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Flying into East Asia: which airport, and what happens next
Short answer: most East Asian capitals have two airports — one far out and cheap to fly into, one close in and quicker to leave. Which one you land at changes your first two hours more than the fare does.
| City | Airports | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Narita (NRT) · Haneda (HND) | Haneda is far closer to central Tokyo. Narita is roughly an hour out by train. |
| Osaka | Kansai (KIX) | Gateway for Kyoto and Nara as well as Osaka. |
| Seoul | Incheon (ICN) · Gimpo (GMP) | Gimpo mostly handles domestic and short-haul regional routes. |
| Taipei | Taoyuan (TPE) · Songshan (TSA) | Songshan sits inside the city; Taoyuan is the main international gateway. |
| Beijing | Capital (PEK) · Daxing (PKX) | They are far apart. Do not assume a connection between them is easy. |
| Shanghai | Pudong (PVG) · Hongqiao (SHA) | Same warning — allow real time if you must transfer between them. |
Verified 6 September 2026.
Before you book the flight
- Check the entry rules first. They differ sharply across the region — Korea K-ETA · Taiwan · China visa-free rules.
- Price the airport transfer, not just the fare. A cheaper airport an hour further out can cost more once two people pay for the train.
- Open-jaw beats backtracking. Flying into one city and out of another usually costs little more and saves a day.
Getting from the airport into town
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