The Keisei Skyliner gets you from central Tokyo to Narita Airport in as little as 36 minutes. A lot of people are probably curious about just how much it costs to ride.

In this article, we explain the Skyliner’s base fares and how to get to Narita Airport for the lowest possible price.

We also cover other handy transportation options besides the Skyliner, so if you’re planning a trip to Narita Airport, be sure to check them out.

Understanding the Keisei Skyliner’s Base Fares

Here we introduce the basic information you need to know about the Keisei Skyliner.

1. Stops
2. Travel time
3. Base fare
4. Fares by ticket purchase method

Keisei Skyliner Stops

The Keisei Skyliner stops at the following four stations:

• Keisei Ueno Station
• Nippori Station
• Airport Terminal 2 Station
• Narita Airport Station

Narita Airport Station connects directly to Terminal 1, while Airport Terminal 2 Station is the nearest station to Terminals 2 and 3.

Since it covers the long distance between central Tokyo and Chiba with only four stops, it reaches a top speed of 160 km/h — the second-fastest of any train after the Shinkansen.

For anyone who wants to reach Narita Airport as quickly as possible, it’s an extremely convenient way to travel.

Travel Time and Base Fare from Ueno and Nippori

Here’s a breakdown of the travel time and base fare from Keisei Ueno Station and Nippori Station to Narita Airport on the Keisei Skyliner.

Travel times are as follows:

Keisei Ueno Station to Airport Terminal 2 Station	41–44 min
Keisei Ueno Station to Narita Airport Station	44–50 min
Nippori Station to Airport Terminal 2 Station	36–39 min
Nippori Station to Narita Airport Station	39–45 min

Reference: Skyliner Timetable

At its fastest, the trip from Nippori Station to Airport Terminal 2 Station takes just 36 minutes.

Base fares are as follows:

Adult, regular fare	Base fare ¥1,270 + Liner ticket ¥1,250 = Total ¥2,520
Adult, IC card fare	Base fare ¥1,257 + Liner ticket ¥1,250 = Total ¥2,507
Child, regular fare	¥1,270
Child, IC card fare	¥1,258

Reference: Skyliner Timetable

To ride the Skyliner, you need two tickets: a base fare ticket and a liner (limited express) ticket. Since all seats are reserved, if you miss your train you’ll need to purchase a new liner ticket.

Four Ways to Buy Tickets

There are four ways to purchase Keisei Skyliner tickets:

1. Ticketless service
2. Online reservation
3. Ticket counter reservation
4. Phone reservation

Let’s look at each in detail.

Ticketless Service

The ticketless service lets you use your smartphone or mobile phone in place of a liner ticket.

1. Access the site and register as a member
2. Reserve your liner ticket via computer, smartphone, or mobile phone
3. Board the train with your smartphone or mobile phone in hand

This lets you board smoothly without needing to print a physical ticket.

However, note that only the liner ticket (limited express ticket) is ticketless — you’ll still need to arrange a separate base fare ticket. If you want to go completely ticketless, an IC transit card is recommended.

Online Reservation

This method lets you reserve both your base fare ticket and liner ticket online.

After making your reservation, you pay for and receive your tickets at a ticket counter, ticket machine, or convenience store (FamilyMart).

Since you can complete the process in advance, this is a convenient reservation method that lets you board smoothly on the day of travel.

Ticket Counter Reservation

This method involves visiting a ticket counter at any Skyliner stop or a travel agency.

Since you can talk directly with a staff member while booking, it’s well suited to those who are unsure how to use the service, or who want to purchase tickets together with a travel package.

Ticket counter reservations are available at the following locations:

• Skyliner stop stations
• The ticket sales counter inside the Narita International Airport terminal buildings
• The Ueno information counter
• Keisei Travel branch offices
• Major travel agencies including Kinki Nippon Tourist, JTB, Nippon Travel Agency, Odakyu Travel, Keio Kanko, Tobu Top Tours, Meitetsu Kanko, and Hankyu Travel International

Phone Reservation

Call 0570-081-160 to make a reservation.

While convenient, this option is only available from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and tickets can only be picked up at Keisei Ueno Station.

Compared to the other methods, it’s less convenient overall.

Comparing Fares by Ticket Purchase Method

There are four ways to buy tickets, but the fare is the same regardless of which one you choose.

That said, if you pay for the base fare ticket with an IC transit card such as Suica, you get a small discount — from the regular ¥1,270 down to ¥1,257.

If you want to save even a little, be sure to use an IC transit card.

Incidentally, there is a discount available for Skyliner trips from Narita Airport to Ueno/Nippori.

By using a “Skyliner Value Ticket,” available for purchase on LCC flights, at New Chitose Airport, or at Kansai International Airport, you can get the ¥2,520 ticket for just ¥2,250.

If you’re arriving at Narita Airport via one of these airports or airlines, be sure to take advantage of this discounted value ticket.

Door-to-Narita-Airport Travel Takes a Bit Longer

The Keisei Skyliner offers the shortest travel time when going from Ueno or Nippori to Narita Airport.

However, unless you actually live near Ueno, you’ll need to travel there first — and when you factor in the time from your front door to the airport, it’s not necessarily all that fast.

For maximum convenience, a service that picks you up from your home is the best option.

In the next section, we introduce transportation options that offer true door-to-Narita-Airport service.

Things to Watch Out for with the Keisei Skyliner

The Keisei Skyliner is a convenient way to reach Narita Airport quickly, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, advance reservation is required. Since all seats are fully reserved, you can’t board without a limited express ticket obtained beforehand.

If you miss your train, note that you’ll need to purchase a new limited express ticket.

Second, once you get off partway, you can’t reboard the same Skyliner.

Since the nearest terminal differs by station, make sure you know in advance which terminal your flight departs from. If you happen to get off at the wrong station, you can use the free connecting shuttle bus.

Keep these points firmly in mind so you can use the Skyliner without any mistakes.

An Affordable, Flat-Rate Option from Central Tokyo — With True Door-to-Airport Service

Here we introduce “NearMe,” a transportation option that lets you travel from your front door to the airport without any hassle.

NearMe

NearMe Airport — fares to Narita Airport

NearMe is a ride-hailing service that takes you from central Tokyo to Narita Airport for a flat rate starting from ¥5,980 per person.

You ride-share in a vehicle that seats up to 6 people, making it a cost-effective way to get to Narita Airport.

The service will pick you up anywhere within Tokyo’s 23 wards, and since AI calculates the optimal pickup and drop-off route, you don’t have to worry about missing your flight.

You can relax and finish packing at home right up until pickup, and you won’t have to lug heavy bags onto a train — making it extremely convenient.

If you want a comfortable door-to-airport experience, consider giving NearMe a try. (Service site)

Comparing NearMe with the Keisei Skyliner and Taxis

We compared how NearMe stacks up against the Keisei Skyliner and taxis in terms of usability.

1. Convenience
2. Fare
3. Travel time

Let’s look at each of these three points.

Convenience

Our service, NearMe, is highly recommended for users who prioritize convenience.

Once you’ve made a reservation, a car will come to your specified location at a time that ensures you make your flight, so you don’t have to travel around carrying your luggage.

To take the Keisei Skyliner, you need to first get to Ueno Station, and a taxi won’t come all the way to your home either.

Being picked up directly from your front door is a major advantage of NearMe.

Fare

In terms of fare, the Keisei Skyliner is the cheapest option.

Keisei Skyliner	¥2,520
NearMe	From ¥5,980/person
Taxi	About ¥22,000 (from Shinjuku)

If cost is your top priority for getting to Narita Airport, the Keisei Skyliner is the recommended choice.

Travel Time

Keisei Skyliner	About 100 minutes (Shinjuku Station to Narita Airport Station)
NearMe	About 100 minutes
Taxi	About 70 minutes (from Shinjuku)

Under the same conditions, a taxi offers the shortest travel time.

However, a taxi from Tokyo to the airport will cost you over ¥20,000.

Summary

In this article, we covered the Keisei Skyliner’s base fares and how to get to Narita Airport for the lowest possible price.

The Keisei Skyliner’s base fare is ¥2,520, but paying with an IC transit card brings it down slightly to ¥2,507. There’s also a discounted ticket available for trips from Narita Airport to Ueno, so be sure to take advantage of it.

We also introduced NearMe, another convenient transportation option besides the Keisei Skyliner. With NearMe, you can enjoy easy door-to-airport travel.

Every mode of transportation has its own advantages and disadvantages, so compare your options and choose the one that best suits your needs.