu	It’s okay / I’m fine