Rapid Train on Yokosuka-Sobu line running between Tokyo, Yokohama, Narita Airport, Chiba and Kamakura

Ivory and blue are Yokosuka-Sobu train's color.Narita (NRT)
Ivory and blue are Yokosuka-Sobu train's color.
Ivory and blue are Yokosuka-Sobu train's color.
Ivory and blue are Yokosuka-Sobu train’s color.

Sobu-Yokosuka line (=横須賀総武線) means the operation route of one of the Rapid train network in Greater Tokyo. This train is operated on Sobu line, Tokaido line and Yokosuka line. Most of trains are operated between Chiba (=千葉) and Kurihama (=久里浜)/Yokosuka (=横須賀) via Tokyo (=東京) and Yokohama (=横浜). Some trains are extended to operate to Narita airport (=成田空港) and other stations in Chiba Pref. This train is a sort of commute train. But all trains have two double decker Green cars in the formation. Especially Rapid train to Narita airport may be replacement of Narita Express if you want to save the fare. These trains are fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. Of course if you use Japan Rail Pass Green, you can take Green cars with no extra cost.

Accommodation

Please refer the post of Rapid service network in Greater Tokyo. You can see some images of Green car and intrerior.

Route, schedule and trip time


View Sobu-Yokosuka line in a larger map

Route

This train is operated every 10 to 15 minutes between Chiba and Kurihama. And some trains are extended to operate to these following stations.

Narita airport — One or more trains every hour. 19 round trips a day.
Kimitsu (=君津) on Uchibo line — Mostly one train every hour. 15 round trips a day.
Kazusa-Ichinomiya (=上総一ノ宮) on Sotobo line — One train every hour to two hours. 9 round trips.
Naruto (=成東) on Sobu line — One round trip a day.

The train to Narita airport is called “Rapid Airport Narita” (=快速エアポート成田).

Stations

The trains stop at these following stations on basic route:

Chiba-Inage-Tsudanuma-Funabashi-Ichikawa-Shinkoiwa-Kinshicho-Bakurocho-Shinnihonbashi-Tokyo-Shinbashi-Shinagawa-Nishioi-Musashikosugi-Shinkawasaki-Yokohama-Hodogaya-Higashitotsuka-Totsuka-Ofuna-Kitakamakura-Kamakura-Zushi-Higashizushi-Taura-Yokosuka-Kinugasa-Kurihama

The trains to Narita airport stop at these following stations between Chiba and Narita airport:

Chiba-Tusga-Yokkaido-Monoi-Sakura-Shisui-Narita-Kukodainibiru (=Narita airport terminal 2)-Narita airport (=Narita airport terminal 1)

The trains to Kazusa-Ichinomiya stop at these following stations between Chiba and Kazusa-Ichinomiya:

Chiba-Honchiba-Soga-Kamatori-Honda-Toke-Oami-Mobara-KazusaIchinomiya

The trains to Kimitsu stop at these following stations between Chiba and Kimitsu:

Chiba-Honchiba-Soga-Hamano-Yawatajuku-Goi-Anegasaki-Nagaura-Sodegaura–Kisarazu-Kimitsu

The trains to Narito stop at same stations between Chiba and Narita as train to Narita airport, then stop at all stations after Narita.

Travel time

The travel time among the major stations are as follows:

Narita airport (Terminal 1)-(3min)-Kukodainibiru (Terminal 2)-(8min)-Narita-(13min)-Sakura-(17min)-Chiba
Kimitsu-(7min)-Kisarazu-(34min)-Soga-(6min)-Chiba
KazusaIchinomiya-(16min)-Oami-(19min)-Soga-(6min)-Chiba

Chiba-(14min)-Funabashi-(20min)-Kinshicho-(8min)-Tokyo-(3min)-Shinbashi-(5min)-Shinagawa-(23min)-Yokohama-(22min)-Ofuna-(8min)-Kamakura-(5min)-Zushi-(10min)-Yokosuka-(11min)-Kurihama

If you go to Yokohama, the Tokaido Shinkansen is not a good choice. It takes 19 minutes to Shin-Yokohama from Tokyo. It seems to be the fastest choice. But Shin-Yokohama is a few stations away from Yokohama. You have to take a local train to get Yokohama. You spend at least 20 minutes to transfer the trains at Shin-Yokohama and the travel time by the local train to Yokohama. This Rapid train is faster than the Shinkansen. This train takes you to Yokohama directly from Tokyo in 25 minutes. This is the fastest to get Yokohama.

If you go to Kamakura, This Yokosuka-Sobu Rapid train is most convenient. You can get Kamakura directly from Tokyo and Shinagawa.

At last, I would like to tell you one more thing. Tokyo station is a huge terminal station. Most of trains that include Shinkansen, Tokaido line, Chuo line (to Shinjuku), Yamanote line (circle line in downtown Tokyo) depart from the ground level platform. But Tokyo station has some more platforms underground too. Yokosuka-Sobu line and Narita Express depart from this underground level. Please expect at least 15 minutes to transfer the train when you use the train from underground level.

Comments

  1. Dario says:

    Hi JPrail,
    On 15 November, I am scheduled to arrive in Narita Intnl. Airport at 17:20. I need to travel to Yokosuka. I would like your advice on how I can reach there.
    Thank you!
    Best regards,
    Dario

  2. michael dubov says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I’ll be leaving Tokyo early morning on 4/10.
    So,I decided to spend the last night in NARITA, not NRT, the city.
    I see that I can use Sobu line to get to NARITA.
    Can’t find the time scheduler for trains to NARITA on line.
    Please help.

  3. Tei says:

    Hello Takeshi ,

    Can i take Green cars with JR Kanto pass 3days ?

    Thanks for help.

    Regards
    Tei

  4. Tanja says:

    Hello,
    my flight will go at 6 a.m. at the narita airport. So we have to go at 2 a.m. in the morning to the Airport.
    Is that possible with any Train? Our Hotel is in Akasaka.
    Thanks a lot

  5. Franya says:

    Hello Takeshi

    Thanks for your prompt reply

    I meant to ask if the train stops at Osaki, not Osaka, on the way to Kyoto – do I remain on the train in Osaki?

    Also what is the difference between the suica and pasmo card?
    Do they cover the same rail lines or is one better than the other.

    I need a card to cover JR lines as well as ALL the tokyo subway network.

    Which card do you recommend?

    Regards
    Franya Liffers

    • Hi Franya,

      Mostly you don’t need to change it at Osaki. In case that you need to do, all of passengers get off at Osaki. You will find it easily.
      Both Pasmo and Suica cover completely same now. You can use which you like.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Franya says:

    Hello
    I have heard I cannot use the nozomi train if I have a japan rail pass. Can you tell me what this train looks like as I don’t want to board it by accident.

    I have also seen a special of 15000 yen for a one way journey to Tokyo on the nex train from narita. Since I am travelling to shinjuku does the special price still apply?

    Also I will be returning to narita terminal 2 from shinjuku for my return journey on the nex train.

    Can you tell me if there are any transfers or is the journey straight through from shinjuku to narita? I will need to leave shinjuku around 6 am to be at the airport at 7.30am and don’t want to be late to the airport. Are there any delays on the nex train or it it always on time?

    One last question is regarding my journey to kyoto which I will also leave from shinjuku.
    Can you advise if the train stops in Osaka or do I just stay on the train and change at shinagama and then onward to Kyoto.

    Thank you for your patience to answer all my questions
    Regards
    Franya Liffers

    • Hi Franya,

      1) Nozomi
      Actually all Shinkansen trains look same. Just check signage at the platform and on the train. There are lots, you can’t miss it.

      2) N’ex ticket
      You can use it for Shinjuku.

      3) To Narita by N’ex
      Please see the timetable below.
      http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/e_nex_d/index.html
      The first train depart at 5:55 and arrive at 7:18. Trains run on time in Japan usually. But it’s not 100% of course. If you take this, you have to take this small risk.

      4) Bus to Narita from Tokyo station
      There is early morning bus service. But it departs from Tokyo station.
      http://www.keiseibus.co.jp/global/en/nrt00.html
      But if you take earlier bus than N’ex, you have to get Tokyo station by taxi. If you use this, you should stay around Tokyo station.
      Actually I have never taken this bus before. If you are interesting in this bus, please call bus company. You can find the contact at the link above.

      5) Trip to Kyoto
      Shin-Osaka is one station away from Kyoto. If you want to go to Kyoto, you have to get off at Kyoto. Shinkansen makes a stop at Shin-Osaka after Kyoto.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Elizabeth and Peter Young says:

    Hello, We are planning to take the train from Kyoto to Kamakura. Also, from Kamakura to Narita. I would appreciate your assistance. If possible, we would like to know how long these trips would take, approximately. Thank you.

  8. keeks says:

    Hi,

    I am travelling from Tokyo (Suidobashi) to Narita Airport early morning during a busy holiday period (Dec 31st).

    Is there a need to reserve a ticket in advance? I’m looking at the site http://www.jorudan.co.jp and they’ve got this itinery:
    Suidobashi JR Sobu Line(Local) Local 04:49am – 05:01am [12min.] 5.1km 1280yen
    Kinshicho JR Rapid Airport Narita 05:12am – 06:30am[78min.] 74.4km
    Narita-Airport

    However it is not showing on Hyperpedia. Is this itinery fine?

    Thanks very much for your help.

  9. Wendy MacLean says:

    we are traveling from Narita airport to Toyko we arrive at 7pm on a Saturday night what train should we catch?

  10. Johan says:

    Hello ,

    I am for the first time in Japan , and I have to travel from Katsuura City ( Chiba ) to Narita Airport .
    Which would be the best route to go and by what trains ?
    I would appreciate your answer.
    Thank You in advance .
    Johan .

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