Flying is stressful enough. Navigating a 35 million person metropolis with luggage can make you feel like you’re regretting your Japan vacation before its even begun. To help you get off to the best start, this guide breaks down the fastest, cheapest, and most comfortable routes from central Tokyo to Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) in 2025, so you can feel completely at ease when you .
Which Is The Best Option For Me?
There are broadly three options from either airport that you can use:
| Transport | Best For | Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | People staying near a major station in the center | Affordable, and often can be paired with IC cards that can be bought from the airport | Japanese trainlines can be difficult for newcomers to understand |
| Bus | Those looking to save money | The cheapest of the usual options | Often the slowest way to get to the center |
| Taxi | A direct ride to your hotel | Often the most convenient way to the center | The most expensive of the three options |
Not only do you need to decide which of these three is best for you, but there are some differences between the two that you’ll need to keep in mind.
One thing to remember about Narita Airport is that, while it is considered the main airport for the capital, it isn’t even in the same prefecture. Indeed, much of its surroundings are surprisingly rural. However, there are plenty of ways to get from Narita to Tokyo, that are simple and affordable, without taking too much time.
Keisei Skyliner
- Price: ¥2,470 (¥2,465 with a valid IC card) — book on Klook
- Destination: Nippori Station on the JR Yamanote Line
- Travel Time: Approx. 40 minutes
- Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes
The most popular means of getting from Narita to central Tokyo, the Keisei Skyliner is frequent, convenient, and tickets come with booked seats. Make sure not to accidentally get on an earlier or later train, as unless you can talk your way out of it, you’ll need to pay for a new ticket. There is also space for luggage, but if you have a lot, try to board the train as soon as the doors open to get the necessary space.
Narita Access Express
- Price: ¥1,240 (¥1,235 with a valid IC card) — buy at airport or Keisei website
- Destination: Nippori Station on the JR Yamanote Line
- Travel Time: Approx. one hour
- Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes
Running on the same lines as the Keisei Skyliner, this train is cheaper, but as a commuter train, you cannot book any seats, and there is no designated space for luggage beyond a small rack above the seats. Ideal if you’re traveling light and do not need to worry about time.
The Access Narita Bus (Most Budget-Friendly)
- Price: ¥1,500
- Destination: Tokyo Station
- Travel Time: 70–90 minutes
- Frequency: Every 20–30 minutes
- Booking: Access Narita site
The Access Narita Bus offers comfortable, air-conditioned coaches with overhead storage space, making it a great low-cost option for travellers. Since tickets are not reserved in advance, arriving early helps secure a seat. It is especially convenient for those heading directly to Tokyo Station without needing to transfer.
JR Narita Express (N’EX)
- Price: ¥3,250 (¥5,000 round-trip discounted tickets are available) — buy on Klook
- Destination: Tokyo Station
- Travel Time: Approximately one hour
- Frequency: Every hour
Not to be confused with the Access Express, this train takes you directly to Tokyo Station, and has a number of useful facilities, including wheelchair-accessible toilets, and detailed, multilingual information on upcoming stops. If you are staying in Japan for two weeks or less, you can take advantage of the discounted round trip ticket for ¥5,000, saving ¥1,500.
Airport Limousine Bus
- Price: ¥3,600 — buy on Headout
- Destination: Various
- Travel Time: 90-120 minutes
- Frequency: Every 15-20 minutes
Staying in a major hotel? The Airport Limousine buses run from Narita to several popular central Tokyo areas, including Shinjuku, Ginza, and Ikebukuro, that are home to many big-name hotels. Seats recline, Wi-Fi is free, and drivers load your suitcase, a life-saver after a long overnight flight.
Fixed-Fare Taxi and Ride-Hailing
- Price: Varies — prebook on NearMe or hail a taxi from outside the airport
- Destination: Chosen by the passenger
- Travel Time: Approx one hour to 90 minutes, depending on traffic
For late arrivals, families, or anyone who wants the convenience of being driven directly to your hotel, Tokyo’s taxi association offers fares that vary from ¥19,000–¥27,000, plus tolls, depending on which part of central Tokyo you want to go to. There are additional charges of up to 20% of the final bill after 22:00. Apps like Uber mirror the same pricing, so you can’t get a sneaky better deal using that app. However, using a pre-booked shared taxi, assuming you are all going to the same place, can reduce your price per person significantly.
Quick Recommendation Guide
Whether you prioritize speed, cost, or door-to-door convenience, the chart below gives a clear snapshot of all your transfer options from Narita Airport to central Tokyo in 2025. Each option is suited to different needs — solo travelers, families, budget-conscious visitors, or those seeking maximum comfort. Use this guide to quickly compare travel time, cost, and how to book.
| Transport Option | Approx. Cost | Travel Time | Frequency | Notes | Booking Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keisei Skyliner | ¥2,470 (¥2,465 with IC card) | ~41 minutes | Every 15–20 minutes | Reserved seating, luggage space, fastest train option | Book on Klook |
| Narita Express (N’EX) | ¥3,250 (¥5,000 round-trip) | ~55 minutes | Every hour | Reserved seats, direct to Tokyo Station, discount for short-stay tourists | Book on Klook |
| Narita Access Express | ¥1,240 (¥1,235 with IC card) | ~65 minutes | Every 15–20 minutes | No reserved seats, no luggage space, best for light travelers | Buy on Keisei Website |
| Access Narita Bus | ¥1,500 | 70–90 minutes | Every 20–30 minutes | Air-conditioned coach, unreserved, direct to Tokyo Station | Book on Access Narita |
| Limousine Bus | ¥3,600 | 90–120 minutes | Every 15–20 minutes | Hotel drop-off, luggage assistance, Wi-Fi, ideal for major hotels | Book on Headout |
| Regular Taxi | ¥19,000–¥27,000+ tolls | 60–90 minutes | On demand | Direct to hotel, surcharge after 22:00, most expensive | Hail outside terminal |
| Pre-booked Shared Taxi | From ¥5,980 (incl. tolls) | ~1 hour | Pre-book only | Price per person, ideal for solo travelers with shared destinations | Book on NearMe |
| Pre-booked Private Taxi | From ¥25,800 (incl. tolls) | ~1 hour | Pre-book only | Price per car, best for families or small groups | Book on NearMe |
Smart Tickets and Money-Savers
While it is a rule that “cash is king” in Japan, trains and buses are a little different. As many cities and countries do, Japan has ways around standing at the ticket machines in stations — and even a way to make handling luggage easier. So, let’s go through a couple here.
IC Cards
Integrated Circuit Cards, known across Japan as IC Cards, are by far the most common way of getting around. Not only are the main two brands — PASMO and Suica — accepted on every train line in Tokyo, but they also end up saving a small amount of money (typically only around 1% or so, but it adds up) when compared to buying paper tickets.
Read More
Bundled Passes
These are designed specifically for tourists and those who will be using multiple trains in the same day. These package different tickets — typically a single ticket to get from the airport to the city center with a day pass for the subway — to save money and reduce stress. Here are two of the most popular.
- Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket: this deal includes a one-way Skyliner ticket from Narita to Nippori, plus a 24, 48, or 72-hour subway ticket (from ¥2,900 online).
Luggage Delivery
Do you have a LOT of luggage bags? Dreading having to take them all on a commuter train? You can avoid dragging your bags through station crowds by sending your suitcases to your hotel directly using TA-Q-BIN at the Yamato Transport counter at the airport (prices start from ¥4,420 for suitcase-sized packages).
Final Advice for Stress-Free Transfers
So what are our quick tips for getting to Tokyo after you land?
- Load an IC card with money the night before. They can be purchased at train station ticket machines.
- Check last-train times: Narita’s final Skyliner departs at 22:30.
- Leave a 30-minute buffer for navigating stations and elevator waits.
- Monitor traffic if you choose a bus: Tokyo Bay Bridge jams after 17:00 are legendary.
Pick the blend of speed, cost, and comfort that matches your priorities, and your trip to Tokyo will be as smooth as the flight itself. Safe travels!
