Narita Express, JR’s express train service between Narita airport and Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Yokohama

Narita Express, the newest car E259 seriesLimited Express
Narita Express, the newest car E259 series
E259 series is the fleet for Narita Express.
E259 series is the fleet for Narita Express.

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.

Find more information dynamically about this train

You can find this train’s information in the movie below more dynamillay.

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

You may find the timetable in JR East official site in the link below:

JR East official site – the timetable

Stations

Stationsto Omiya
via Shinjuku/Ikebukuro
to Takao
via Shinjuku/Hachioiji
to Ofuna
via Yokohama
Narita Airport (成田空港)xxx
Airport Terminal 2 (空港第2ビル)xxx
Narita (成田)***
Yotsukaido (四街道)***
Chiba (千葉)***
Tokyo (東京)xxx
Shibuya (渋谷)xx
Shinjuku (新宿)xx
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

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Narita International Airport
Hotels in Shinagawa Station – Tokyo
Hotels in Tokyo Station – Tokyo
Hotels in Shinjuku Station – Tokyo
Hotels in Tokyo Disney Resort – Maihama, Tokyo/Chiba
Hotels in Yokohama

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 WI-FI access (not free. starting from 600 yen) in the train. Green class has 1160 mm seat pitch. Ordinary class has 102 0mm seat pitch. This Ordinary seat pitch is wider than JR East standard seat pitch, 910 mm. 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

123456789101112
RRRRRGRRRRRG

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

Images

Green class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Green class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Green class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Green class seat equips a power outlet. (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Ordinary class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Ordinary class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Ordinary class seat (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Ordinary class seat also equips a power outlet. (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Sanitary space (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Sanitary space (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Baggage storage space (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Information screen (C) Sonic Rail Garden

Comments

  1. Benjy says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    I was wondering if the Narita Express only runs during the mornings (6 – 8 am) and evenings (5 – 9 pm)? I was looking for the timetable but I could not find the regular timetable for Narita Express trains. I will be arriving in Narita on 30th December around 12 pm so I was looking for Narita Express trains around that time but I could not find them. Could you please guide me to the proper place where I can get the full timetable? Thanks!

  2. FRED GAN says:

    Kon’nichiwa Takeshi San, I will be using JR Pass for travelling in Japan. Would you be so kind as to give me simple directions on how to get from Narita Airport Terminal 2 to the correct platform to take Narita Express to Tokyo Station. Apart from the JR Pass will I need to get any other ticket or pass to get through the gates for Narita Express? Arigatōgozaimashita.

    • Hi Fred san,

      Actually there is only one platform. You cannot miss it.
      https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e611.html

      Reserved seat ticket is required to take Narita Express. When you exchange JR pass, you can ask to book a seat for Narita Express. You also can book a seat for other trains in your trip if you like. I usually complete all bookings when I exchange the pass. Of course you can book a seat for other than Narita Express later at other JR stations.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • FRED GAN says:

        Thank you very much for advice Takeshi san. Later, after spending 1 week in Tokyo I would like to travel to Kyoto via hikari skinkansen. Should I also reserve shinkansen seat for Tokyo to Kyoto trip when exchanging JR pass, if this is possible to do 1 week in advance.

        Also, generally in Japan, can the large taxis accommodate 3 large luggage pieces. I plan on using taxis between rail station and hotel as they are all within 5km distance.

        Thank you very much again.
        Fred

        • Hi Fred san,

          It’s no problem to book it when you exchange the pass. You can book a ticket from one month prior to travel date.

          If you get mini van size taxi, it can accommodate 3 large baggage easily. But I’m not 100% sure if you take a sedan type taxi. Please ask your hotel front to book a taxi which can accommodate three pieces baggage.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Malou says:

    Hello Takeshi san,

    We will be arriving on April 3, 2019 around 8PM in Narita Airport Terminal 2.

    Because I will be traveling with my elderly parents, my plan is for us to stay in a hotel near the airport for that night and go to our Shinjuku Hotel the next day, April 4, 2019.

    On April 4, we will go back to the airport from the hotel using their free airport shuttle service. Then we will ride either the Narita Express or the Airport Limousine Bus to go to Shinjuku from Narita Airport Terminal 2.

    My questions are:

    1. Can we go to the Narita Express Train Station or Airport Limousine Bus Station in Airport Terminal 2 even if we will come from the outside and not from the arrival area of Airport Terminal 2?

    2. How will I buy our tickets for the Narita Express Train or Airport Limousine Bus if we will come from outside of the arrival area of Airport Terminal 2?

    Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you.

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