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A Complete Guide to Spending Time at and Getting to Narita Airport for Early-Morning Flights

A Complete Guide to Spending Time at and Getting to Narita Airport for Early-Morning Flights
Narita Airport Airport Access

10 min read

Taking an early-morning flight from Narita Airport can be tricky, since public transportation schedules and the opening hours of shops in and around the airport are limited. This article gives you a complete guide to spending time at Narita Airport before an early flight and getting there smoothly even in the early morning.

Opening Hours of Each Terminal at Narita Airport

When taking an early-morning flight, you need to pay attention to opening hours.

Narita Airport has Terminals 1, 2, and 3, each with different opening hours.

The opening times for each terminal at Narita Airport are as follows. Both international and domestic sections open early in the morning, and Terminal 3 is open 24 hours.

Narita AirportFloorOpening Time
Terminal 1International Departures4F6:00
International Arrivals/Domestic1F5:00
Terminal 2International Departures3F5:00
International Arrivals/Domestic1F3:30
Terminal 3International/Domestic2FOpen 24 hours

Dining and Shopping Facilities In and Around Narita Airport

Haneda Airport Terminal 1

The following shops are open from early morning in Terminal 1.

FloorShopHours
5FLawson6:00–23:00
4FTully’s Coffee South Wing7:00–21:00
4FStarbucks Coffee Narita Airport Terminal 17:00–20:00
2FANA FESTA Domestic Gate6:00–20:30
2FFa-So-La GIFT SHOP Domestic Gate6:00–20:30
1FMINISTOP7:00–21:30
B1FStarbucks Coffee Narita Airport07:00–21:30 (Takeout only from 21:00–21:30)
B1FLawsonOpen 24 hours

Terminal 1 has the largest number of shops, and many of them open early in the morning. In addition to convenience stores where you can buy light snacks, drugstores and retail shops are open too, making it very convenient.

Haneda Airport Terminal 2

The following shops are open from early morning in Terminal 2.

FloorShopHours
4F7-Eleven6:00–23:00
2FHot Heart6:00–19:00 (6:00–18:00 on Sat/Sun)
2FYoshinoyaOpen 24 hours
1FStarbucks Coffee Narita Airport Terminal 2 Arrival Lobby North7:00–21:30
B1F7-ElevenOpen 24 hours
B1FFamilyMart7:00–21:00 (7:00–18:00 on Sat/Sun/holidays)
B1FMatsumoto Kiyoshi7:00–19:00

As with Terminal 1, convenience stores, drugstores, and retail shops also open early.

Yoshinoya, which is open 24 hours, is convenient for breakfast as well.

Haneda Airport Terminal 3

The following shops are open from early morning in Terminal 3.

FloorShopHours
3FFa-So-La SOUVENIR AKIHABARA Annex5:00–22:20 (Tue/Thu/Sat: 8:00–22:20)
2FFreshness Burger6:00–19:45
2FMatsuya7:00–20:00
2FBotejyu Yatai7:00–20:00
2FMiyatake Sanuki Udon7:00–19:00
2FNagasaki Champon Ringer Hut6:00–19:30
2FFa-So-La BOOKS6:00–19:15
2FFa-So-La KAGURA6:00–19:15 / 6:00–19:45
2FFa-So-La SOUVENIR AKIHABARA6:00–21:30 (hours vary by day)
2FGRAN SAC’S7:00–19:00
2FJetstar Shop6:25 until the last flight
2FLawsonOpen 24 hours
2FTokyo Shokuhinkan6:00–20:00 / 6:00–17:30

Terminal 3 itself operates 24 hours, and relatively many of its shops open early in the morning.

Nearby Accommodation for an Overnight Stay Before an Early-Morning Flight

If you’re taking an early-morning flight, there may be cases where you simply can’t make it from home in time for departure. In such cases, staying overnight near the airport is a great option.

Below, we introduce accommodations located adjacent to or near Narita Airport. An overview of each hotel is as follows.

Narita Airport Resthouse

Source: Narita Airport Resthouse official website

Room rate: from ¥6,300/night

Day-use rate: from ¥2,500

Features: A breakfast buffet with 30 Japanese and Western dishes, and five room types ranging from singles to luxury twin rooms

A free shuttle bus runs directly between the hotel and the airport terminals, with the first bus departing the hotel at 4:50.

nine hours Narita Airport

Source: nine hours Narita Airport official website

Room rate: from ¥3,000/night (shower only: ¥1,000)

Features: A capsule hotel with specially designed mattresses, directly connected to Narita Airport Terminal 2. Because it connects directly to Terminal 2, you can use it with peace of mind even for early-morning flights.

Narita Tobu Hotel Airport

Source: Narita Tobu Hotel Airport official website

Rate: from ¥11,600/night

Features: Rooms with free Wi-Fi, plus a fitness center (with swimming pool) and sauna you can enjoy.

Free shuttle service to Narita Airport: about 10 minutes (departures at 5:00 / 5:30 / 6:00)

ANA Crowne Plaza Narita

Source: ANA Crowne Plaza Narita official website

Rate: from ¥9,000/night

Features: Excellent in-house facilities including a dome-shaped indoor heated pool, gym, sauna, and convenience store

Free shuttle service to Narita Airport: about 15 minutes (first departure at 6:30, 1–3 buses per hour)

APA Hotel Keisei Narita Ekimae

Source: APA Hotel Keisei Narita Ekimae official website

Rate: from ¥7,500/night

Features: Free APA Room Theater (VOD), a large communal bath, and a foreign currency exchange machine

Free shuttle service to Narita Airport: about 15 minutes (first departure at 5:25, running on a regular schedule, 7 buses total)

How to Get to Narita Airport Without Trouble for an Early-Morning Flight

When taking an early-morning flight, you also need to pay attention to public transportation schedules.

We’ll explain the following four ways to get to Narita Airport.

  • Train
  • Bus
  • Taxi
  • NearMe

Train

If you’re going to Narita Airport by train, you can take either a conventional line or the Keisei Skyliner. The first departure, travel time, and fare for each are as follows.

*Based on departure from Nippori Station

Conventional LineKeisei Skyliner
First departure5:075:45
Fare (IC card)¥1,257¥1,257 (+ ¥1,300 for reserved seat)
Travel time (including transfers)About 1 hour 10 minutes40 minutes
Route■ Nippori Station
↓ (Keisei Main Line)
■ Keisei-Takasago
↓ (Keisei Narita Sky Access Line, Access Express)
■ Narita Airport
■ Nippori Station
↓ (Keisei Skyliner Limited Express)
■ Narita Airport

The Keisei Skyliner is a limited express train connecting Ueno and Nippori in Tokyo with Narita Airport, and can get you to the airport in as little as 36 minutes. The conventional line, meanwhile, costs less than the Skyliner.

For more details, see the article below.

Four Ways to Get from Nippori to Narita Airport, and Our Recommendation

Limousine Bus

For early-morning access to Narita Airport, limousine buses departing mainly from central Tokyo are available.

The departure points, first departure times, and fares for the limousine bus (Narita Airport Line) are as follows. Early-morning travel is possible from major areas within Tokyo.

AreaDeparture PointFirst DepartureArrival at Narita Airport Terminal 1Fare
TokyoTokyo Station5:006:10¥2,600
ShinjukuShinjuku Station West Exit5:307:10¥3,200
ShibuyaShibuya Station (Shibuya Fukuras)6:057:35¥3,200

Note that some routes don’t operate in the early morning, so it’s best to check the operating hours on each bus company’s website.

Taxi

The advantage of a taxi is that it can take you to Narita Airport at any time, even in the early morning. Public transportation often involves transfers and waiting time, which can be a hassle when you have a lot of luggage, such as suitcases.

In that respect, the appeal of a taxi is that it’s a very easy way to travel.

Note that a 20% late-night surcharge applies for departures between 22:00 and 5:00.

AreaTravel Time *Prioritizing general roads (to Narita Airport Terminal 1)Fare *Including late-night surcharge
TokyoAbout 2 hours 25 minutesFrom about ¥27,000
ShinjukuAbout 2 hours 43 minutesFrom about ¥29,300
ShibuyaAbout 2 hours 46 minutesFrom about ¥29,900

*Calculated using NAVITIME

The downside of a taxi is the high fare, but it’s a convenient option since it can get you to Narita Airport even before public transportation starts running.

NearMe

NearMe is another transportation option. It’s an airport transfer service that takes you door-to-door from your home or hotel to Narita Airport.

Like a taxi, it’s an easy, transfer-free way to travel, but with an affordable flat rate that’s easy on your wallet, so you can use it with peace of mind. Fares from major areas are as follows.

RouteAdult Fare/PersonFlat-Rate Airport Taxi (Reference Price) *Some 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

By using a ride-share model, NearMe offers low-cost travel, with fares calculated clearly based on your departure area.

You can also charter an entire vehicle, so if you have a large group, everyone can travel together comfortably in one spacious vehicle.

For more details, please check the official website.

If you’re heading to Narita Airport early in the morning, we recommend NearMe, a service provided by NearMe, Inc.

Here are five benefits of using the service in detail.

  1. You can check your luggage and travel seated
  2. You can be picked up from a location of your choice
  3. Small-group operation with a maximum of 9 passengers
  4. Online payment makes travel day smooth
  5. High user satisfaction

1. You Can Check Your Luggage and Travel Seated

NearMe operates entirely by reservation. This means you can check your luggage and be guaranteed a seat. The interior is spacious, so you won’t feel cramped the way you might on other forms of public transportation.

2. You Can Be Picked Up from a Location of Your Choice

With NearMe, you can specify your preferred pickup location. You can even choose your home or hotel entrance, allowing for door-to-door travel.

Also, within Tokyo’s 23 wards, you can specify a pickup location, so unlike trains or limousine buses, you don’t need to wait at a stop until a set time.

3. Small-Group Operation with a Maximum of 9 Passengers

NearMe operates in small groups of up to 9 passengers.

This means families with small children can use it with peace of mind. It’s also recommended for groups of friends or others who want to travel together.

4. Online Payment Makes Travel Day Smooth

Payment is made online in advance. Since you don’t need to take out your wallet on the day, getting on and off is smooth as well.

5. High User Satisfaction

NearMe has earned high satisfaction from past users and is highly rated as a service they’d recommend to friends and family. A large number of repeat users is another strength.

I always use it for business trips, from home to Haneda Airport. Above all, the value for money is the best. Door-to-door from home to Haneda Airport for ¥2,980. Without NearMe, I’d have to take a taxi to the nearest bus stop and then take a bus, which was a real hassle with all the transfers. I also use it with my family for personal trips. I highly recommend NearMe for getting to the airport.

nearMe.Airport (User feedback)

Summary

We’ve introduced ways to spend your time and get to Narita Airport without trouble for an early-morning flight.

By knowing which shops at Narita Airport are open, you can relax and spend your time comfortably even before an early flight.

There are also various ways to get there, including taxis, buses, and NearMe.

Among these, NearMe stands out for combining direct travel from home to Narita Airport with an affordable price, making it a stress-free choice for early-morning travel.

If you’re planning to head to Narita Airport early in the morning, be sure to check the details on the website.

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