You have just landed in Narita, Japan and now you just want to get to your hotel, Airbnb or wherever you're going to stay as soon as possible. It would not be wrong to say that it's what you desperately need after a long hour flight to Japan.
Although Narita Airport is quite far away from central Tokyo, there are many convenient options in Narita airport that are fast and relatively stress-free. This blog will tell you which are the most convenient transportation to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo.
How far is Narita airport to Tokyo?
Narita Airport is roughly 80 km from Tokyo so it is most certainly isn't close by any means. By car, it can take an hour and 30 minutes but there are various other options that can take you there even faster for cheap or ridiculously expensive depending on how much you're willing to spend.
My favorite way from Narita Airport to Tokyo
Narita Airport Limousine Bus
This is the most comfortable, decently priced method of transportation which is why it's my favorite. You won't have to carry your luggage around and you can just sit back and relax as the bus takes you to your hotel. Albeit this bus is more expensive than regular buses, this is a good method for those who are worried about using the complex train system of Tokyo and wish to take something else to get to their destination instead.
Did you know?
Despite them being called limousine buses, don't expect them to have any limousine-like quality though, because for some reason it's more or less just a normal bus.
| Price (To Tokyo Station) |
2,800 Yen - 3,100 Yen (Adults) 1,400 Yen - 1,550 (Children) For prices from Narita airport to anywhere else, check out their website Various discounts can be obtained if combined with specific tickets |
| Estimated time of arrival | 1 hour and 20 minutes |
| Working hours | 24/7 (however late-night buses will be more expensive) |
The fastest way from Narita Airport to Tokyo
JR Narita Express (N'EX) or Keisei Skyliner
The Skyliner can reach Ueno in 41 minutes and even faster at 36 minutes if you go to Nippori. Unfortunately, these are the only two stops this train has so you will have to transfer if you wish to go elsewhere. Seats are reserved beforehand so you won't have to worry about not having any seats, there will also be luggage space so you won't have to carry them around everywhere If you book a ticket online, it will take you back 2,470 Yen but if you combined it with other tickets then you'd be able to get some juicy discounts.
The JR Narita Express (N'EX) offers a fast, convenient and comfortable way to Tokyo. Similar to the JR Line's Skyline, seats are reserved for you when you book tickets and luggage space are also available. This is the fastest way from Narita to Shinjuku, Shibuya, or any other major train station.
Bottom line?
This is a clear advantage against the Skyline which can only go to Ueno or Nippori. Prices range from 3000 Yen per one-way ticket but they now have return-trip-tickets available for foreigners to purchase which are only 4000 Yen if used within 2 weeks.
Note that all N'EX trains' final destination is Tokyo but the stops in-between vary between trains so you should check their schedules. If there's isn't a time displayed for any station they will pull in, then they won't stop there.
The most convenient way for your pockets from Narita Airport to Tokyo
Buses and Keisei Limited Express
Tokyo Shuttle Bus
The cheapest option to get to Tokyo from Narita Airport. If you reserve a spot beforehand, it'll only cost 900 Yen (1000 Yen if you don't) which will get you to the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station where you can then transfer to other lines. It might not be speedy but it can get to where you go that's easy on the pockets.
Note that early morning (before 6 a.m) and late-night buses will cost you 2000 Yen if you don't book early.
Keisei Access Express and Keisei Limited Express
The Keisei Express trains offer more affordable options for travelers. If you to get to popular sightseeing locations (Ginza, Asakusa, etc..) quick then the Access Express is the way to go. Prices range from 1100 Yen or slightly more depending on where you go but comparing to the Skyline and N'EX trains, this is a real bargain as it can easily reach Oshiage in 47 minutes and Nihonbashi station in 59 minutes!
That's not all,
An even more inexpensive option is the Keisei Limited Express which costs around 1000 Yen which can get you to Nippori Station or Ueno Station in 60-70 minutes.
The downsides to these trains, however, is that seats cannot be reserved, there is no luggage space and it can get very crowdy during peak hours. It's not recommended if you have a lot of luggage but it is still a very inexpensive option for the service you get.
Other Transportation Options
The following options to travel from Narita airport to Tokyo are also convenient to an extent but will cost a lot more than regular services.
Taxi
A taxi is always an option if all else fails. Although it is pricey, you can get to where you want in a private comfy space without having to worry about transferring or where to stop. If you wish to take a taxi from Narita airport to Tokyo then it would cost you roughly 20,000 Yen. We recommend going with a group so you can split the bill instead of going alone. Also, check if your hotel has transportation services that have a minibus which comes to certain stops to pick you up, this usually only cost a fraction of the price of a normal taxi!
Helicopter
That's right, you can now officially fly your way into Tokyo with a private helicopter, which is arguably the fastest (Only 20-30 mins) if you're willing to pay the extremely steep 280,000 Yen ticket fee. You can find more information here.
To summarise,
I recommend using the Limousine buses for a stress-free and comfy experience on the way to your hotel. It may not be as fast as the JR Narita Express or Skyline, but you won't have to worry about transferring between trains to navigate to your hotel and the price is relatively okay. The Keisei Express trains and the Tokyo shuttle bus are inexpensive options that are always available if you want to make the trip less pricey (cause we all know how expensive Tokyo is).
Why not make your journey hassle-free and more interesting?
Just got from Narita Airport to Tokyo and don't know where to go next once you've reached your hotel? Or do you want the trip more interesting and experience Japanese culture through the eyes of a native? Luckily, at GoWithGuide we offer the best customizable tours and Local Guides to help you on your journey across Japan.
Here at GoWithGuide, your freedom on where you want to go is the most important. If you want to create your own tour you can Send a message to our local guides to find a suitable itinerary and quotation for a memorable experience.
If not, then why not Request a Tour. Simply type what you would like to see and our guides will send you quotes and recommendations depending on what you're interested in as well as budget.
At GoWithGuide, we offer the best professional Local Guides across Japan that will help you plan your trip. You can also check our Private Tours for Tokyo.
Blogs About Tokyo
Cool Things to Do in Tokyo: 2019 Hidden Gems
