Most first-timers underestimate the Narita to Haneda transfer. The two airports sit on opposite sides of Tokyo, around 80 km apart, so this is a cross-Tokyo journey of 90 minutes minimum, not a quick airport shuttle.
Pick the wrong option and you can lose half a day or pay ¥40,000 (£215) for a midnight taxi you didn’t need. My article is your guide on which transfer to take and how much time you really need between flights.
If you’re still deciding which airport to fly into, my Haneda vs Narita guide is the better starting point.
More of my Japan guides to plan around your trip
- How many days in Osaka – A ready made itinerary for the best things to see in Osaka
- Tokyo 3 day itinerary – A guide to the best sights and hidden gems.
- Kyoto in 2 Days – A guide to everything you will want to do in Kyoto
- Perfect Hakone Loop – What to do and how to get around when you are in Hakone
- Japan Two-Week Itinerary – How to plan a wider route without backtracking.
- Kamakura day trip from Tokyo – One of the most rewarding trips from Tokyo
Quick answer: which transfer should you pick?
Most travellers can pick from a small set of clear options.
- Solo or couple, manageable luggage, normal hours. Take the direct Access Express train. ¥1,850 (£10) per person, around 90 to 110 minutes.
- Travelling with big suitcases or a family. Take the Limousine Bus. ¥3,600 (£20) per person, 65 to 110 minutes, no train changes, bags go in the hold.
- Group of four or more, late arrival, or tight connection. Book a private transfer. ¥25,000 to ¥35,000 (£135 to £190) per vehicle, 60 to 80 minutes door to door.
- Landing late at Narita with an early Haneda flight the next day. Don’t try to transfer at midnight. Book an airport hotel, sleep, and head to your flight in the morning.
If you’re booking flights on separate tickets and your gap is under 5 hours, please read the connection time section below before you book anything else.
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How far apart are Narita and Haneda really?
Narita is around 70 km east of Tokyo, in Chiba Prefecture. Haneda is around 19 km south of central Tokyo, on the bay. So the airports themselves are roughly 80 km apart, with central Tokyo in between. There is no shortcut.
The realistic transfer time is 90 minutes minimum on the train or bus, more if you hit traffic. Add another 60 to 90 minutes on top for getting through immigration, collecting bags, finding the platform or bus stop, then re-checking in at the second airport, and you can see why this isn’t a tight-connection situation.
Single ticket vs separate tickets: how much connection time you really need
This is the question that catches first-timers out most of all, and it has two very different answers.
On a single ticket through one airline, the airline minimum is typically 3 hours. Some flight booking sites will let you book even tighter than that. Personally, I would not book under 3.5 hours on a single ticket, even with the airline’s blessing. Planes run late, queues happen, and you do not want to be sprinting across Tokyo on three hours’ sleep.
On separate tickets you book yourself, allow 5.5 to 6 hours minimum between landing time and departure time. The reason is simple: your bags will not continue through, so you collect them, leave the arrivals area, transfer to the other airport, then re-check in and clear security from scratch. I guarantee it will take longer than you think.
My Top Tip! If you’re landing at Narita late in the evening with a Haneda flight the next morning, do not try to transfer that night. A ¥9,000 (£48) Narita hotel beats a midnight taxi every time, and you start your trip rested instead of wrecked.
Comparison table: time and cost at a glance
A single view of every option, with the trade-offs to consider before you decide. Double-check on the official Haneda site before you travel for the latest information.
| Option | Time | Cost | Frequency | Last service from Narita | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access Express train | 90-110 min | ¥1,850 (£10) per person | Every 20-40 min | ~22:30 | Most non-JR Pass travellers |
| Limousine Bus | 65-110 min | ¥3,600 (£20) per person | Every 20 min | ~21:25 | Heavy luggage, families |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 60-80 min | ¥25,000-¥35,000 (£135-£190) per vehicle | On demand | 24/7 | Groups of 4+, late arrivals |
| Uber | 60-80 min | ¥35,000 (£190) per vehicle | On demand | 24/7 | Late arrivals when private transfer unavailable |
| Metered taxi | 60-80 min | ¥40,000+ (£215+) per vehicle | On demand | 24/7 | Almost never the right call |
| JR Pass route (NEX + Yamanote + Monorail) | 1h 55m | Covered by JR Pass | Every 30 min | ~21:00 | Active JR Pass holders only |
My Top Tip! The taxi line is deliberate. Lots of people default to a taxi after a long flight, then get a shock when they see what one costs from Narita. It is almost always the worst option, plan in advance and book a private transfer.
Direct train (Access Express): the default option
The direct train is what most first-timers should book. It runs through three rail companies (Keisei, Toei Asakusa Line and Keikyu) without you having to change trains, as long as you board the right service.
Time 90-110 minutes • Cost ¥1,850 (£10) per person
Look for “Access Express” or “Airport Kaitoku” on the platform display boards. Both are the same idea: a direct service that runs Narita Airport to Haneda Airport via central Tokyo. They run roughly every 20 to 40 minutes during the day. You tap in with Suica or Pasmo and tap out at Haneda, no ticket faff.
The trade-off is luggage. There are luggage racks at the ends of carriages but no dedicated hold like the bus, so two big suitcases per person plus carry-ons starts to feel awkward, especially in rush hour.
If you’re on your own with a backpack and a small case, this is genuinely the best option. If you’re a family of four with eight bags between you, take the bus or a private transfer.
My Top Tip! Watch out for slower local services that take 115 minutes for the same fare. They look the same on the platform and they will get you there, just with a lot more stops in between. The display board will tell you the train type: “Access Express” or “Airport Kaitoku” is what you want, plain “Limited Express” or “Local” is what you don’t.
A small number of services do require a change at Aoto or Takasago in central Tokyo, the boards will flag it. If you’re not sure, ask a station attendant before you board, they’ll point you at the next direct one.
For navigation help inside each airport, my Haneda transfer guide and Narita transfer guide walk through the platform and gate detail.
Limousine Bus: the easy luggage option
The Airport Limousine Bus is the option I recommend for families and anyone with big suitcases, unless you have the money for a door-to-door private transfer. It’s a single direct bus, no train changes, no luggage to drag through stations.
Time 65-110 minutes • Cost ¥3,600 (£20) per person
You board at the arrivals floor of any Narita terminal, hand your suitcase to the driver who tags it and stows it under the bus, and you reclaim it at Haneda. The bus runs roughly every 20 minutes during the main daytime window. Last service from Narita is around 21:25, last from Haneda a bit earlier.
The big thing to consider is traffic. On a clear run the bus does the journey in 65 minutes, faster than the train. In rush hour or bad weather you can easily push past 100 minutes.
My Top Tip! In peak season (cherry blossom in late March to mid-April, autumn leaves in November, Golden Week, New Year), book your bus slot at least 72 hours ahead. Buses do sell out and you don’t want to learn that at the counter.
If you do try to walk up to the counter at peak times without a booking, you’ll either spend an hour watching full buses leave, or end up paying double for an Uber. A pre-booked QR code skips all of that.
Where to find the bus stop
Ground floor of arrivals at any Narita terminal, look for the orange Airport Limousine signs. Counters are next to the bus bays, ticket machines.
Taxi, Uber and private transfer: the late-night or group option
There are three road-based options here, and the prices vary enough that the wrong choice can cost you ¥15,000 (£80).
Pre-booked private transfer
A pre-booked private transfer is the right answer for groups, families with luggage, and anyone arriving late or tight for time. You book online before you travel, the driver tracks your flight number, you meet at an agreed point in arrivals, and the price is fixed regardless of traffic. It’s the simplest option by a distance.
Cost ¥25,000-¥35,000 (£135-£190) per vehicle
5-seat and 9-seat vans are both available, so a family of four with luggage fits comfortably. Split four ways, ¥30,000 works out at ¥7,500 (£40) per head, similar to the Limousine Bus once you factor in the door-to-door convenience.
My Top Tip! I’ve used Klook for these and they’ve worked well every time, you can also clearly specify your luggage and ensure you have the right size vehicle.
Uber
Uber works in Tokyo and the app is in English. Pricing is similar to a private transfer but you order when you land, not before. Availability does dip, something I’ve found out the hard way, so I’d treat it as a backup plan.
Cost ¥35,000 (£190) per vehicle
Watch out for relying on Uber as your only late-night option. If the app is short on drivers when you land at 23:30 with a 06:30 flight, you’ll be stuck. A pre-booked private transfer with a confirmed driver is a better bet and peace of mind.
Metered taxi
A metered taxi from Narita is almost never worth it. The journey is the same as the private transfer or Uber, but the price is significantly higher, and there’s a 20% surcharge between 22:00 and 05:00 on top.
Time 60-80 minutes • Cost ¥40,000+ (£215+) per vehicle
I would only take a metered taxi from the rank if I’d missed the last bus and run out of all other options.
Late at night or very early morning
This is the scenario most travel articles skip. The honest answer often involves not transferring at all.
The last direct train from Narita is around 22:30. The last Limousine Bus is around 21:25. After that, your only options are taxi, Uber, pre-booked private transfer, or staying put. First trains and buses don’t start running until 05:30 to 06:55 in the morning.
If you land at Narita after 22:00 with a Haneda departure before about 09:00, an overnight near Narita almost always beats a midnight ¥35,000 (£190) transfer plus zero sleep. There are hotels right at Narita for exactly this. I have written about the hotels near Narita Airport with free shuttle to help narrow down some great choices for all budgets.
For the reverse direction (a very early Narita departure from a Haneda landing), my hotels near Haneda Airport with free shuttle guide does the same job.
My Top Tip! Watch out for assuming you can sleep in the terminal. Narita closes airside overnight, and landside seating is limited and uncomfortable. If your plan is to bench it for six hours, a ¥9,000 (£48) hotel is well worth it.
What if I have a JR Pass?
If your Japan Rail Pass is already activated and valid for this leg, the Narita Express plus Yamanote Line plus Tokyo Monorail combo is effectively free. It takes around 1 hour 55 minutes with two changes, so it’s slower than the direct Access Express, but the cost is zero on top of your pass. Good if you’re on a budget.
It’s only worth it if your pass is genuinely covering this trip. If you’re activating the pass in a couple of days for a Kyoto trip, don’t burn a day of it just for this transfer. My JR Pass guide covers the activation timing call in more detail.
Common scenarios: what would I actually do?
Translating all of the above into the situations people actually find themselves in.
- Solo traveller with a backpack, 5-hour daytime connection. Direct Access Express train. Cheap, reliable, easy.
- Couple with two suitcases each, 6-hour daytime connection. Limousine Bus. Pay the extra for the luggage hold and the no-changes ride.
- Family of four with luggage, any timing. Pre-booked private transfer. Splits four ways, door to door, no thinking required.
- Landing at Narita after 22:00 with a morning Haneda flight. Don’t transfer. Overnight at a Haneda hotel.
- Tight 4-hour connection in daytime. Pre-booked private transfer or Uber. The cost is worth it for the certainty, don’t gamble on the bus and traffic.
- Cherry blossom season, any scenario. Whatever you pick, book a slot 72 hours ahead. Walk-ups don’t work in peak season.
FREE GUIDE
Planning your trip to Japan?
I made a free 13-page guide that strips Japan planning down to the few decisions that matter.
No ads, instant download.
FAQs
No. Tap in with Suica or Pasmo at Narita, tap out at Haneda. The fare comes off your card automatically.
Yes on the Access Express train. The Limousine Bus needs a separate ticket, either bought at the counter or pre-booked online with a QR code.
Most operators will rebook you onto a later bus within 30 days at no charge, but check the specific terms before you book. Pre-booked private transfers track your flight and adjust automatically, which is one reason they’re worth it for late arrivals.
Mostly no. The same three options apply in reverse and the prices are the same. The main thing to note is that last services in the Haneda to Narita direction tend to be slightly earlier in the evening, so for a late Narita departure from a Haneda landing, give yourself an extra buffer.
Allow 4 hours including the transfer and check-in. So for a 14:00 flight from Narita, leave Haneda by 10:00. That’s transfer (2 hours), check-in and security (90 minutes), plus a 30-minute buffer.
Manageable but cramped at peak times. The carriages have priority seating but limited space for prams. The Limousine Bus is significantly easier with kids, the bus stows your pram in the hold and you get a proper seat.
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