Tokyo to Catania (HND–CTA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Japanese passport holders enter Italy visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the Schengen agreement. No advance application, no fee. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area with one blank page. Starting in 2025, the EU's ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will require a pre-travel registration costing EUR 7, valid for 3 years.

At the border (or more likely at airline check-in), you may be asked for proof of accommodation, a return or onward ticket, and sufficient funds. Travel insurance covering EUR 30,000 is not mandatory for Japanese nationals but is a smart move given European medical costs. The 90-day limit applies across all 27 Schengen countries combined, not per country.

Direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) run about 12 to 13 hours on Alitalia (ITA Airways), ANA, and JAL. Italy uses the euro (EUR), trading at roughly 0.0062 EUR per JPY. No vaccination requirements. Italy's regional trains (Trenitalia Regionale) connect smaller towns cheaply, while Frecciarossa high-speed trains cover Rome to Milan in 2 hours 55 minutes for EUR 30 to EUR 80 depending on how early you book.

Keikyu Line from Shinagawa reaches Haneda in 13 minutes (¥310). Tokyo Monorail from Hamamatsucho takes 15–22 minutes (¥500). Both run frequently from 5am to midnight. Haneda's central location makes it by far the most convenient Tokyo airport.Taxis from central Tokyo cost ¥3,500–5,500 depending on destination and traffic. Limousine buses serve major hotels and stations (¥600–1,100). Ride-shares (GO, S.RIDE) are growing in Japan. The airport is 14km from central Tokyo, significantly closer than Narita.