Narita Airport (成田国際空港, Narita Kokusai Kūkō, NRT) is one of the two international airports serving the Tokyo metropolitan area (the other is Haneda ). It is located near the town of Narita, about 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo. Compared to Haneda, it is served by a greater number of long-haul flights, and a large number of low-cost domestic and international flights. It consists of three terminals: terminals 1 and 2 are used by the main airlines, Terminal 3 is used by low-cost airlines. Two railway stations are located under Terminals 1 and 2, while Terminal 3 is connected to Terminal 2 by a pedestrian walkway. Free shuttle buses operate between all three terminals. In addition to various train services, the airport is connected to Tokyo and the rest of the region by a vast bus network.
Quick take
The alternatives to travel between Narita airport and the city are many and varied. There is no one solution that is always better than the others.
The basic advice is therefore to personally evaluate on the basis of three criteria: 1) the location of your hotel, 2) the familiarity you have with Japanese public transport, 3) the importance for you of saving money as much as possible.
The Narita Express and Limousine Bus are the most convenient services for Shinjuku and Shibuya, as well as Yokohama. However, in both cases you must purchase a return ticket within 14 days, otherwise you cannot take advantage of the Narita Express NEX Tokyo discounted fare or the Limousine Bus round trip promotion.
The Narita Express is also recommended for the Ginza and Tokyo Station areas. Also keep in mind that several low-cost buses go right to Tokyo Station, so in this case they are both cheap and easy for everyone.
The Keisei Skyliner is the most convenient for the Ueno area and nearby Akihabara.
The Keisei Access Express is the most convenient for the Asakusa area.
All of the above recommendations have prioritized comfort, speed and ease of travel, which are especially important for those who come to Japan for the first time and feel scared.
On the other hand, if your main priority is to save as much as possible, the recommended option is only one: reach a JR station (Tokyo Station, Nippori, Ueno or Osaki Station) with one of the bus and local train services costing 1000¥ or a little more. From there you can go anywhere in Tokyo via the JR Yamanote Line or by subway with another 140-200¥. At the moment the cheapest service is the Willer Express bus to Osaki (only 1000¥ with an online promotion). In second place there is the Keisei Main line to Nippori and Ueno (1050¥).
Quick comparison table
Train - Keisei Skyliner
Main stops
Journey time
Fare
Notes
Nippori
40 minutes
2570¥
Ueno
45 minutes
2570¥
Train - Keisei Main line
Main stops
Journey time
Fare
Notes
Narita (town)
6 minutes
270¥
Nippori
75 minutes
1050¥
Ueno
80 minutes
1050¥
Train - Narita Express
Main stops
Journey time
Fare
Notes
Tokyo station
59 minutes
3070¥
It might cost 2035¥ with the NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Shinagawa
70 minutes
3250¥
It might cost 2035¥ with the NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Shibuya
78 minutes
3250¥
It might cost 2035¥ with the NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Shinjuku
83 minutes
3250¥
It might cost 2035¥ with the NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Yokohama
90 minutes
4370¥
It might cost 2035¥ with the NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Two companies operate train connections to Narita airport, JR and Keisei Railways.
Keisei offers three types of train, a fast direct service to Ueno station (Skyliner) and two slower services (Sky Access Express and Keisei Main Line) stopping at several stations in Tokyo.
JR offers a direct service to several main stations of Tokyo, Yokohama and Saitama (Narita Express), and a slower service (JR Sobu Line) stopping at several stations in Tokyo and Kanagawa.
Keisei Skyliner
The Keisei Skyliner is, besides the helicopter, the fastest possible way to get to a central area of Tokyo. It connects both terminals of Narita airport with Keisei Ueno station, located just a few meters from the very important JR Ueno station, where you can change to several metro lines and also the JR Yamanote line and other JR lines. It makes only one stop, Nippori station, also served by the JR Yamanote line.
The train is designed for airport travelers. There is ample space for luggage and all seats are reserved. The standard ticket is expensive (2570¥), but there are various promotions (see them all).
You can also buy this ticket online and get a small discount (2300¥ adults, 1150¥ children).
Buy the ticket for the Keisei Skyliner online
Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket
This is one of the best promotions, thanks to which you can save up to 1500¥. It includes the ticket for the Skyliner (one-way or return ticket) plus an unlimited pass for the Tokyo subway (available for 1, 2 or 3 days). Further information here.
Keisei Access Express
The Access Express is a Keisei train service slower than the Skyliner but faster than the Main Line. Not all trains are bound for the same destination. Some trains are bound for Ueno, others for Haneda airport, others for less relevant stations.
In any case, through this service, it is possible to get to different stations in Tokyo (see table above) saving about 1000 yen compared to the Skyliner. You might be able to reach your final destination directly, or it could be necessary to make a quick and easy change at Aoto station. This depends on the departure time, therefore always refer to the timetables in the official website. It's a great option if your final destination is the famous Asakusa neighborhood. Seats are not reserved and there are no dedicated spaces to store suitcases.
Keisei Main Line
The Keisei Main Line is the slowest and cheapest alternative. Compared to the Sky Access Express, the journey time is 10-15 minutes longer but you can save around 200¥.
After leaving the airport, these trains always stop at Keisei Narita station (in the town center of Narita, near the airport), then they make a stop at several local stations in Chiba and Tokyo (the train will make more or less stops depending on the departure time). The last two stops are Nippori and Ueno, just like the Skyliner. It is the cheapest service available (1050¥) to get to a central Tokyo station served by the JR Yamanote Line.
Narita Express
The Narita Express is the most convenient service to reach some important and central Tokyo stations without changes: Tokyo station, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro.
With the Narita Express you can also reach Yokohama (Yokohama station) and Ofuna. If your final destination is another JR station in the Tokyo area, once you arrive at one of these stations served by the Narita Express, you can change to another JR line for free.
However, this is a very expensive service, more than 3000¥ to Tokyo and more than 4000¥ to Yokohama. The service is also not particularly fast. If you know what to do and how to change lines once you arrive in Ueno, it is almost always faster to take the Skyliner to Ueno and then change there with an urban line.
We discourage to buy the ordinary Narita Express ticket, because of its price. However, we stil recommend the Narita Express in two cases:
You have a Japan Rail Pass and you plan to activate it from day one. In this case you can get the JR Narita Express for free. The Skyliner and any other train of other railway companies must on the contrary be paid in any case;
You will return to Narita airport within 14 days. In this case you can take advantage of the "NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket" promotion, which makes the Narita Express much more convenient.
NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket
Through this promotion you can buy a round trip ticket for any of the stations served by the Narita Express, then also Yokohama, for the price of 4070¥. In this case, each single journey costs only 2035¥.
The promotion is valid only for non-Japanese passport holders and the return journey can be used only if it takes place within 14 days of the outward journey.
A very important clarification on the Narita Express departing from Narita airport
All the Narita Express trains depart from the airport and arrive at Tokyo station. In Tokyo station, the train splits into two trains: some cars continue towards Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc., some other cars continue towards Shinagawa and Yokohama.
Therefore, for any destination station except Tokyo station, it is very important to sit on the assigned seat, and in particular on the assigned train car, to avoid the risk of ending up in a completely different direction from where you are heading.
JR Sobu line
The cheapest service of JR. It is a local metropolitan railway line, often called JR Sobu line Rapid Service, which makes several stops and arrives at Tokyo station in about 90 minutes. The train then continues to Zushi, stopping at other minor stations in Tokyo and Yokohama. Seats are not reserved. A journey via this line costs 1320¥ for Tokyo Station and nearly 2000¥ for Yokohama. Not recommended. If you want to save money, use the Keisei Main Line or low-cost buses.
By bus
Narita airport is connected by many bus lines to various cities in the region and also to other regions. You can find the complete list of bus connections with all the information you need here.
Buses from/to Tokyo
Limousine Bus
Limousine bus offers direct connections by very comfortable buses to different districts of Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama and to the Tokyo Disney Resort. On request the bus also stops in front of many hotels in Tokyo. There is a list of over 70 hotels for which the bus stop is available, you can check it here. If you are staying in one of the hotels served by Limousine Bus, this service is probably the most convenient since it brings you straight in front of the hotel door. Depending on your final destination, the ticket price is 2800-4000¥, and a journey time of 60-100 minutes. There are several ways to save money, although with different limitations (full list here). In particular we highlight:
Round trip tickets within 14 days, 4500¥ to Tokyo and 6000¥ to Yokohama;
Limousine & Subway pass, which includes a bus ticket to Tokyo plus a pass for unlimited use of the subway for 1, 2 or 3 days. Further information and prices here
This bus company connects Narita airport with Ginza and Tokyo station in a bit more than an hour, the fare is 1300¥. Further information on this website, where you can find photos and very detailed indications describing the bus stop locations and the service.
Willer Express Shuttle Bus
This bus company connects Narita airport with JR Osaki station, in about 75 minutes, the fare is 1000¥ if you book at least 24 hours in advance.
Osaki station is not an important station nor a very large one, but it is very convenient. It is served by several railway lines including the JR Yamanote line to reach Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo station and many other areas of Tokyo in a few minutes. Even Yokohama is not far away, just 20 minutes via the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line. Further information here.
By pre-booked taxi
Public transportation from Narita Airport to Tokyo is convenient and efficient. By following the information on this page, you can easily take a train or a bus and get to any area of Tokyo you want.
However, if you have never been to Japan, the first impact with one of the largest metropolises in the world, where they speak a completely unknown language and they use an illegible alphabet, after 12 hours or more on a plane, can be a bit traumatic and stressful experience for someone.
If you don't want any worries once you land in Japan, you can choose a private shuttle service with driver that will wait for you in the arrivals hall of Narita airport holding a sign with your name written on it. Once you meet the driver, he will help you with your luggage and take you to a car or minivan that will take you to your hotel or any other point in the city of Tokyo where you want to be taken.
You don't even have to worry about any flight delays. Once you have booked the service, you will give them your flight number and the driver will be at the airport shortly after the plane's real landing time.
The service is obviously also usable for going to the airport, in this case they will pick you up at the hotel where you are staying.
Book your private taxi transfer
By taxi
Outside the airport you will easily find a long line of taxis. Japanese taxis are generally very reliable and professional, but their rates tend to be quite high. Narita Airport is very far from the city so taking a taxi is a significant cost. The price of a daytime taxi ride is between 16,000¥ and 30,000¥ depending on the area of the city. The rates are fixed and you can check them here.
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How to use Rakuten Travel Experiences
Rakuten Travel is a very useful website to enrich your travel experience, especially if you are going solo or it's your first time in Japan.
Because of the language barrier (and more), in Japan it is very difficult to interact with the locals and to get off the tourist track.
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You can reserve your table in a lot of cafes and restaurants, for example one of the legendary 3-star Michelin restaurants in Japan, or crazy cafes like a unique Owl Cafe in Tokyo or one of the many and nowadays worldwide famous maid cafes
