Airport transfer to and from Tokyo Narita Airport

I get a lot of questions about airport transfers from Tokyo Narita International airport to various hubs in central Tokyo. In this article I am going to break down all the best options, their price, speed and convenience, so you can make the decision on what’s best for you.

As you might expect there are multiple options to get to any Tokyo station and all major hotels. Let’s jump in and look at the best option for you!

About Narita Airport

Narita Airport, officially known as Tokyo Narita International Airport, opened in 1978. It handles the majority of international flights to and from Japan, alongside Tokyo’s other airport, Haneda airport.

Narita is located about 60k east of central Tokyo and features; Three passenger terminals, two runways, a wide range of shops and restaurants and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Many airlines use Narita as a hub, including Japan’s flag carrier, Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways.

Are you arriving into Narita late or leaving early? If so consider an airport hotel with a free shuttle transfer

Private Taxi

• Cost: 30,000 YEN per car
• Time: 90 Minutes

I’m breaking the norm and am going to start with what I consider the worst option, a private taxi. This is the question I get asked most and should be one for everyone to rule out immediately. Yes the airport taxi service is convenient, but it is notoriously expensive, incurs additional charges after 10pm and doesn’t offer any upside against a private airport transfer. If you are dead set on a taxi, make sure you have your hotel address either printed or on your phone, in Japanese, to avoid any challenges in confirming your destination.

Disclaimer: This article features affiliate links. If you click these links, and choose to book with that hotel or company, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate the support that allows me to continue providing this information

Private Airport Transfer

• Cost: 16-18,000 YEN per car
• Time: 90 Minutes

This is the easiest way to get to your destination. If you step off your long haul flight and don’t want to have to engage much brain power this is your option. Services have professional drivers, children’s car seat options, agreed meeting points and the English-speaking chauffeurs will track your flight number. Ensuring they are up to date on your actual arrival time and there is no waiting around.

You can select different sized vehicles depending on the size of your group and quantity of luggage. The reason I am so adamant above that a taxi is a terrible option, is because this has all the convenience at a much lower cost. You have complete personalisation and guarantee your car will be ready at the agreed pick-up time.

TOP TIP! There are several companies that offer this service, however the flexibility of Klook has always been important to me and I am yet to be let down by their airport transfer service. BOOK YOURS HERE You can get a 10% discount on your first purchase with the code KEEPLOOKING10

Train

Making your Tokyo Narita Airport transfer by train is both the fastest and the cheapest way into the city. Not all trains are created equal though, with cost and time varying significantly between express trains and local trains. Here are your options and the trade-offs.

I will start with the two options covered by the JR Pass as this is another common question. I didn’t use my JR pass for this leg though, as it made more sense to activate my pass later.

The JR Narita Express

• Cost: 3,000 Yen per person
• Time: 53 minutes to central Tokyo
• 1 to 2 trains per hour typically
• First Train: 7:37am
• Last Train: 9:44pm

The Narita Express, often referred to as N’EX, is a JR limited express train known for speed and convenience. It offers direct connections from Narita Airport to major stations in Tokyo, making it an ideal choice for travellers staying near these stations or those planning to transfer to the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station. Impressively, the journey from Narita Airport to central Tokyo can be as quick as 53 minutes. 

All seats on this service are reserved seating. If you have made the call to get a Japan Rail Pass, this service is covered by your pass.

If you are not getting the JR Pass you can book your tickets and check train times here:

Narita Express to Tokyo Station: 53 minutes

Narita Express to Shibuya Station: 1hr 15m

Narita Express to Shinjuku Station: 1hr 25m

The JR Sobu Line – Rapid Service

• Cost: 1,340 YEN per person
• Time: 85-90 minutes
• 1 train per hour

The JR Sobu Line (Rapid Service) is an affordable alternative to the Narita Express, connecting Narita Airport with Tokyo Station and Yokohama. It is also included if you are using your JR Pass.

With departures every hour, the journey to Tokyo Station takes about 85-90 minutes and costs around ¥1,340. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at the airport station or by using a Suica or Pasmo pre-paid card. This commuter train stops at several major stations along the way and can become crowded during rush hours, with no seat reservations available. Make sure you plan accordingly

Keisei Skyliner 

• Cost: 2,500 YEN per person
• Time: 40 minutes to central Tokyo
• Every 20-40 minutes
• First Train: 7:23am
• Last Train: 11:00pm

This is the absolute fastest transfer into Tokyo from Narita International airport. All seats are reserved. The train is spacious with wide seats and luggage storage areas at the ends of each car and avoids the business hours crush some local trains suffer from.

Keisei provides discounted ticket packages for tourists, which include the Skyliner ride and day passes for Tokyo’s subway lines. If bought in advance, the one-way fare for foreign tourists is just ¥2,310. 

Single tickets can also be  purchased at a discount through Klook, allowing you to scan a QR code at the station and choose the next available train.

Keisei Main Line

• Cost:1,100 YEN per person
• Time: 90-100 minutes
• Multiple trains and hour
• Requires more changes

The Keisei Main Line train is the cheapest way to get into central Tokyo from Narita airport. This is a local line train and requires you to head to Nippori station and then change onto either the JR Yamanote Line or the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line depending on your final destination. Similar to the Sobu line above, there are no seat reservations and the service can become extremely crowded during rush hour.

Get more details on the route here

Airport Limousine bus 

• Cost: 3,000 YEN per person
• Time: 90 minutes
• Multiple buses each hour

The trains are the quickest way to get into Tokyo city centre, but it then depends how far your hotel is from the train station. If you are looking for a door to door service, at a cheaper price than a private transfer or a taxi, then the Limousine bus is your best bet. These transfer services have a drop-off point at many of the most popular hotels in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ginza. You can check the route here as well as the details on pick up and drop off points at all Narita airport terminals. The full list of hotels serviced can be found here.

It is also worth noting that this service drops off at the Disney resort, another question I see raised frequently.

Tickets can be purchased in advance so you can board directly with a QR code

Car Hire

• Cost: 5,000 YEN per day
• Time: 90 minutes, plus the time to hire the car

I didn’t drive on my trip to Japan, but I know several people who have as they like the freedom of not relying on public transport. A private car hire is the most convenient way to do that. There are plenty of options available in the arrival hall, I would recommend using a comparison service to get the best price before you go.

Conclusion

So there you have it a whistlestop guide to the airport transfer options at Tokyo Narita airport. If you want the fastest option for quick access to the centre of Tokyo, it’s the Keisei Skyliner. If it is the cheapest option, it’s using local trains, but be wary of time of day, you don’t want to get caught in rush hour. But if it is door to door without any thinking you are seeking, get yourself a private transfer. The best option for you will be a matter of personal preference and circumstance, hopefully I’ve armed you with everything you need to decide

No matter what you do I can guarantee you are about to have the best time in Tokyo, and hopefully further in Japan! If you are not done planning yet, have a look at my two-week itinerary, or guide to the best areas to stay in Tokyo and the best restaurants for all budgets!