✈️ Updated April 2026
Tokyo Airport Transfer Guide (2026):
Narita & Haneda to the City
Getting from the airport to central Tokyo is easy — once you know which option suits your budget and schedule.
Cheapest
Keisei Local (¥1,320)
Fastest from Narita
Keisei Skyliner (41 min)
Best for Most Travellers
N'EX or Skyliner
Rule of thumb: Use the Narita Express (N'EX) if you have a JR Pass or are heading to west Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Yokohama). Use the Keisei Skyliner if you're heading to Ueno or east Tokyo. From Haneda, take the Keikyu Line — it's fast, cheap, and easy.
Narita Airport Transfer Options
| Option | Time | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narita Express (N'EX) | ~60 min | ¥3,070 | Speed & comfort |
| Keisei Skyliner | ~41 min | ¥2,570 | Fastest to Ueno/Nippori |
| Limousine Bus | 90–120 min | ¥3,200 | Heavy luggage |
| Keisei Local Train | ~90 min | ¥1,320 | Budget |
| Taxi | 60–90 min | ¥20,000+ | Groups / late night |
Narita Airport (NRT) is approximately 60–70 km east of central Tokyo. Train journey times above are to Shinjuku or Ueno unless otherwise noted. Taxi prices are highly variable and include tolls.
Haneda Airport Transfer Options
| Option | Time | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keikyu Line | ~37 min | ¥310 | Budget & speed |
| Tokyo Monorail | ~20 min | ¥500 | Reaching Hamamatsucho quickly |
| Limousine Bus | 30–60 min | ¥1,200 | Heavy luggage / hotel transfers |
| Taxi | 30–60 min | ¥6,000+ | Direct door-to-door |
Haneda Airport (HND) is only 15–20 km from central Tokyo — one of the closest major airports to any capital city in the world. Most travellers find Haneda significantly easier to navigate than Narita.
Narita Express (N'EX) Guide
Covered by the JR Pass
The N'EX is a JR service, so JR Pass holders travel free. If you have a 7-day or 14-day pass, this is the obvious first-day option from Narita. Reserve a seat at the airport's JR ticket counter (Midori no Madoguchi).
Direct connections to major stations
The N'EX runs directly to Shinjuku (90 min), Shibuya (75 min), and Yokohama (90 min) without changing trains. For travellers staying in west Tokyo, this is hard to beat for convenience.
Foreign visitor discount ticket available
JR East offers a discounted N'EX Tokyo round-trip ticket for foreign passport holders: ¥4,000 for a round trip (versus ¥6,140 for two singles). Buy at the Narita Airport JR ticket counter on arrival with your passport.
Runs roughly every 30 minutes
Departures from Narita Terminal 1 and Terminal 2/3 run approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day. Check the schedule in advance if arriving on an early-morning or late-evening flight.
Keisei Skyliner Guide
Fastest train between Narita and central Tokyo
The Keisei Skyliner covers the 66 km between Narita Airport and Nippori (east Tokyo) in just 41 minutes. From Nippori, it's a short JR or subway ride to most Tokyo neighbourhoods.
Not covered by the JR Pass
The Skyliner runs on the Keisei private railway, not JR. JR Pass holders cannot use it. However, Keisei offers a combined Skyliner + Tokyo Subway 24/48/72-hour ticket — useful if you plan to explore Tokyo by metro.
Best for travellers heading to east or north Tokyo
If your hotel is in Asakusa, Ueno, Akihabara, or anywhere served by the Tokyo Metro/Toei lines, the Skyliner + subway combination is often faster and cheaper than the N'EX.
Airport Limousine Bus
Ideal for heavy or oversized luggage
The Airport Limousine Bus loads luggage into the cargo hold — you don't have to wrestle bags through train carriages and up escalators. Particularly useful for families, those with ski gear, or travellers with large suitcases.
Direct routes to major hotels
Many limousine bus services stop directly at major hotel areas: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Akasaka, Ikebukuro. Some routes stop at individual hotels. Check the TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) schedule for routes.
Subject to traffic delays
Tokyo traffic on the expressway can be severe during peak hours (7–9am, 5–8pm). Budget extra time if travelling during rush hour, or consider taking the train and sending heavy luggage via takkyubin (luggage delivery service) to your hotel.
Tips for Airport Transfers
Set up your IC card before you land
An IC card (Suica or Pasmo) loaded via the Suica app lets you tap through train gates the moment you arrive. No queueing at ticket machines. If you don't have one, IC card machines at Narita and Haneda have English interfaces.
Late-night arrivals have limited options
Trains from Narita stop running around 11pm–midnight. If your flight lands late, your options are the Airport Limousine bus (runs until around 11:30pm) or a taxi. Budget ¥20,000–¥25,000 for a Narita taxi; Haneda is closer and cheaper at ¥6,000–¥8,000.
JR Pass users: validate the pass before boarding
If you arrive at Narita with a JR Pass exchange order, validate it at the JR East Travel Service Center in the arrivals hall before attempting to board the N'EX. The exchange order alone does not get you through the gate.
Consider luggage forwarding (takkyubin)
Japan's takkyubin courier services (Yamato Transport is the most common) ship your luggage from the airport to your hotel for ¥1,500–¥3,000 per bag. It arrives the next day. This lets you travel light by train and frees you from dragging heavy cases through stations.