As Japan’s largest airport, Narita Airport serves as a gateway to and from Japan. Many travelers have likely used Terminal 1 in particular.

This article explains how to get to Narita Airport Terminal 1 for anyone planning to use it. We’ll cover not only ways to travel directly to the terminal, but also how to move between terminals, so be sure to use this as a reference.

Basic Information on Narita Airport Terminal 1

Narita Airport is served by 84 airlines (5 domestic, 79 international), making it one of Japan’s largest international airports with an average of 550 flights per day. Because so many flights arrive and depart, the airport is divided into three terminals. Of these, Terminal 1 is the largest.

Basic Layout

Narita Airport Terminal 1 opened in 1973 and has been renovated repeatedly over the years to serve the many people who use it.

Here are the details of each floor of Terminal 1:

B1F	Station
1F	Arrival lobby
2F	Parking connecting corridor
3F	Departure lobby / duty-free shopping area
4F	Departure lobby
5F	Restaurants / shops / observation deck

Terminal 1 consists of the South Wing, Central Building, and North Wing, giving it a different layout from the other terminals. Each floor is spacious, with many restaurants and shops.

There’s also an observation deck, where you can watch planes up close along the 400m runway.

Airlines Operating at Narita Airport Terminal 1

Terminal 1 also has the largest number of airlines operating out of it.

The airlines are as follows:

【Terminal 1 Airlines — International Flights】

South Wing — 24 airlines	North Wing — 22 airlines
Asiana Airlines, Vistara, Uzbekistan Airways, Air Canada, Air Seoul, Air Japan, Air Busan, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Austrian Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Swiss, Scoot, ANA, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways International, Air China, Air New Zealand, United Airlines, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines	Aeromexico, Aero Mongolia, Xiamen Airlines, WestJet, Air Calin, Etihad Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, Air France, Garuda Indonesia, KLM, Sichuan Airlines, Jin Air, ZIPAIR Tokyo, Korean Air, Thai Lion Air, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Peach, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines

【Terminal 1 Airlines — Domestic Flights】

South Wing — 2 airlines	North Wing
ANA, Peach	None

Terminal 1 splits flight arrivals and departures between the South Wing and North Wing, with a combined total of 46 airlines operating there.

Be sure to check which terminal your airline uses before you travel.

For example, note that the LCC Peach departs from Terminal 1, not from Terminal 3, which is dedicated to low-cost carriers.

Procedures at Narita Airport Terminal 1

Because so many airlines operate out of Narita Airport Terminal 1, it can be hard to tell where to check in or where flights depart from. It’s a good idea to check the procedures and locations in advance before you travel. Here’s a summary of the approximate times and locations from arriving at the airport to boarding your flight.

How to Check In

Check-in counters are located on the 4th floor of Terminal 1, split between the South Wing and North Wing.

Check-in typically opens 2 to 2.5 hours before departure and closes 1 hour before departure (this varies by airline).

That said, during busy periods, check-in can take longer due to congestion. If you’re not used to the check-in process, it’s best to allow plenty of extra time.

For domestic flights, note that the counter is on the 1st floor of the South Wing.

Departure Lobby

【International Flights】

The departure lobby is on the 4th floor of both wings.

After checking in, you proceed through the security check, and then move to the 3rd floor for the departure/immigration procedures.

Reference: Narita Airport Floor Map

【Domestic Flights】

After checking in, you move to the 3rd floor for the security check, and then to the boarding gates on the 2nd floor. As a result, there are fewer restaurants and shops than on the international side.

Reference: Narita Airport Floor Map

Arrival Lobby

【International Flights】

The arrival lobby is on the 1st floor. Once you exit the lobby, bus and taxi stands are right there, making onward travel easy. There’s also a train station on B1F, so you can travel by train as well.

【Domestic Flights】

Domestic flights arrive on the 3rd floor. After collecting your baggage, you head to the 1st floor arrival lobby, just like international arrivals, where you can catch a bus or other transport.

How to Get to Narita Airport Terminal 1

Here are four ways to get to Narita Airport Terminal 1:

1. Train
2. Limousine bus / shuttle bus
3. Taxi
4. NearMe

Below is a summary of fares and travel times from major stations such as Tokyo Station and Shinjuku Station. Let’s look at each option.

1. Train

Narita Airport Terminal 1 has a Narita Airport Station on B1F, served by both JR and Keisei Electric Railway lines.

From B1F, direct escalators and elevators take you up to the 1st floor of the airport, and you can move around smoothly by following the signage. Because the terminal is divided into the Central Building, South Wing, and North Wing, it’s easy to find your way to your specific destination within the terminal.

Here are the fares and travel times from major stations to Narita Airport Terminal 1:

Major Station	Fare (IC card)*	Travel Time
Tokyo Station	¥1,154	About 1 hr 30 min
Shinjuku Station	¥1,135	About 2 hr 10 min
Maihama Station	¥978	About 1 hr 30 min
Haneda Airport Terminal 1/2 Station	¥1,514	About 2 hr 10 min

*Fares and times shown are for the cheapest route.

Here are the pros and cons of taking the train:

Pros	- Lower cost - Direct access from the airport - Arrival times are less likely to be affected by delays
Cons	- Can get crowded at certain times of day - Difficult to move around with large luggage - Multiple transfers required

2. Limousine Bus

Limousine buses and shuttle buses run between major stations and Narita Airport, giving you direct access to Terminal 1 with no transfers.

Currently, limousine bus service is operated by Tokyo Airport Transport’s Airport Limousine, and shuttle bus service is operated by Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita.

Here are the fares and travel times for both bus services:

【Tokyo Airport Transport Airport Limousine】

Boarding Location	Fare	Travel Time
Tokyo City Air Terminal	¥2,800	About 1 hr 10 min
Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal	¥3,200	About 1 hr 55 min
Tokyo Disneyland	¥1,900	About 1 hr
Haneda Airport	¥3,200	About 1 hr 10 min

【Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita】

Boarding Location	Fare	Travel Time
Tokyo Station	¥1,300 (late-night/early-morning service: ¥2,600)	About 1 hr 10 min

Here are the pros and cons of taking a limousine bus or shuttle bus:

Pros	- Lower cost - You can reserve a seat in advance - No transfers needed
Cons	- Buses may not run from your preferred boarding location - You need to be mindful of other passengers - Departure times may not match your desired arrival time - Travel time can vary depending on traffic conditions

3. Taxi

Narita Airport Terminal 1 has a taxi drop-off area right in front of the terminal. Taxis can also pick you up from anywhere you like, saving you the trouble of carrying luggage to a station or bus stop.

Here are the fares and travel times calculated using toll roads:

Note that fares and travel times vary by taxi company.

Boarding Location	Fare	Travel Time
Tokyo Station	About ¥30,350	About 1 hr
Shinjuku Station	About ¥33,650	About 1 hr 10 min
Tokyo Disneyland	About ¥24,820	About 50 min
Haneda Airport	About ¥35,000	About 1 hr 5 min

If you’re traveling from Narita Airport into Tokyo, a flat-rate taxi is a reasonably priced, convenient option.

Area	Via Keiyo Road	Via Shuto Expressway Wangan Route
Edogawa, Katsushika, Adachi wards	¥19,500	¥22,500
Koto, Sumida wards / Minato ward (Odaiba) / Shinagawa ward (Higashi-Yashio)	¥23,500	¥23,500
Chuo, Chiyoda, Taito, Bunkyo, Arakawa wards	¥24,500	¥27,500
Shinjuku, Toshima, Nakano, Shibuya, Meguro wards / Minato ward (excl. Odaiba) / Shinagawa ward (excl. Higashi-Yashio) / Ota ward	¥26,500	¥27,500
Itabashi, Kita, Nerima wards	¥28,500	¥30,500
Setagaya, Suginami wards / Mitaka, Musashino cities	¥30,000	¥32,500

Depending on your destination, a regular metered taxi may actually work out cheaper.

Here are the pros and cons of taking a taxi:

Pros	- Door-to-door service - You can check large luggage - No transfers needed
Cons	- Higher cost - Travel time can vary depending on traffic conditions

4. NearMe

NearMe is a ride-sharing service offered by NearMe Co., Ltd. You share a vehicle with other passengers heading to your destination. Because the flat rate includes toll charges, it’s a more affordable option than a taxi.

As long as you’re within the service area, you can choose your pickup location and time. Here are the service areas and fares:

Area	Fare per Adult	Flat-Rate Airport Taxi (Reference Price)*Partly metered fare
Funabashi City	From ¥4,980	¥14,600–¥17,500
Edogawa, Koto, Sumida, Katsushika wards	From ¥5,980	¥19,000–¥21,000
Urayasu, Ichikawa cities	From ¥5,980	¥19,900–¥20,500
Chiyoda, Taito, Chuo, Bunkyo, Adachi, Arakawa wards	From ¥5,980	¥23,000–¥26,000
Ota, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Toshima, Minato, Meguro, Kita wards	From ¥5,980	¥25,000–¥29,000
Setagaya, Nakano, Suginami, Itabashi, Nerima wards / Musashino, Mitaka cities	From ¥6,980	¥27,000–¥31,000

Since NearMe uses toll roads, travel time is the same as a taxi.

Here are the pros and cons of using NearMe:

Pros	- Flat-rate pricing even when using toll roads - Pickup from anywhere within the service area - Can accommodate larger groups
Cons	- Not available outside the service area - Travel time can vary depending on traffic conditions - You may need to be mindful of other passengers

How to Get from Other Terminals to Narita Airport Terminal 1

Narita Airport Terminal 1 is some distance from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. If you end up at the wrong terminal, you’ll need to travel between them. Here’s how to get from Terminal 1 to the other terminals, for reference.

Getting from Narita Airport Terminal 1 to Terminal 2

Walking from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 takes about 20 minutes, which isn’t realistic if you’re carrying luggage. Since there’s a station beneath Terminal 1, you can take the train to Terminal 2 instead — it’s just one stop from Narita Airport Station to Airport Terminal 2 Station. Here are the travel time and fare:

Travel Time	About 5 min
Fare (IC card)	¥147

It’s quick and convenient. However, if you have large luggage, getting to the station platform can be a burden.

Alternatively, there’s a free inter-terminal shuttle bus.

Travel Time	About 10 min
Boarding Point	Bus Stop 6
First Bus	9:05
Last Bus	16:49
Frequency	Every 10 min

Buses from Narita Airport Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 include some that go directly to Terminal 2 and others that stop at Terminal 3 along the way, so be careful when boarding.

Getting from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is the farthest from Terminal 1. Walking isn’t practical, so it’s best to take the inter-terminal shuttle bus.

Travel Time	About 14 min
Boarding Point	Bus Stop 6
First Bus	5:10
Last Bus	22:54
Frequency	Every 5–7 min

The boarding point is the same as for buses heading to Terminal 2, so it’s easy to board the wrong bus — always confirm which bus has arrived before getting on.

NearMe Is the Recommended Way to Get to Narita Airport Terminal 1

About NearMe

NearMe launched in 2019 and is a ride-sharing service that takes you to your destination in a large van, similar to a Toyota HiAce.

Booking is simple — just specify your location, date/time, and number of passengers on the official website. Payment is also handled entirely online, making it easy to use.

Benefits of NearMe

NearMe offers the following benefits:

• Flat-rate pricing within the service area
• Pickup from anywhere within the service area, direct to Narita Airport Terminal 1
• Can accommodate multiple passengers
• Online payment

Reservations can be made up until 6:00 PM the day before your travel date. Since payment can be completed online, it’s easy to use even if your travel plans come up suddenly. If you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, door-to-door service to Narita Airport Terminal 1 is another great advantage, as it takes the burden off your trip.

Narita Airport Terminal 1 can be reached by train, bus, taxi, or NearMe. Here’s a comparison of travel time, fare, and benefits when traveling from Tokyo Station:

	Train	Bus	NearMe	Taxi
Fare	¥1,154	¥1,300	From ¥5,980	¥30,750
Travel Time	About 1 hr 30 min~	About 1 hr 10 min	About 1 hr~	About 1 hr~
Can check large luggage	×	○	○	○
Door-to-door	×	×	○	○
Travel at a time of your choosing	×	×	○	○
No need to worry about other passengers	×	×	▲	○
Group travel	×	▲	○	×

While the train is the cheapest option, it may be more of a burden to use compared to other methods.

If you have a lot of luggage, want to travel at a time of your choosing, and want a reasonable price, NearMe is the recommended option.

Summary

Narita Airport Terminal 1 is the largest terminal at Narita Airport. Since so many flights arrive and depart there, it’s a good idea to check not just access information but also flight and facility details before your visit.

If you’re traveling from central Tokyo’s 23 wards, NearMe is recommended for its flat-rate pricing and ability to accommodate multiple passengers. Choose the mode of transport that best suits your purpose and location.