Is a flat-rate hire car the best way to reach Narita Airport from home? How much does it cost?
6 min read
- How much does a hire car to Narita Airport cost?
- Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area A (Katsushika, Edogawa, Koto, Sumida)
- Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area B (Arakawa, Chiyoda, Adachi, Taito, Chuo, Bunkyo)
- Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area C (Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ota, Shinagawa, Toshima, Kita, Meguro)
- Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area D (Suginami, Setagaya, Nakano, Itabashi, Nerima)
- North Tama area
- South Tama area
- West Tama area
- Pros and cons of hire cars
- Is there a cheaper door-to-door alternative to a hire car?
- Summary
“Do I really have to lug all this luggage onto the train…” That thought alone can take some of the excitement out of an overseas trip before you’ve even left.
Getting to Narita Airport often means passing through some of the busiest transfer stations around. Depending on the station, you might not even be able to get on an elevator and end up hauling a huge suitcase up and down the stairs instead.
If you find getting to the airport stressful, a hire car to Narita is a great option to consider.
With a hire car, you don’t have to carry your luggage all the way from home to Narita Airport yourself. That said, you might be worried the fare is going to be much higher than the train.
In this article, we’ll cover hire cars that make getting to the airport convenient, including:
- Rough pricing
- Pros and cons
- Other recommended door-to-door airport transfer services
How much does a hire car to Narita Airport cost?
Here’s a breakdown of hire car fares to Narita Airport by area. We compared two companies, Company A and Company B. Company B’s pricing varies slightly depending on vehicle size and model.
These are one-way fares, generally recommended for groups of 4–5 people.
Company A accepts bank transfer, cash, and credit card payment.
Company B accepts bank transfer, cash, and credit card payment, as well as PayPal.
Both companies may apply a late-night/early-morning surcharge.
Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area A (Katsushika, Edogawa, Koto, Sumida)
Company A charges ¥16,980, plus an expressway toll of around ¥3,000.
Company B’s rates are as follows.
| Vehicle | Crown | Crown Royal Saloon | Lexus | Alphard / Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥16,000 | ¥17,000 | ¥20,000 | ¥17,100 |
Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area B (Arakawa, Chiyoda, Adachi, Taito, Chuo, Bunkyo)
Company A charges ¥18,980, plus an expressway toll of around ¥3,000.
Company B’s rates are as follows.
| Vehicle | Crown | Crown Royal Saloon | Lexus | Alphard / Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥18,400 | ¥20,000 | ¥22,000 | ¥19,700 |
Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area C (Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ota, Shinagawa, Toshima, Kita, Meguro)
Company A charges ¥20,980, plus an expressway toll of around ¥3,000. In parts of Minato and Shinagawa, you can use the service for ¥16,980, so it’s worth checking.
Company B’s rates are as follows.
| Vehicle | Crown | Crown Royal Saloon | Lexus | Alphard / Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥20,200 | ¥21,000 | ¥24,500 | ¥21,700 |
Tokyo’s 23 Wards: Area D (Suginami, Setagaya, Nakano, Itabashi, Nerima)
Company A charges ¥22,980, plus an expressway toll of around ¥3,000.
Company B’s rates are as follows.
| Vehicle | Crown | Crown Royal Saloon | Lexus | Alphard / Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥21,700 | ¥23,000 | ¥24,500 | ¥23,500 |
For Company B, the Crown (5 seats) is ¥21,700, the Crown Royal Saloon (5 seats) is ¥23,000, the Lexus (5 seats) is ¥24,500, and the Alphard (8 seats) / Hiace (9 seats) is ¥23,500.
North Tama area
Transfers from the North Tama area of Tokyo run from ¥22,980 to ¥30,980.
Since the area is large, the price range is wide too.
South Tama area
Transfers from the South Tama area of Tokyo run from ¥27,980 to ¥29,980.
West Tama area
Transfers from the West Tama area of Tokyo run from ¥33,980 to ¥40,980.
Since this area is farthest from the airport, fares tend to be higher.
Pros and cons of hire cars
Not having to fight through a crowded train sounds pretty appealing, but hire cars do have their downsides too.
If you’re considering a hire car, it’s worth knowing the pros and cons up front.
The biggest advantage: door-to-door service from your home
The single biggest advantage of a hire car is that it picks you up right at your door. You can go straight from your front door to the airport — true door-to-door service. Not having to carry heavy luggage like a carry case onto a train is a huge relief.
If your flight schedule means an early-morning or late-night departure, you can also relax comfortably in the car, even catching a nap along the way.
Downside #1: It’s expensive
A hire car costs significantly more than taking the train to the airport.
As shown above, even the cheapest hire car option is ¥16,000. By comparison, the train costs around ¥3,000, and a bus from Tokyo Station gets you to Narita Airport for just ¥1,000.
If four people split a hire car, that’s still at least ¥4,000 per person. With five or more people, a hire car can end up costing about the same as the train.
If you’re traveling in a larger group, the cost disadvantage of a hire car may disappear entirely.
Downside #2: You might get caught in traffic
Using a hire car means you could get stuck in traffic and arrive significantly later than planned. Unlike a train, congestion is unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to leave with plenty of time to spare.
Is there a cheaper door-to-door alternative to a hire car?
Door-to-door services like hire cars are a great option since they’re more comfortable than the train.
Here’s a highly convenient alternative to a traditional hire car.
NearMe
NearMe is our own shuttle bus service.
It runs on a flat rate starting from ¥5,980 per person.
Just like a hire car, it picks you up directly from your home or hotel and takes you straight to Narita Airport, so there’s no need to lug a heavy suitcase around on foot.
Other key features include:
- Wi-Fi available
- Seats up to 9 passengers
- Online payment supported
- No extra charge for flight delays
- Support available in both Japanese and English when booking
- Professional drivers
- You can book your return trip at the same time
There are no fixed pick-up points — as long as your home or destination is within the service area, we’ll pick you up and drop you off wherever you like.
The service is currently available across Tokyo’s 23 wards, and the coverage area is gradually expanding.
Comparing fares from central Tokyo to Narita Airport
We compared NearMe, Company A, and Company B for door-to-door transfers from central Tokyo to Narita Airport, all assuming departure from Shibuya Ward.
| NearMe | Company A | Company B | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | From ¥5,980/person | ¥24,000 per car | ¥20,200 per car |
| Advantages | Flat rate per person, Wi-Fi available, seats up to 9, and more | Flat rate regardless of group size | Flat rate regardless of group size |
Each option has its own advantages, but NearMe stands out for offering the door-to-door convenience of a hire car at a flat per-person rate.
It’s also a great deal since the flat rate applies from anywhere within the service area. (Service site)
Summary
We’ve introduced hire cars and other door-to-door airport transfer services. Since they pick you up at home and take you straight to the airport, you can skip the hassle of heavy luggage and transfers, making for a much more comfortable trip.
Of course, the fare is what matters most.
With NearMe, you can get to the airport comfortably while keeping costs low.
If getting to the airport feels like a hassle, we highly recommend giving NearMe a try.
↓You can use NearMe Airport from here↓
Reference articles
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