Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport Access Guide! A Thorough Comparison of 5 Transportation Options
8 min read
Ueno is famous for tourist spots like Ueno Zoo and Ameyoko, as well as numerous museums and galleries. Many travelers wonder which transportation option to choose for getting between Ueno and Narita Airport.
This article thoroughly compares the transportation options for Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport, covering fares, travel time, pros, and cons. We’ve also included our recommended option, so be sure to read on.
5 Transportation Options for Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport
Here are the 5 transportation options for Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport:
- Train
- Airport limousine bus
- Car
- Taxi
- NearMe
We’ll explain the fare and travel time for each below.
1. Train
For trains, Keisei Ueno Station is more convenient than JR Ueno Station since it connects directly to Narita Airport. JR Ueno Station and Keisei Ueno Station are about a 5-minute walk apart.
The fares, travel times, and routes are as follows. There are three types of trains: the Skyliner, the Access Express, and the Keisei Main Line.
| Keisei Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Skyliner | Access Express | Keisei Main Line |
| Fare (IC card) | ¥2,557 (base fare ¥1,257 + liner fee ¥1,300) | ¥1,257 | ¥1,042 |
| Travel time (incl. transfers) | About 40 minutes | About 1 hour | About 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Route | ■Keisei Ueno ↕︎（Skyliner） ■Airport Terminal 2 Bldg. ↕︎（Skyliner） ■Narita Airport | ■Keisei Ueno ↕︎（Keisei Main Line） ■Keisei Takasago ↕︎（Access Express） ■Airport Terminal 2 Bldg. ↕︎（Access Express） ■Narita Airport | ■Keisei Ueno ↕︎（Keisei Main Line） ■Airport Terminal 2 Bldg. ↕︎（Keisei Main Line） ■Narita Airport |
The boarding/alighting station differs depending on which terminal you’re using. See the table below.
| Station | Terminal used | Airlines departing/arriving |
|---|---|---|
| Narita Airport Station | Terminal 1 | ・SkyTeam (Delta Air Lines, Air France, Korean Air, China Airlines, etc.) ・Star Alliance (ANA, United Airlines, Lufthansa, EVA Air, etc.) |
| Airport Terminal 2 Building Station | Terminal 2 | ・oneworld (JAL, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, etc.) |
| Terminal 3 | ・LCCs (Jetstar, Spring Airlines, Jeju Air, etc.) |
Here are the pros and cons:
| Type | Skyliner | Access Express | Keisei Main Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pros | ・Arrives the fastest ・All seats are reserved, so you’re guaranteed a seat | ・No liner fee needed, so it’s reasonably priced yet fast | ・The most affordable option |
| Cons | ・Requires a liner fee in addition to the base fare, making it more expensive ・If fully booked, you can’t board (no standing room) | ・Crowded during rush hour | ・Takes the longest ・Crowded during rush hour |
2. Airport limousine bus
There is no limousine bus service directly connecting Ueno and Narita Airport.
The closest option departing near Ueno is the limousine bus between Tokyo Station and Narita Airport. Ueno to Tokyo Station is about a 5-7 minute train ride.
The fares and travel times are as follows.
| Ueno ⇔ Tokyo ⇔ Narita Airport | |
|---|---|
| Fare | Bus ¥1,300 + train ¥167 (total ¥1,467) ※Late-night/early-morning bus fare is ¥2,600 |
| Travel time | Bus about 65 min + train 5-7 min (total about 70 min) |
| Route | ■Ueno ↕︎（JR Yamanote Line／Tokyo-Ueno Line／Keihin-Tohoku・Negishi Line） ■Tokyo ↕︎（Airport Bus Tokyo・Narita） ■Narita Airport Terminal 3 ↕︎（Airport Bus Tokyo・Narita） ■Narita Airport Terminal 2 ↕︎（Airport Bus Tokyo・Narita） ■Narita Airport Terminal 1 |
The bus stops are as follows.
| Bus stop | |
|---|---|
| Tokyo Station | Yaesu South Exit, boarding points 7 and 8 |
| Narita Airport Terminal 1 | Boarding point 7 |
| Narita Airport Terminal 2 | Boarding point 6 |
| Narita Airport Terminal 3 | Boarding point 5 |
Here are the pros and cons:
| Pros | ・Seats are allocated, so you’re guaranteed a seat ・Large luggage can be stored in the trunk compartment |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・No direct service between Ueno and Narita Airport ・If fully booked, you can’t board (no standing room) |
3. Car
Narita Airport is accessible by car. However, parking or stopping in front of each terminal is prohibited except for dropping off/picking up passengers, so if you need to wait while picking someone up, you’ll need to use a parking lot.
Note that Terminal 3 does not allow general vehicles to enter, except for passengers with disabilities. If you’re dropping off or picking someone up, use Terminal 2 instead.
The nearest parking lot differs depending on which terminal you’re using. See the table below.
| Narita Airport | Parking lot |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | P1, P5 |
| Terminal 2 | P2, P3 |
| Terminal 3 | P2 |
The expressway toll, travel time, and route are as follows.
| Expressway | Local roads | |
|---|---|---|
| Expressway toll | ¥3,650 (ETC ¥2,350) | – |
| Travel time | About 1 hour 10 minutes | About 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Distance | About 70km | About 65km |
| Route | ■Ueno ↕︎（Local roads） ■Komagata Interchange ↕︎（Expressway） ■Shin-Kuko IC ↕︎（Local roads） ■Narita Airport | ■Ueno ↕︎（Local roads） ■Narita Airport |
Here are the pros and cons:
| Pros | ・Door-to-door, so you don’t have to carry your luggage on foot ・Not bound by a fixed schedule ・Free to make stops along the way |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Costs are incurred if you use the expressway or a parking lot ・Driving yourself can be tiring |
4. Taxi
The Taito Ward area, where Ueno is located, is covered by Narita Airport’s flat-rate taxi service. In addition to the flat fare, an expressway toll applies. If departing from Narita Airport, a parking fee is also required.
The fares and travel times are as follows.
| Expressway | |
|---|---|
| Flat fare | ¥23,000 (¥28,000 during late-night/early-morning hours, 22:00-5:00) |
| Expressway toll | ¥3,650 (ETC ¥2,350) |
| Parking fee (charged every 30 min, up to 3.5 hours) | ・P1/P2: ¥260 ・P3/P5: ¥210 |
| Travel time | About 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Distance | About 70km |
Here are the pros and cons:
| Pros | ・Door-to-door, so you don’t have to carry your luggage on foot ・Available in the early morning and late at night ・No other passengers |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Expensive |
5. NearMe
NearMe is a new shared-ride taxi service. You can ride comfortably in a spacious vehicle such as a Hiace or Alphard, with door-to-door service all the way to Narita Airport.
The fares and travel times are as follows. Unlike a regular taxi, there are no additional expressway tolls or parking fees.
| Adult fare | From ¥5,980/person |
|---|---|
| Child fare | From ¥2,990/person Child (ages 6-11) Booster seat (ages 4-5) Child seat (ages 0-3) ※Children sitting on a lap ride free |
| Suitcase fee | First suitcase free per person, ¥1,000 for each additional suitcase |
| Travel time | About 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes |
Here are the pros and cons:
| Pros | ・Door-to-door, so you don’t have to carry your luggage on foot ・Available in the early morning and late at night ・Ride comfortably in a spacious vehicle ・Smooth drop-off thanks to online payment |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Service area is limited (Taito Ward, where Ueno is located, is within the service area, so this isn’t an issue) |
A Thorough Comparison of Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport Transportation Options
Here is a summary of the fare and travel time for each transportation option.
| Transportation | Fare | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Skyliner | ¥2,557 | About 40 minutes |
| Access Express | ¥1,257 | About 1 hour |
| Keisei Main Line | ¥1,042 | About 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Limousine bus | Bus ¥1,300 + train ¥167 (total ¥1,467) | Bus about 65 min + train 5-7 min (total about 70 min) |
| Car (excluding gas and parking fees) | Expressway ¥3,650 (ETC ¥2,350) | About 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Local roads ¥0 | About 2 hours 20 minutes | |
| Taxi (excluding parking fee) | Flat fare ¥23,000 + expressway toll ¥3,650 (total ¥26,650) | About 1 hour 10 minutes |
| NearMe | From ¥5,980/person | About 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes |
Excluding the local-road car option, the most affordable transportation option is the Keisei Main Line (¥1,042). The fastest way to reach Narita Airport is the Skyliner (about 40 minutes).
Among the options that let you check large luggage, the most affordable is the limousine bus (bus ¥1,300 + train ¥167).
If you want a comfortable door-to-door trip, NearMe (from ¥5,980/person) offers excellent value for money.
Our Recommended Option for Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport: NearMe
We recommend NearMe for travel between Ueno and Narita Airport, especially if you have large luggage.
Below is a comparison of the limousine bus, NearMe, and taxi.
| Limousine bus | NearMe | Taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | Bus ¥1,300 + train ¥167 (total ¥1,467) | From ¥5,980/person | Flat fare ¥23,000 + expressway toll ¥3,650 (total ¥26,650) |
| Travel time | Bus about 65 min + train 5-7 min (total about 70 min) | About 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes | About 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Can check large luggage | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Door-to-door | × | ○ | ○ |
| Travel at any time you like | × | ○ | ○ |
| No need to worry about other passengers | × | × | ○ |
When you have large luggage, door-to-door service is extremely convenient. With NearMe, you can enjoy a comfortable door-to-door trip for less than a quarter of the cost of a taxi. What’s more, you can travel whenever you like, including early morning or late at night.
On the NearMe official website, you can enter your pickup location, date and time, number of passengers, and number of bags to get a detailed search for fares, travel time, and routes. Be sure to check it out.
Summary
We’ve introduced 5 transportation options for Ueno ⇔ Narita Airport: “train,” “limousine bus,” “car,” “taxi,” and “NearMe.” Each has its own pros and cons, so it’s best to choose based on your situation.
If you have large luggage in particular, we recommend NearMe, which delivers a taxi-level comfortable service for less than a quarter of the price. Even if you’re traveling with small children or elderly companions, you can enjoy a stress-free door-to-door trip.
When traveling between Ueno and Narita Airport, be sure to try NearMe for its excellent cost performance.
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