When heading to Narita Airport from Tokyo Station, many people choose the Narita Express. Have you ever gotten lost trying to find the Narita Express platform at Tokyo Station? The station is huge, with many different lines, so it can be confusing.

In this article, we’ll explain clearly where to find the Narita Express platform, how to purchase tickets, and recommend the best ways to get to Narita Airport.

How to Find the Narita Express Platform at Tokyo Station

Lugging a heavy suitcase around the vast Tokyo Station — just imagining it sounds exhausting.

When you arrive at Tokyo Station, first look for signs for Narita Airport. There’s a sign every 50 meters with directions, so it’s best to follow them.

There are also plenty of station staff around, so ask them if you’re unsure. Now let’s go through the specific route to the platform.

The Narita Express Departs from Sobu Line Platforms 3 and 4, on B5

You can board the Narita Express from the underground Sobu Line, located on basement level 5 (B5). Trains bound for Narita Airport depart from Platforms 3 and 4, while trains toward Ofuna, Omiya, and Takao depart from Platforms 1 and 2.

To find the platform, follow the signs marked “Yokosuka/Sobu Line” or “Narita Airport (Narita Express).”

There are plenty of signs on the way to the underground Sobu Line platforms, so just follow them.

Directions to the Narita Express Platform, Explained with a Map

Next, let’s use a map to explain the route to the Narita Express platform even more clearly.

First, after getting off your train, head to basement level 1 (B1).

Near the Marunouchi Underground Central Exit, Marunouchi Underground North Exit, and Marunouchi Underground South Exit on B1, there are four down escalators and one elevator leading to the Sobu Line platforms.

Take the escalator down, then continue down to Platforms 1/2 or Platforms 3/4.

For a full map of Tokyo Station, refer to JR East: Station Map (Tokyo Station).

Also, since Tokyo Station is so large, transfer times vary depending on where you’re coming from.

The table below summarizes the transfer times, so please use it as a reference.

| Standard Transfer Time | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | | Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen and Tohoku/Yamagata/Akita/Hokkaido/Joetsu/Hokuriku Shinkansen | 8 min | | Keihin-Tohoku Line | 10 min | | Yamanote Line | 10 min | | Tokaido Main Line | 10 min | | Chuo Main Line | 15 min | | Sobu Main Line | 15 min | | Yokosuka Line | 15 min | | Keiyo Line | 20 min |

How to Purchase Narita Express Tickets and Their Cost

Next, let’s go over how to purchase Narita Express tickets and their cost, covering both buying at Tokyo Station and buying online.

Purchasing at Tokyo Station

If you want to buy a Narita Express ticket at Tokyo Station, you can reserve and purchase one starting one month before your travel date at a Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket office or a View Plaza.

You can also buy tickets from the reserved-seat ticket machines inside the station.

At the ticket window (Midori-no-Madoguchi), staff will ask you about the details you need one by one — such as your boarding and alighting stations, reserved or non-reserved seating, and window or aisle seat — so just answer their questions to purchase your ticket.

At the ticket machines, you can purchase a ticket by following these steps.

1. Choose reserved or non-reserved seating
2. Specify your boarding and alighting stations
3. Specify your date and time of travel

You can pay by cash or credit card.

Purchasing Online

If you want to buy online, you can choose to reserve and purchase through eki-net, or use the ticketless service.

If you reserve and purchase through eki-net, you can apply starting one week before tickets go on sale (which is one month before your travel date). Tickets booked through eki-net must be picked up in advance. You can collect and pay for them at JR East’s reserved-seat ticket machines, Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices, and similar locations.

You’ll need the following three things to pick up your ticket:

• The 5-digit reservation number you received when your booking was completed
• The credit card you registered when applying
• Your credit card’s PIN

Keep in mind that only the person who made the booking can pick up the ticket. With eki-net’s ticketless service, there’s no need to print a physical ticket — you can board with just your phone.

It’s also a convenient and cost-effective option since the eki-net Ticketless Discount applies. (Note: applications cannot be made from a computer.)

The purchase process involves the following three steps:

• Access the eki-net site on your smartphone or mobile phone and apply through the ticketless application menu.
• Once your application is complete, you’ll receive a purchase confirmation email — save it on your device and bring it with you.
• Board the train (you’ll also need a separate boarding ticket or an IC card such as Suica).

Heading to Narita Airport? We Also Recommend NearMe, a Flat-Rate Service!

If you want a comfortable way to get to Narita Airport, we recommend using NearMe.

It’s an affordable flat-rate service, so let’s take a closer look.

NearMe

NearMe is a door-to-airport transfer service provided by us, NearMe Inc.

As a next-generation airport shuttle that uses proprietary AI to determine the optimal transfer route, it takes you to your specified destination for a flat fee.

Service Overview

Its proprietary AI technology finds the most suitable transfer route. Best of all, you can go directly from your home or hotel to Narita Airport, so there’s no need to carry heavy luggage on foot.

Vehicles heading to Narita Airport are also equipped with Wi-Fi. It combines the best features of other modes of transport, with a spacious capacity of up to 9 passengers.

You can choose any location you like as your pickup/drop-off point at no extra charge. For drop-off, you can choose between Narita Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

Service Area

The current service area covers Tokyo’s 23 wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo, Taito, Sumida, Koto, Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota, Setagaya, Shibuya, Toshima, Edogawa, Nakano, Suginami, Kita, Arakawa, Itabashi, Nerima, Adachi, and Katsushika), making it extremely convenient for travel from within Tokyo.

The service requires advance reservations, which can be made up to two days before travel. (Service site)

Fares and Estimated Travel Time

The fare starts from ¥5,980 per person.

The estimated travel time from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport is about 70 minutes.

From Shinjuku to Narita Airport, it takes about 100 minutes.

How to Book

You can make a reservation from your smartphone or computer.

The information needed to book includes your departure and arrival locations, your desired time, and the number of passengers.

If you already know your flight, you can enter the flight number and have the time set automatically.

Once you’ve entered the required details and your personal information, your reservation is complete.

Benefits

One benefit of using NearMe is that, since it’s door-to-door, you can reach your destination without having to carry heavy luggage.

Being able to simply ride from your doorstep or hotel all the way to Narita Airport is a major appeal.

Other benefits include being able to use Wi-Fi in the vehicle and paying smoothly online.

You can use the service here (Service site)

Summary

Tokyo Station is large and can be confusing, but by following the signs and directions for Narita Airport, you can find your way to the Narita Express platform.

Even so, you might still get lost, or find it difficult to carry your luggage over such a long distance.

In that case, using NearMe means a car will pick you up at your specified location, letting you enjoy a comfortable journey.

When heading to Narita Airport, please consider using NearMe.