Cheongju to Narita (CJJ–NRT) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for the duration of stay. Complete the Visit Japan Web registration (vjw.digital.go.jp) before travel to pre-register your customs and immigration declaration, which generates a QR code that speeds up arrival processing. This replaced the paper arrival card at most airports.

At immigration, biometric data (fingerprints and photo) is collected for all foreign nationals. The 90-day entry covers tourism, business meetings, and visiting friends or family. Working is not permitted. For stays beyond 90 days, a visa must be obtained at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul before travel. Extensions within Japan are possible at a Regional Immigration Bureau but require a valid reason and are not guaranteed.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon and Gimpo to Tokyo Narita, Haneda, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Okinawa run 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours. Korean Air, Asiana, ANA, JAL, Peach, Jin Air, T'way, Jeju Air, and Air Busan operate dozens of daily frequencies across all routes, making Japan the single most connected destination from Korea. Japan uses the Japanese yen (JPY), trading at roughly 9 to 10 KRW per JPY 1. IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) work on all trains and at convenience stores. Buy one from any ticket machine for JPY 500 deposit. Japan Rail Pass (7 days, JPY 50,000) covers all JR trains including shinkansen.

Keisei Skyliner (41 min to Ueno, ¥2,570) and Narita Express (N'EX, 60 min to Tokyo Station, ¥3,070) are the primary train options. Limousine buses serve major hotels throughout Tokyo, Yokohama, and even Osaka for ¥3,200–¥6,000. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected by free shuttle bus; Terminal 3 (LCC) is a 15-minute walk or shuttle from Terminal 2.

Rental car desks are in the arrivals halls. Highway Bus (cheaper than limousine) is available to many cities. IC card (Suica/Pasmo) works on Keisei and JR lines from NRT at standard fares.

Humid subtropical climate. Summers (June–September) are hot, very humid, and subject to the rainy season (tsuyu) in June–July, followed by typhoon season peaking in August–October. Typhoons can close Narita for 12–24 hours. The airport is particularly exposed on the Chiba plain. Temperatures reach 28–34°C.

Winters (December–February) are cool and dry at 3–10°C with clear skies. This is the most reliable flying season. Snow is infrequent but causes significant disruption when it occurs. The Kanto plain is ill-equipped for heavy snowfall. Spring (late March–April) is mild.