Narita airport access guide. Narita airport to Tokyo deal guide

Narita (NRT)
Narita express
Narita Express is one of the train which runs between Narita airport and Tokyo.

Narita Airport is one of two international airports in Tokyo. You may arrive in this airport from your country. There are many ways to get downtown Tokyo by the train and the bus.

If you use JR Pass, JR East Pass and other JR deals right after you arrive in Narita, you may use it to get Tokyo. But some of you do not intend to use the pass right after the arrival. Or you may stay in Tokyo only and are looking for the deal which covers Narita airport to/from Tokyo only.

In this post, I will show you the access route between Narita airport and Tokyo. I will also explain you about the deal and the discount fare, and the budget type bus services.

Overview

Narita airport access map
Click to view large

Narita Airport is sometimes called New Tokyo International Airport. But this airport is not located in Tokyo. It is located at Chiba prefecture and it is about 1 hour away from most part of downtown Tokyo.

As you saw the train route map above, JR and Keisei Railway connect Narita Airport and downtown Tokyo. I will explain what kind of trains are operated by JR and Keisei Railway. And there are many bus lines available too. I will tell you the bus service later in this post too.

First of all, I would like to explain you about Narita airport stations.

Narita airport arrival level and the stations

Narita airport
Arrival gate at Terminal 2

There are three airport terminal buildings in Narita airport, Terminal 1, 2 and 3. The trains stations are located underground of Terminal 1 and 2. These are called Narita Airport Terminal 1 station and Narita Airport Terminal 2 station. If you depart/arrive in Terminal 3, you have to walk from Terminal 2 station. It takes 15 minutes from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3.

It is quite easy to get the stations from the terminal. You can find the signage which says “Railway” at the arrival level very easily. You can go down by the escalators to get the stations quickly.

Narita airport
You can find this signage easily.

Both JR and Keisei Railway use same stations at both terminals. There are the ticket windows for the foreign tourists. But in these days, Japan has been very popular destination and the ticket window is very busy. You may find some more information at JR East and Keisei Railway official sites:

JR East Travel Service Center (Narita)
Keisei Railway Information Center

If you exchange the rail pass, please expect to spend at least 20 minutes. In my experience, 20 minutes is minimum. You may spend more. I have spent 45 minutes before to exchange the pass and book the train seats. Please do not make a tight travel plan.

Narita JR East
JR East Travel Center is the exchange place of JR Pass, JR East Pass. You may pick up online reservation ticket.
narita airport terminal 2 station
Narita Airport Terminal 2 station ticket gate. Keisei railway (left) and JR (right)

If you take a bus, you can find the bus ticket counter at the arrival level.

Narita limousine
Limousine bus ticket counter

It is located near the gate after the custom. You can find it easily.

I recorded the movie from the arrival of the flight to the station in the terminal 2 of Narita Airport. Please find the movie below to find the route more clearly:

JR trains

JR train lines are shown by the green line in the map above. If you go to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama, JR line is better choice. There are two kinds of trains running from/to Narita airport by JR. These are Narita Express and Yokosuka-Sobu line rapid train. Both trains are covered by JR Pass, JR East Pass Nagano Niigata, JR East Pass Tohoku, Tokyo Wide Pass, Hokuriku Arch Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass.

Narita Express

Narita Express is JR limited express train. It connects Narita airport, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. Some trains go to Omiya, Takao and Ofuna. Please see the link below to find more information about Narita Express:

By the way, if you have a plan to go to Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka from Narita airport, you can take Narita Express to get Shinagawa. And you can catch the Shinkansen at Shinagawa. You can change Narita Express and the Shinkansen train at Tokyo too. But Shinagawa is easier.

Please find how to change the trains in Shinagawa station in the movie below:

Recommended deal – N’EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket

This is the round trip deal between Narita airport and Tokyo, surrounding area by Narita Express and the ordinary train. This round trip deal, “N’EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket” is sold at 4000 yen. It is valid for 14 days. You may change the trains as many as you want in the designated area and go anywhere in coverage area, such as JR stations in downtown Tokyo, Yokohama, Omiya, Kamakura, Maihama (Tokyo Disneyland) and many more places.

You can find the coverage map and more information about this deal in the link below:

N’EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket, JR East official site.

Unfortunately there is no one way deals available.

Yokosuka-Sobu line rapid train

This rapid train was called “Rapid Airport Narita”. This train runs on same route as Narita Express between Narita airport and Ofuna. But this train is a sort of the commute trains. You can take this train by a base fare ticket only. But you cannot reserve a seat and you may have to stand up.

If you go to Chiba, this train is your choice. But if you go to Tokyo or further stations, Narita Express is better choice.

Please see the link below to find more information about Yokosuka-Sobu line rapid train:

There is no deals available which cover only Yokosuka-Sobu line rapid train. If you use JR pass or other JR deals, of course you can take this train by these passes.

Keisei Railway

Keisei Railway is one of the major private railways in Kanto region. It connects Narita airport and Ueno, Nippori. And also some trains go through Tokyo Toei subway and Keikyu Railway. You can get Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree), Asakusa, Shimbashi, Haneda airport directly.

Keisei Railway is not covered by any JR deals, such as JR Pass, Tokyo Wide Pass. But there are some deals available to take Keisei Railway limited express “Skyliner”.

Skyliner

Keisei Railway Skyliner
Keisei Railway Skyliner is the fastest train other than Shinkansen.

Skyliner is the fastest train of Keisei Railway. And this train actually is the fastest train in all Japan trains except the Shinkansen.

This express train is the fastest way to get downtown Tokyo. It takes only 36 minutes to Nippori and 41 minutes to Ueno. Especially if you go to Ueno or other stations on north part of Yamanote line, this train is the best way.

e.g.
JR’s Narita Express connects Narita airport and Ikebukuro directly. But if you take Skyliner to Nippori and change to Yamanote line ther to Ikebukuro, it is faster than Narita Express.

You may find much more information about Skyliner in Keisei Railway official site:

Keisei Skyliner official site – Skyliner

The seat is not very high-end but it is comfortable for 45 minutes ride.
The seat is good and comfortable for 45 minutes ride.

By the way, if you want to change the trains between Skyliner and Yamanote line, Nippori is better transfer station than Ueno. Keisei Railway and JR stations have the platforms side by side. You have to exit and enter stations but these are same location. If you change the trains at Ueno, you have to walk a bit. Nippori is much more recommended than Ueno.

Keisai Railway is one of major private railway companies in Tokyo area. This railway’s limited express train that is called “Skyliner” is the fastest train service to get downtown Tokyo. It connects Narita and Ueno in about 45 minutes.

Recommended deal – Skyliner discount ticket and subway combo ticket

There are a few deals which covers Skyliner.

The basic one is Skyliner discount ticket:

Skyliner discount ticket, Keisei railway official site

One way special discount fare is 2,200 yen. This is higher than half amount of N’ex Tokyo Round Trip Ticket. But you can purchase either one way or round trip. One way deal is available for either directions, Narita to Nippori/Ueno or Ueno/Nippori to Narita. This deal is very flexible.

Klook.com

Keisei Railway also offers Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket combo deal. There are both one way and round trip available as well. One way deal can be used for either way, to Narita airport or from Narita airport. And you may choose 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours subway pass. The price is starting from 2,800 yen. Please see the link below to get the details.

Keisei Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket, Keisei railway official site

The subway lines cover most part of downtown Tokyo. You can get most of places by subway. So Tokyo Subway Ticket is very convenient. The following link shows you how to use Tokyo Subway Ticket:

Keisei Access Express

Some of Keisei Railway Access Express go to Haneda airport directly from Narita airport via Toei subway line.
Some of Keisei Railway Access Express go to Haneda airport directly from Narita airport via Toei subway line.

If you want to access to Asakusa, Ginza, Haneda or other places along Toei Subway Asakusa line, Keisei Railway’s Access Express takes you these places directly. Keisei Railway line is connected with Tokyo Toei Subway Asakusa line at Oshiage. Many Keisei Railway trains go through subway line. You can get Asakusa, Nihombashi, Higashi-Ginza without changing the trains. Toei Subway Asakusa line is also connected with Keikyu Railway at Sengakuji. Some Access Express go through Keikyu Railway line as well and get Haneda airport via Shinagawa.

This is a sort of commute train. It does not offer the luxury interior. However any express surcharges are not required. You can take this train by a base fare ticket only.

There is no deals available to take this train but the base fare is quite reasonable. The fare is around 1,300 yen from Narita airport to these areas. Please find the link below:

Keisei Railway official site – Access Express fares from major station

This train connects Narita and Nippori, Ueno too. If you want to save your travel cost, you may choose this train instead of Skyliner.

Airport Limousine bus / Limousine and Metro deal

Narita airport limousine
Narita Airport Limousine Bus departs from just outside of the terminal building.

Airport limousine is most convenient option if you stay in the major high-end hotel in Tokyo. You can get the hotel door directly from Narita Airport. And also the bus depart/arrive in Terminal 3 too. There is no train stations at Terminal 3.

Limousine bus stop signage
Limousine bus stop signage

The fare to most places in downtown Tokyo is 3,100 yen. It is expensive choice. But there are lots of deals available to cut your cost.

Recommended deals – Limousine and Tokyo Subway Ticket, Return Voucher and combo deals

There are many deals available.

The first one is “Multi voucher” and “Return voucher”. These are two round trips and round trip discount ticket. If you look for the deal which covers only Limousine bus, this deal is recommended.

The second one is Limousine and Subway pass. This is same type of the deal as Keisei Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket which I explained above in this post.

I picked only two deals here but you can find all deals in the official site :

Airport Limousine official site – Discounted Ticket

Low Cost Bus TYO-NRT

Keisei Bus Tokyo Shuttle (C) Keisei Bus H636 Tokyo Shuttle - Comyu
Keisei Bus Tokyo Shuttle (C) Keisei Bus H636 Tokyo Shuttle – Comyu

The bus connects Narita airport and Tokyo station at only 1,000 yen. This is most affordable way to get downtown Tokyo.

This bus service is operated by a few bus companies. But it doesn’t matter to take any company’s bus. All you have to do is purchasing a ticket in the terminal building and get of the bus.

I used this bus from Narita airport terminal 2 to Tokyo station. Please find my review in the movie below. You may find where and how to purchase a ticket, the interior of the bus, facility and scenery on the way to Tokyo from the bus:

Please find the fare and the timetable in the official site below:

TYO-NRT official site

Check it on the short movie

I picked top five ways to get Tokyo from Narita on the movie below. Please check it up.

There are many ways and many deals from/to Narita airport. I hope that you have found the best one for your trip and it will save your cost.

Comments

  1. Lan says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I was wondering for the N’EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket,
    Can I use it multiple times on one day?
    As on December 2nd (which is also my last day that the ticket will end), I use this ticket to get from Tokyo to Narita and I stay at a hotel near Narita. So I was wondering is the ticket still valid to get from Narita to Tokyo and shop and then back? Can I do that?

    Regards, Lan

    • Hi Lan,

      No, you can’t.
      This deal offers just round trip, Narita airport – Tokyo and Tokyo – Narita airport. You cannot exit when you move between Narita and Tokyo. Once you exit, the ticket is expired.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Lan says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I have questions for the N’EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket.

    On 17th November I arrive at Narita at 7pm but I am not confident that I’ll be able to purchase the ticket as I have found that the place to buy the ticket at Narita closes at around 8. Is there another way.

    Also does it matter of the time? As in I go back to Narita from Tokyo on December 2nd. So If I were to use the ticket to Narita to Tokyo at 8-9pm on the 17th November, would that mean the ticket will be valid until December 2nd at 8-9pm

    Lan

    • Hi Lan,

      This deal can be purchased at regular ticket office too. It’s open until 21:45.
      This deal is valid for 14 days. If you use on November 17, you have to use the return ticket by 23:59 on November 30.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. John Blakeley says:

    Hi,
    We arrive Narita at 1720 on 28 Oct and are staying at the Courtyard at Tokyo Station. I have a JR Rail Pass for 7 days but I don’t want to activate it until 30 Oct. What is the most convenient way into Tokyo please – we will have suitcases.
    May thanks.

  4. Foli says:

    Hi,

    I be travelling to Tokyo in November – as I be staying at Royal Park the Shiodome.

    1. Can I confirm the fastest way from Narita Airport Terminal 1 will be taking the Keisei Skyliner -> Nippori -> JR Yamanote and alight at Shimbashi Station?

    2. I travelling with my wife and 2 kids – which we will be bringing at least 3-4 luggages – will there be space problem in both Keisei Skyliner / JR Yamanote Train.

    3. How far is the Nippori transfer to JR yamanote?

    Thanks
    Foli

    • Hi Foli,

      Why don’t you take limousine bus?
      http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/platform_searches/index/2/72

      It takes you to your hotel directly from Narita.

      I don’t worry about Nippori because JR and Keisai stations are located side by side. But you have to walk underground arcade from Shinbashi station to your hotel. I have stayed there before. It takes 10 minutes from Shinbashi station. It’s walking distance. But if you walk with your kids and several luggage in busy underground path, it’s very challenging.

      If you cannot take limousine bus, I recommend to take Narita Express to Tokyo and take taxi to your hotel. I don’t have taxi fare but I guess it costs around 2000 yen.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Foli says:

        Hi Takeshi-san,

        Thanks for your reply,

        Yes the original plan for us was to take the Limousine bus – however as we only arrive at Narita Airport via ANA at 0825 am on 22nd Nov (Sunday) – we will not be able to make it for the first service which is 0855 am (I will think it will take us at least 1 to 1 & Half hours to clear the custom).

        And the next available service is 1400, so im looking for an alternative transportation (fastest) from Nartia Airport to hotel.

        I was hoping that the underground pathway on Sunday noon time will be less crowded I hope…

        Regards
        Foli

  5. NOA2015 says:

    Hello there, Takeshi.

    I’m from the Philippines, and would like to seek your advice. Next year, I am traveling with my husband and 2 small kids ages 2 and 4 years old. We are arriving Narita Airport Terminal 2 on 8:20 pm of April 5. We will be staying near the Sasakuza station. By the time we finish the immigration, baggage claim and other stuff, it may be around 9:30 pm already. Are trains still available to take us to Tokyo? From what I have read so far, I think the best option that we have is the Keisei Skyliner (Sky Access Exp – is this correct>) with ticket counters open until 10:30 pm, and last train departs 10:33pm. Is this correct? or do you think I can still purchase the Narita Express tickets by that time? I want to use the Narita Express but I do not think time will permit. Im kind of afraid we’ll miss the trains.

  6. Peter says:

    I have question regarding the 1,2, or 3 day subway pass inclused with the skyliner combination ticket (http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html#anc02)
    It says that this ticket can be used on Tokyo and Toei Subways. Can this pass also be used on the Toei Arakawa line Streetcar and the Nippori-Toneri Liner?

  7. Jeannette Chung says:

    Hiiii Takeshi!

    Thank you for referring this post to my previous question! 🙂

    As of now, the best deal for ONE WAY ticket from NRT to Ikebukuro (N’EXT $1500 yen) is already discontinued. May I please get your advise, which kind of deal/ticket should I get for ONE WAY fr NRT to Ikebukuro (where the hotel I am staying at)?

    Also, I have been considered for 1/2/3 days Metro pass, too! The places that I will be visiting in Tokyo are the following:
    -Shinjuku
    -Tokyo Tree
    -Shibuya
    -MItaka (Ghibli Museum)
    -Odaiba
    -Tsukiji
    -Sensoji
    -Ueno
    -Meijijingu
    -Doraemon museum
    -Akihabara
    – and maybe more!
    In total, I will be staying in Tokyo fr 09/26 to 10/1 (5 days). Should I just get a SUICA card, in case I got tired and couldn’t visit so many places in one day in order to get the maximum use of metro day pass?

    If I get a 1/2/3 days Metro day pass when I arrive at Narita, can I activate the metro day pass the next day? As my flight will arrive at 4pm, by the time I get to Ikebukuro might be 6pm already, I don’t think it worth the metro day pass to activate on the day that I just arrived in Tokyo.

    Once again, thank you so much for your quick respond and advices!

    😀

    • Hi Jeannette,

      As you see the post above, there is no deal for Ikebukuro any more. If you want to direct access to get Ikebukuro, single fare for Narita Express or Limousine bus is only choice for you.

      Metro pass can be activated on next day. But JR Tokunai pass may be better than subway deal. Because JR train is much easier to get the places. If you have subway pass, you can go almost anywhere. But there are too many lines and so complicated. Actually I still cannot find which one is the fastest way by subway when I was in Tokyo.
      https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-metropolitan-district-pass-tokyo-tokunai-pass-good-choice-for-sightseeing-in-tokyo.html

      You can purchase one day pass for either subway or JR on the spot. Suica is a good idea too. Especially there is no deal to cover Odaiba. So even though Suica can give you same value as cash, Suica is still one of good choices.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Ivan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    We are planning a 5 days trip to Tokyo in September 2015.
    The nearest subway to our hotel is the Asakusa-bashi station on Sobu Line.

    24/9/15 15.00 Arrive Narita Airport by ANA
    28/9/15 17.00 Depart Narita Airport.

    Would you suggest which tickets that we supposed to take? and what time would you suggest us to depart from Asakusa-bashi to catch the flight?

    Thank you

    • Hi Ivan,

      I recommend you to use NEX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket. You can take Narita Express to Tokyo and transfer to Yamanote line to Akihabara. And then transfer one more time to Sobu line to Asakusabashi. All rides are covered by this round trip ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Dennis Argall says:

        Takeshi if they are travelling with a lot of bags they may have difficulty with those subway connections from Tokyo station. Would it not be easier to get a taxi from Tokyo station. Save a lot if time and energy after long flight and cost similar for two or three people?

        • Hi Dennis,

          It may be challenging. The following link shows you how to transfer from Narita express to Shinkansen. If you transfer to subway, it will be longer walk.
          https://youtu.be/sHj40bXGO9k

          If you take a taxi, it’s much easier but cost is much higher. I don’t have taxi fare. But I guess it will more than triple of subway fare for 2.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • mcf says:

      If you are staying near Asakusa or Asakusabashi, you don’t want to take the Narita Express. You want to take the Keisei Sky Access Express train.

      It’s only 1290yen and goes from Narita directly to Asakusabashi Station with no transfers in only 62 minutes (or you can take a non-express train with 1 transfer at Aoto Station that takes a bit longer).

      Either way, it’s cheaper, faster, and has fewer transfers than Narita Express (even with the Round Trip deal).

      JPRail might want to add that to the options on this article for anyone staying in the Ueno/Asakusa part of Tokyo.

  9. Jason says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    my plan is to travel 12 days in Japan. once reached Narita airport at 730am, we plan to straight direct to Kyoto. then cont for Osaka & Kobe for the next 6 days. On 7th day we will go to Fuji and afterward back to Tokyo and take the flight at Narita at day 12th. pls advice is 7 days JR pass is sufficient? and do we need to travel to Tokyo for transit before we proceed to Kyoto? or izit thr’s a direct train from narita to Kyoto?

    look forward for ur advice

  10. Detty says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    We will visit japan next month. Our hotel is Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku.from there we will continue on to Hakone. Once we arrive at Narita, we plan to take narita express one way to Tokyo. Is this correct? Where do we buy tickets and how do we find out the schedule of the train? We will arrive at about 7 at night. thanks!!!

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