Narita Express may be your first train in Japan. It is operated between Narita airport and Greater Tokyo area, such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Shibuya. And also service is extended to Yokohama, Totsuka, Ofuna and Omiya. This train stops both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in Narita airport.

After you arrive Narita airport, you can exchange your Japan Rail Pass and take this train to downtown Tokyo. Narita Express takes you to Tokyo station in 53 minutes by the fastest one. It is so fast and convenient. But this train does not take you to the door of Hotel. If you want to get the front door of hotel, I recommend you to take the Limousine bus. You also have a choice to take other private railway, Keisei line to Ueno and Nippori, and the cheapest way “Super Shuttle”. Please see the comparison at “How to access from Narita airport to downtown Tokyo“. And also if you stay several days in downtown Tokyo, please think about saving your rail pass days. Please refer this tips.

Route and Schedule

Narita Express is operated 27 round trains daily, mostly every 30 minutes between Tokyo and Narita Airport. Most of Narita Express do not stop at any stations between Tokyo and Narita airport. These trains are divided into two trains (or connected with other train) at Tokyo Station. One train goes to Shibuya/Shinjuku/Takao or Ikebukuro/Omiya. But most of these trains go to Shinjuku or Ikebukuro. Only 2 round trips to Omiya or Takao. The other train goes to Yokohama/Ofuna. 8 of 27 round trips go to Yokohama only. This train connects Narita airport with Tokyo in 53 minutes to 1 hour, with Yokohama around 1 hour and 30 minutes, and with Shinjuku around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

View Narita Express in a larger map

Stations

Stations	to Omiya via Shinjuku/Ikebukuro	to Takao via Shinjuku/Hachioiji	to Ofuna via Yokohama
Narita Airport (成田空港)	x	x	x
Airport Terminal 2 (空港第2ビル)	x	x	x
Narita (成田)	*	*	*
Yotsukaido (四街道)	*	*	*
Chiba (千葉)	*	*	*
Tokyo (東京)	x	x	x
Shibuya (渋谷)	x	x	-
Shinjuku (新宿)	x	x	-
Ikebukuro (池袋)	x	-	-
Omiya (大宮)	x	-	-
Kichijoji (吉祥寺)	-	x	-
Mitaka (三鷹)	-	x	-
Kokubunji (国分寺)	-	x	-
Tachikawa (立川)	-	x	-
Hachioiji (八王子)	-	x	-
Takao (高尾)	-	x	-
Shinagawa (品川)	-	-	x
Musashi-Kosugi (武蔵小杉)	-	-	x
Yokohama (横浜)	-	-	x
Totsuka (戸塚)	-	-	x
Ofuna (大船)	-	-	x

x=all trains stop *=Train to Tokyo stop at these stations in Morning peak hour and to Narita in evening peak hour only

Accommodation

E259 series was introduced in October 2009. It was completed to replace from previous train 253 series in June 2010. Green class in this train has 2+2 seat configuration. This Green seat is the leather seat and gives you very comfortable seating. But 2+2 seat configuration is same as Ordinary class. Both Green and Ordinary have the power outlet for the laptop or charging the batteries and WIFI access (not free. starting from 600 yen) in the train. Green class has 1160mm seat pitch. Ordinary class has 1020mm seat pitch. This Ordinary seat pitch is wider than JR East standard seat pitch, 910mm. So there is not much difference between Green and Ordinary in my opinion.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Train formation

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
R	R	R	R	R	G	R	R	R	R	R	G

G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non-Reserved ordinary seat

Images

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Baggage space

Information screen

Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:

• Direct access from Shinjuku to Yokohama and Kamakura. Rapid train on Shonan-Shinjuku line
• Access to Narita airport and Kamakura from Tokyo. Rapid Train on Yokosuka-Sobu line (Airport Narita)
• Access to Izu and Atami from Tokyo/Yokohama. Limited Express Odoriko / Super View Odoriko
• Nagano Shinkansen, direct access to Nagano and Karuizawa from Tokyo.
• No express surcharge! Fast, economical and convenient! Rapid service network in Greater Tokyo

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4 Comments to “Narita Express, Most popular transfer from Narita airport to Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Yokohama”

1. Jim Nakazawa says:

   January 10, 2012 at 3:31 pm

   We are planning to use the Japan Rail Pass this June from Tokyo to Hokkaido and return. But looking at JR East’s Shin-Aomori Station map, platforms 11 thru 14 are the Tohoku Shinkansen, and platforms 1 and 2 are the Ou line. The map also shows a Shinkansen Transfer Gate. But where are the platforms for the Hakucho and Super Hakucho trains to Hakodate? Sometimes the Hyperdia time table gives only 8 minutes for the transfer. How far will we need to walk?

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     January 11, 2012 at 12:51 pm

     Hi Jim,
     At Shin-Aomori station, #11-14 are for Shinkansen and #1-2 are for the regular train. Basically #1 is the train bound for Akita and #2 is the train bound for Aomori and Hakodate.
     And 8 minutes is fine. Shin-Aomori station is not big one. Shinkansen platform is located at 3rd floor and other platform is located at 2nd floor.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
     • Jim Nakazawa says:

       January 12, 2012 at 12:58 pm

       Thank you so much for the information. I am finding so much useful information on your site.

       I am sorry – I really should have posted my original question under another article.

       Reply
       • JPRail says:

         January 12, 2012 at 10:04 pm

         Hi Jim,
         Don’t worry about your question.
         And I would like to mention to you one more thing. You can see the English map of major stations in JR East area, like Shin Aomori.
         http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/index.html
         I hope it will help you more!
         Takeshi / JP Rail

         Reply