In this guide
💡 The Short Version: To Ueno, Asakusa or the east side, take the Keisei Skyliner: 36 minutes to Nippori and 41 to Keisei Ueno for ¥2,580, or ¥2,310 as an e-ticketad. To Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya or Shinjuku, the Narita Express goes in one seat: ¥3,140 to Tokyo (53 minutes at the fastest) and ¥3,330 to the other three. The limousine bus is ¥3,100 to Tokyo Station and ¥3,600 to Shinjuku, Shibuya and the hotels, and stops at the door of the big Shinjuku hotels. A taxi is a fixed ¥29,000 to ¥32,500, tolls extra. For a late landing or heavy bags, a private transferad is from ¥9,691.
⚠️ The Narita Express turns back at Tokyo on 6, 7 and 8 November 2026. JR East is working in the Yokosuka and Sobu tunnels, so there are no through trains to Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku or Yokohama. For those stations take the Skyliner to Nippori and change to the JR Yamanote Line, take the limousine bus, or change at Tokyo (JR East notice).
The options, compared
Fares are adult, one way, from the operators. Children pay half on the trains and buses.
| Option | Time | Fare | Where it drops you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keisei Skyliner | 36 minutes to Nippori, 41 to Keisei Ueno | ¥2,580; ¥2,310 as an online e-ticket | Nippori (JR Yamanote Line), Keisei Ueno |
| Narita Express (N’EX) | 53 minutes to Tokyo at the fastest | ¥3,140 to Tokyo; ¥3,330 to Shinagawa, Shibuya or Shinjuku | Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama |
| Keisei Access Express | 1 hour 11 minutes to Nihombashi | ¥1,420 to Nihombashi | Oshiage (Skytree), Asakusa, Nihombashi, Higashi-Ginza, Shimbashi |
| Keisei Main Line rapid limited express | 1 hour 7 minutes to Keisei Ueno | ¥1,280 | Keisei Ueno |
| Limousine bus | Traffic-dependent | ¥3,100 to Tokyo Station; ¥3,600 to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Ikebukuro | Stations and the door of big hotels |
| Taxi | Traffic-dependent | 29,000 to ¥32,500 fixed, tolls extra | Your door |
Narita (NRT) is east of the city, in Chiba Prefecture. Terminal 1 is a 5-minute walk from Narita Airport Station. Terminals 2 and 3 share Airport Terminal 2-3 Station: Terminal 2 is 5 minutes’ walk, Terminal 3 is 10 (narita-airport.jp).
A Terminal Connection Bus, the shuttle between Narita’s terminals. Photo: Kakidai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Which one for where you are staying
| Staying near | Take | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Nihombashi | Narita Express, or the limousine bus to Yaesu | ¥3,140 or ¥3,100 |
| Shinjuku | Narita Express, no change; or the limousine bus to the door of the big hotels | ¥3,330 or ¥3,600 |
| Shibuya | Narita Express, no change | ¥3,330 |
| Ueno, Asakusa, Akihabara | Skyliner to Keisei Ueno or Nippori; or the Access Express to Asakusa | ¥2,580; the Access Express has no liner fee |
| Ginza, Shimbashi | Access Express, which runs through onto the Toei Asakusa Line to Higashi-Ginza and Shimbashi | ¥1,420 to Nihombashi |
| Shinagawa | Narita Express | ¥3,330 |
| Roppongi | Skyliner and a change | ¥2,970 in all |
Keisei’s own route search prices the Skyliner journeys with the change included: ¥2,780 to Tokyo, ¥2,760 to Ginza and Nihombashi, ¥2,840 to Shinjuku and Shibuya, and ¥2,970 to Roppongi (keisei.ekitan.com). Where to stay in Tokyo compares the areas by how you reach them from each airport.
Skyliner
¥2,580, or ¥2,310 as an e-ticket · 36 minutes to Nippori, 41 to Keisei Ueno at the fastest · every seat reserved
Keisei’s limited express runs from the airport to Nippori and Keisei Ueno, and every seat is reserved, with luggage space in each car (keisei.co.jp). The fare is ¥1,280 for the ride and ¥1,300 for the liner seat. A return is ¥5,160, or ¥4,500 bought online (Keisei discount tickets). Nippori is the interchange for the JR Yamanote Line, which reaches Akihabara, Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Keisei is a private railway, so the Japan Rail Pass does not cover it.
A Keisei Skyliner. Photo: MaedaAkihiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Buy the e-ticket and save ¥270. GetYourGuide sells the Skyliner e-ticketad at Keisei’s own online price, from ¥2,310 (4.7 stars from 1,299 reviews). Klookad and KKdayad sell it too, and both also sell the Skyliner with a 24-, 48- or 72-hour Tokyo Subway Ticket (Klookad, KKdayad). Whether that bundle beats buying the Subway Ticket on the day depends on your days: see which ticket to buy for three days.
Narita Express
¥3,140 to Tokyo, ¥3,330 to Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku, ¥4,480 to Yokohama · 53 minutes to Tokyo at the fastest
JR East’s airport train runs from Narita to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama without a change (jreast.co.jp). Green Car (first class) fares are ¥3,910 to Tokyo, ¥4,100 to Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku, and ¥6,750 to Yokohama.
- Seats: every seat is reserved, and reserving one in the ordinary car costs nothing. Reserve up to a month ahead on JR East’s online booking, or on the day at the machines with passport readers in the airport stations, open 6:30 to 21:45.
- Missed train: if your flight is late, take a later N’EX the same day on the same ticket; you must give up the seat if someone holds a reservation for it.
- Luggage: the large luggage area needs no reservation.
- Round trip: the N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket for foreign visitors is ¥5,200 and valid for 14 days. It is not an unlimited pass.
- Japan Rail Pass: the N’EX is covered. See whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth it for Tokyo.
Klookad also sells N’EX tickets.
Limousine bus
3,100 or ¥3,600 · stations and hotel doors · reserve up to 5 minutes before departure
The Airport Limousine Bus stops at the major stations and the door of the big hotels, and takes a reservation up to 5 minutes before departure (limousinebus.co.jp). Traffic sets the journey time; each timetable gives the arrival time for every departure.
| Route | Fare | Departures on a Sunday | First and last from Narita |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Station (Yaesu North Gate) | ¥3,100 | 24 | 7:15 to 20:45 |
| Shinjuku (station, Keio Plaza, Park Hyatt, Hilton, Century Southern Tower) | ¥3,600 | 54 | 7:05 to 23:05 |
| Ginza and Shiodome hotels | ¥3,600 | 16 | 7:15 to 20:35 |
| Ikebukuro (hotels, Sunshine City) | ¥3,600 | 10 | 7:45 to 19:55 |
| Shibuya (station, Cerulean Tower, Excel Hotel Tokyu) | ¥3,600 | 6 | 9:10 to 19:40 |
| Kinshicho, Toyocho and Asakusa hotels | ¥3,100 | 5 | 10:25 to 18:25 |
Akasaka hotels are also ¥3,600, on 8 departures. Only the Shinjuku route runs often, and it is the only door-to-door option for the large Shinjuku hotels. For Shibuya the Narita Express is the better choice. The Asakusa route serves hotels such as Hotel East 21 and Asakusa View, not Asakusa Station. Weekday timetables can differ, so check the day you land.
Taxis
29,000 to ¥32,500 by zone · tolls extra · stands at each terminal
The airport’s taxi council runs fixed fares by zone on the expressway, with no booking needed: ask the driver before you get in (narita-airport.jp). Tolls are on top. A surcharge applies from 22:00 to 5:00, and the Aqua-Line costs extra. The stands are No. 15 at Terminal 1 and Nos. 28 and 31-A at Terminal 2, with a stand at Terminal 3.
| Zone | Wards | By Keiyo Road | By Bayshore Freeway |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Koto, Sumida, Minato (Daiba), Shinagawa (Higashi-yashio) | ¥28,000 | ¥28,000 |
| C | Chuo, Chiyoda, Taito, Bunkyo, Arakawa | ¥29,000 | ¥31,000 |
| D | Shinjuku, Shibuya, Toshima, Nakano, Meguro, Minato (not Daiba), Shinagawa, Ota | ¥31,500 | ¥32,500 |
Chuo includes Ginza, Chiyoda includes Tokyo Station and Taito includes Asakusa and Ueno. If you ask for a route off the expressway the meter runs instead.
Private transfers
A driver meets you in arrivals and takes you to your door, which suits a family, heavy bags or a late landing. GetYourGuide’s Narita private transferad is from ¥9,691 (4.8 stars from 1,426 reviews), and the transfer for up to nine guestsad is from ¥19,067 (4.8 stars from 854 reviews).
After you arrive
A Suica or Pasmo card, the rechargeable card for trains and buses, covers the metro, JR lines and buses; Tokyo public transport says which to buy. Haneda Airport to central Tokyo covers the other airport, which is much closer in. Where to stay in Tokyo and Shinjuku or Shibuya help you choose by station, and an eSIM for Japan can be installed before you fly. For what to book before you go and the days the sights are shut, see Tokyo: what to book before you go.
Haneda is the closer airport. Photo: MaedaAkihiko, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Private airport transfers
For travellers arriving late at night, carrying heavy luggage, or traveling with young children, a pre-booked private transfer eliminates the need to navigate crowded station stairs and transfers.
Tokyo: Narita Airport (NRT) Private Transfer
From ¥19,175 · 4.8 stars from 860 reviews · 1.5 hours · Private vehicle
Tokyo: Narita Airport (NRT) Private Transferad provides meet-and-greet service in the arrivals hall with direct drop-off at your hotel or accommodation anywhere in central Tokyo.
NRT Airport Tokyo Narita Airport Private Transfer
From ¥13,333 · 4.8 stars from 188 reviews · 1.5 hours · Instant confirmation
NRT Airport Tokyo Narita Airport Private Transferad offers comfortable sedan and minivan transfers directly between Narita Airport terminals and Tokyo’s 23 wards.
Common questions
What is the cheapest way from Narita Airport to central Tokyo?
The Keisei Main Line rapid limited express to Keisei Ueno is ¥1,280 and takes 1 hour 7 minutes. The Access Express, which runs on through the Asakusa Line to Asakusa, Nihombashi and Shimbashi, is ¥1,420 to Nihombashi. Both are ordinary trains with no reserved seats.
Is the Skyliner or the Narita Express better?
The Skyliner is quicker and cheaper if you are going to Ueno, Asakusa, Akihabara or the east side: 36 minutes to Nippori and 41 to Keisei Ueno for ¥2,580, or ¥2,310 as an e-ticket. The Narita Express goes straight to Tokyo (53 minutes at the fastest), Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku with no change, from ¥3,140.
How much is a taxi from Narita Airport to Tokyo?
A fixed fare by zone, tolls extra. It is ¥29,000 to Chiyoda, Chuo, Taito and Bunkyo wards by the Keiyo Road, and ¥31,500 to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Meguro, Minato and Shinagawa. Between 22:00 and 5:00 a surcharge applies.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Narita Express?
Yes, but it costs nothing in the ordinary car. You can reserve online up to a month ahead, or on the day at the machines with passport readers in the airport stations, which sell from 6:30 to 21:45. If you miss your reserved train you can take a later one the same day.
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