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[2023 Edition] The Best Ways to Get to Narita Airport: 4 Transportation Options

[2023 Edition] The Best Ways to Get to Narita Airport: 4 Transportation Options
Narita Airport

10 min read

If you’re heading to Narita Airport, you may want to know the best way to get there. This article explains the transportation options available for reaching Narita Airport, and recommends the best option at the end. We hope you find it useful.

Comparing the Best Ways to Get to Narita Airport

We compared four ways to get to Narita Airport in a table, using Tokyo Station as the example starting point.

TransportationFareTravel Time
Train (Narita Express, standard car)¥3,072About 60 min
Bus (Airport Bus Tokyo/Narita)¥1,300About 70 min
Taxi¥23,000 + toll feesAbout 55 min
NearMeFrom ¥5,980About 65–100 min

From Tokyo Station, the bus is the cheapest option. If you have a lot of luggage and moving around is difficult, NearMe is convenient since it’s cheaper than a taxi. Choose the option that best fits your needs.

How to Get to Narita Airport

Let’s take a detailed look at the following four ways to get to Narita Airport.

  • Train
  • Bus
  • Taxi
  • NearMe

Train

You can travel to Narita Airport by train.

We’ll cover the following three points about traveling by train.

  • Approximate fare and travel time
  • Lines you can use
  • Pros and cons

Fare and Travel Time

Here are the approximate fares and travel times for each line when boarding from Keisei-Ueno Station or Tokyo Station.

LineFare (IC card)Travel Time
Keisei Skyliner (Keisei-Ueno → Narita Airport)¥1,257 + ¥1,300 limited express fee43–50 min
Keisei Access Tokkyu (Keisei-Ueno → Narita Airport)¥1,257About 70 min
Keisei Main Line (Keisei-Ueno → Narita Airport)¥1,042Limited express: about 80 min / Local: about 130 min
Keisei Main Line Evening Liner (Keisei-Ueno → Narita Airport)¥1,042 + ¥450 limited express feeAbout 80 min
JR Narita Express (Tokyo → Narita Airport)¥1,342 + ¥1,730 standard car limited express ticket※ (¥4,000 for Green Car limited express ticket)54–60 min
JR Sobu Line / Narita Line (Tokyo → Narita Airport)¥1,34290–100 min

※Add ¥200 during busy season, ¥400 during peak season, minus ¥200 during off-peak season

Source: Keisei Electric Railway, JR East, Jorudan Transit Guide

Available Lines

Six train lines serve Narita Airport. The name and features of each line are as follows.

Railway CompanyLine NameFeaturesLimited Express Fee
KeiseiKeisei SkylinerThe fastest route from Keisei-Ueno/Nippori Shinkansen-like train with reserved seatingRequired
Access TokkyuAccessible from Keisei-Ueno/Shinagawa with fewer stops. Same rolling stock as regular trainsNone
Keisei Main LineRoute via Keisei-Funabashi from Keisei-Ueno. Many stops, but the Rapid Limited Express/Limited Express get you there quickly. Same rolling stock as regular trainsNone
Evening Liner / Morning LinerSame route as the Keisei Main Line but with fewer stops for faster access. Skyliner rolling stock with reserved seatingRequired
JRNarita ExpressAccessible from Hachioji, Yokohama, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and more. Shinkansen-like train with reserved seatingRequired
Sobu Line / Narita LineLocal train. Some services allow access without transferring at Chiba StationNone

If you board the Keisei Line from its starting point, Keisei-Ueno Station, you have a good chance of getting a seat all the way to the airport. The Keisei Skyliner, Evening/Morning Liner, and Narita Express also feature reserved seating with a fixed capacity, so you’re guaranteed a seat.

Pros

  • Not affected by traffic congestion, so it arrives on schedule
  • Local trains keep the fare low
  • Reserved-seat cars guarantee a seat

Cons

  • Transferring with luggage can be difficult
  • Often crowded

Bus

Buses that connect major stations to the airport are also convenient. We’ll cover the following four points about traveling by bus.

  • Approximate fare and travel time
  • Operating companies
  • Boarding/drop-off points at Narita Airport
  • Pros and cons

Fare and Travel Time

Here are the approximate fares and travel times for buses to Narita Airport.

Departure PointFare (per person)Travel Time
Tokyo StationFrom ¥1,300About 70 min
Shinjuku StationFrom ¥3,200About 100–120 min
Shibuya StationFrom ¥1,900About 90–110 min

Source: Airport Bus Tokyo/Narita, Bus Hikaku Navi

Operating Companies

A variety of bus companies serve Narita Airport, including:

  • Tokyo Airport Transport (Limousine Bus)
  • Narita Airport Transport
  • WILLER EXPRESS
  • Keisei Bus
  • JR Bus Kanto
  • Chiba Kotsu
  • Narita Shuttle
  • Airport Bus Tokyo/Narita

Schedules may have changed due to the impact of COVID-19, so be sure to check in advance.

Boarding/Drop-off Points at Narita Airport

There are three boarding/drop-off points at Narita Airport.

  • Terminal 1 (T1)
  • Terminal 2 (T2)
  • Terminal 3 (T3)

Each terminal has a bus stop, so you can board or get off at the terminal you’re using.

If you accidentally get off at the wrong terminal, there’s a free shuttle bus between terminals you can use.

RouteTravel TimeBoarding PointOperating HoursFrequency
T1 → T3About 14 minStop 65:10–22:53About every 6 min
T3 → T2About 3 minStop 35:24–22:40About every 6 min
T2 → T1About 10 minStops 8, 185:00–22:45About every 6 min

Source: Narita Airport Official Site

Boarding points also differ by destination when heading from the airport to each station. Here are the bus boarding points at Narita Airport for buses to Tokyo, Shinjuku, and Shibuya Stations.

DestinationT1T2T3
Tokyo StationStops 7, 10Stops 6, 17Stops 4, 5, 9
Shinjuku StationStop 10 (via TCAT), Stop 11 (not via TCAT)Stop 17 (via TCAT), Stop 16 (not via TCAT)Stop 9 (via TCAT), Stop 8 (not via TCAT)
Shibuya StationStop 3 (Shibuya Fukuras), Stop 10Stop 7 (Shibuya Fukuras), Stop 17Stop 6 (Shibuya Fukuras), Stop 9

Source: Narita Airport Official Site

Boarding point signs are also displayed on the first floor of each terminal, so please check before boarding.

Pros

  • No transfer needed once you’re at the bus stop
  • Comfortable travel from major stations to the airport

Cons

  • Getting to the bus stop may require a transfer
  • Some routes have limited operating hours
  • Susceptible to traffic congestion

Taxi

You can also reach Narita Airport by taxi, boarding from wherever you like.

We’ll cover the following points about using a taxi.

  • Approximate fare and travel time
  • Pros and cons

Fare and Travel Time

Fixed-rate taxis, with fares set according to the departure point, are available for trips from central Tokyo to Narita Airport. Here are the approximate fixed fares and travel times.

Departure PointFare (per vehicle)Travel Time
Tokyo Station¥23,000 + toll feesAbout 55 min
Shinjuku Station¥25,000 + toll feesAbout 65 min
Shibuya Station¥25,000 + toll feesAbout 65 min

Source: Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association

Depending on traffic conditions, the trip may take even longer.

Pros

  • Depart at any time, from any location, straight to the airport
  • No need to carry your own luggage around

Cons

  • More expensive than trains or buses
  • Fixed-rate taxis require advance reservation

NearMe

NearMe (official site) is a door-to-door transportation service provided by us, NearMe Inc. Because you share a shuttle that seats up to 9 passengers with other riders, you can use it at a lower cost.

We’ll cover the following points about using NearMe.

  • Approximate fare and travel time
  • Pros and cons

Fare and Travel Time

Here are the approximate fares and travel times for NearMe.

Departure PointFare (per person)Travel Time
Tokyo StationFrom ¥5,980About 65–100 min
Shinjuku StationFrom ¥5,980About 75–120 min
Shibuya StationFrom ¥5,980About 70–110 min

Fares by area are as follows.

AreaAdult Fare (per person)Fixed-Rate Airport Taxi (reference price) ※some are metered fares
Funabashi CityFrom ¥4,980¥14,600–¥17,500
Edogawa, Koto, Sumida, Katsushika WardsFrom ¥5,980¥19,000–¥21,000
Urayasu City, Ichikawa CityFrom ¥5,980¥19,900–¥20,500
Chiyoda, Taito, Chuo, Bunkyo, Adachi, Arakawa WardsFrom ¥5,980¥23,000–¥26,000
Ota, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Toshima, Minato, Meguro, Kita WardsFrom ¥5,980¥25,000–¥29,000
Setagaya, Nakano, Suginami, Itabashi, Nerima Wards, Musashino City, Mitaka CityFrom ¥6,980¥27,000–¥31,000

Children under 12 ride at half the above fare.

Pros

  • Costs less than a third of a taxi
  • Depart at any time, from any location, straight to the airport
  • No need to carry your own luggage around

Cons

  • Reservation required by 6 p.m. the day before
  • You’ll be sharing the ride with other passengers

We recommend NearMe for getting to Narita Airport. Here’s a look at the following points.

  • Service features
  • Payment method

Service Features

NearMe (official site) is a door-to-door ride-share taxi service provided by us, NearMe Inc. Its biggest feature is that it picks you up directly from the location you specify. There’s no need to carry heavy luggage to a bus stop. It’s a great option for those with lots of luggage or traveling with small children.

Payment Method

NearMe accepts payment by credit card. Completing payment in advance makes boarding and drop-off smooth on the day of travel. Please note that using NearMe requires advance registration.

Here’s how to make a reservation.

To book, please complete the process on the NearMe official site.

The process consists of the following 5 steps.

  1. Select your departure location
  2. Select your travel date
  3. Enter your flight number or desired arrival time
  4. Select the number of passengers
  5. Confirm your reservation and complete online payment

First, select your departure location. Next, choose the date you’ll arrive at the airport (the date you’ll use NearMe).

Then select your flight number or desired arrival time. Next, choose the number of passengers. Since up to 9 people can ride together, it’s great for use with family or friends.

Our proprietary AI will calculate the optimal pickup and drop-off route.

Confirm your reservation, and if everything looks good, proceed to online payment. Enter your credit card information. That completes your NearMe reservation.

Please note that you’ll need to finish this process by 6 p.m. the day before your trip.

5 Benefits of Using NearMe

For getting to and from Narita Airport, we recommend NearMe (official site).

Here are 5 benefits of using NearMe.

  • Smooth payment with online checkout
  • No need to carry heavy luggage
  • Book at any time you like
  • No extra charges for flight delays

Let’s look at each one.

1. Smooth Payment with Online Checkout

With NearMe, you complete payment online in advance. That makes boarding and drop-off smooth.

Since you don’t need to hand over change or pay by credit card on the spot, you can travel comfortably even when you’re in a hurry.

2. No Need to Carry Heavy Luggage

NearMe can be used from any location you like, and of course you can also board from Narita Airport. Since the vehicle picks you up wherever you like, there’s no need to carry heavy luggage to a station or bus stop.

3. Book at Any Time You Like

With NearMe, you can book based on your flight time or the time you want to arrive. It’s available even early in the morning or late at night, when other forms of transportation aren’t running.

4. No Extra Charges for Flight Delays

Flights are prone to delays due to weather and other conditions in the sky.

Even if you end up past your scheduled NearMe reservation time, you won’t be charged extra.

Summary

In this article, we’ve summarized 4 ways to get to Narita Airport.

Choose the transportation option that best suits your luggage situation and how crowded you’d like to avoid.

Considering fare and travel time as well, we recommend NearMe, which gets you from your home to the airport without any transfers.

You can enjoy comfortable door-to-door service at a more reasonable price than a taxi. Since there’s no need to head to a station or bus stop, it’s a great option for family trips or when you have a lot of luggage.

Be sure to consider it the next time you’re heading to Narita Airport.

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