How to Get from Ginza to Narita Airport by Bus? A Thorough Comparison with Other Recommended Transport Options
8 min read
Ginza is home to many famous spots, including its pedestrian paradise, Mitsukoshi, and Matsuya. Many people choose the bus when traveling from Ginza to Narita Airport.
This article explains how to get from Ginza to Narita Airport by bus, as well as other transport options besides the bus. We’ll also cover the pros and cons of each option, so be sure to use this as a reference.
How to Get from Ginza to Narita Airport by Bus
Two types of direct buses run from Ginza to Narita Airport:
| Departure Point | Bus Type |
|---|---|
| Ginza Station | AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT (Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita) |
| Courtyard by Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel or Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier | Airport Limousine |
The only service departing from Ginza Station is the AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT. Airport Limousine buses run from hotels near the station.
Let’s take a closer look at the features and how to use each service.
Basic Information for Each Service
Two types of buses run from Ginza to Narita Airport. Their basic information is summarized below.
| AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT (Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita) | Airport Limousine | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥1,300 *Early morning/late night service: ¥2,600 | ¥3,200 |
| Duration | From about 1 hour 10 minutes | From about 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Frequency | 11 departures per day | 5 departures per day |
| Route | Ginza Station ↓(10 min) Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit ↓(from 1 hour) Narita Airport Terminal 3 ↓(3 min) Narita Airport Terminal 2 ↓(5 min) Narita Airport Terminal 1 | Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier ↓(5 min) Courtyard by Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel ↓(20 min) Tokyo Station Tekko Building ↓(72 min) Narita Airport Terminal 3 ↓(3 min) Narita Airport Terminal 2 ↓(5 min) Narita Airport Terminal 1 |
| Boarding Point | Near Exit C7, Tokyo Metro Ginza Station | In front of Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier or in front of Courtyard by Marriott Ginza Tobu Hotel |
| Features | ・No reservation required ・More frequent than the Airport Limousine | ・Advance reservation required ・Fewer departures |
The AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT is cheaper than the Airport Limousine, at ¥1,300 per trip. From Ginza Station, it reaches Narita Airport in about 1 hour 10 minutes, passing through Tokyo Station along the way, making it a convenient option for access from central Tokyo.
The Airport Limousine costs more at ¥3,200, but since you can reserve a seat in advance, you’re guaranteed a spot even on the day of travel. It also departs from in front of hotels, making it very convenient for hotel guests.
The payment methods for tickets differ as follows:
| AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT (Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita) | Airport Limousine | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket Payment Method | Cash or transportation IC card, on the day | Card |
| Purchase Location | At the boarding point | Official website |
For the AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT, which requires no reservation, you simply go to the boarding point on the day and pay there. Both cash and transportation IC cards are accepted. Card payment is possible for the Airport Limousine, but since advance reservation is required, be sure to book through the official website.
Also, Airport Limousine bus tickets can be purchased on the day if departing from Tokyo Station or the airport. However, please note that same-day purchase is not available in the Ginza area.
The pros and cons of the two bus types are summarized below.
| AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT (Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita) | Airport Limousine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | ・Large luggage can be checked ・No reservation needed on the day ・Reasonable fare | ・Large luggage can be checked ・Seat can be secured with advance reservation ・Good access from hotels |
| Cons | ・Since seats aren’t guaranteed, you may not be able to board at your preferred time | ・Advance online reservation required |
Ways to Reach Narita Airport from Ginza Other Than by Bus
Here are three transport options besides the bus for getting from Ginza to Narita Airport.
A comparison table of fares and travel times is shown below (including the bus).
| Transport Method | Fare | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | ¥1,300 / ¥3,200 | From about 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Train | ¥2,735 | About 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Taxi | From about ¥30,750 | About 55 minutes |
| NearMe | From ¥5,980/person | From about 1 hour |
Let’s look at the details of each option.
1. Train
By train, you can reach Narita Airport by traveling from Ginza Station via either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station.
The fares, travel times, and routes are as follows:
| Ginza ⇔ Narita Airport | Via Tokyo Station | Via Ueno Station |
|---|---|---|
| Fare (IC card) | ¥3,050 | ¥2,735 |
| Duration | About 1 hour 20 minutes | About 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Route | ■Ginza ↕︎(Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line) ■Tokyo ↕︎(JR Sobu Line Limited Express Narita Express) ■Narita Airport Terminal 1 / 2 | ■Ginza ↕︎(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line) ■Ueno ↕︎(on foot) ■Keisei Ueno ↕︎(Keisei Main Line Limited Express Narita Airport Line Skyliner) ■Narita Airport Terminal 1 / 2 |
Ginza Station is served by three lines—the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Ginza, and Hibiya lines—making it convenient to access by train. From Tokyo Station, the Sobu Line Limited Express Narita Express runs directly to Narita Airport. Similarly, from Keisei Ueno Station near Ueno Station, you can board the Skyliner on the Narita Airport Line, making it easy to reach the airport.
However, both lines require a limited express ticket, so be careful when purchasing your ticket.
The pros and cons are summarized below.
| Pros | ・Frequent departures allow you to adjust your arrival time ・Travel time is unlikely to fluctuate ・Can be reserved |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Transfer required ・Can be crowded depending on the time of day ・Difficult to travel with large luggage ・Costs more due to the limited express ticket fee |
2. Taxi
You can reach Narita Airport by taxi from anywhere in Ginza you like. Fares are high due to expressway tolls and early morning/late night surcharges.
The taxi fare and travel time are as follows:
| Fare | From about ¥30,750 |
|---|---|
| Duration | From about 55 minutes |
| Distance | About 69 km |
Ginza has 11 designated taxi stands, so you can easily catch a taxi without needing to hail one from a specific spot.
On the other hand, Ginza has its own rule prohibiting boarding from locations other than designated spots on weekday nights. If you’re traveling on a weekday night, note that you won’t be able to board from just anywhere.
The pros and cons of taxis are as follows:
| Pros | ・Door-to-door service from any location you choose ・Many taxi stands available ・No need to worry about other passengers |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・High fare ・Limited boarding locations on weekday nights ・Travel time depends on traffic conditions |
3. NearMe
NearMe is a service provided by us, NearMe Inc., where we pick you up and take you to your destination. Since you share the shuttle with other passengers and pay a flat rate, it’s available at a lower price than a taxi. It’s also reasonably priced since there are no expressway tolls and the fare is fixed.
Here’s a summary of NearMe’s fares and travel time.
| Fare (1 person) | From ¥5,980/person |
|---|---|
| Child fare | From ¥2,990/person Child (ages 6-11) Junior seat (ages 4-5) Child seat (ages 0-3) |
| Suitcase fee | Free for the first bag per person ¥1,000 per bag from the second bag onward |
| Duration | From about 1 hour |
Despite the flat-rate pricing, first-time riders get 10% off, making it an even better deal.
The pros and cons of NearMe are as follows:
| Pros | ・Door-to-door service from any location you choose ・Available early morning and late at night ・Larger vehicles accommodate bigger groups |
|---|---|
| Cons | ・Service area limitations apply (no restrictions within Tokyo’s 23 wards) ・Affected by traffic conditions |
NearMe Is Recommended for Getting from Ginza to Narita Airport
The recommended way to get from Ginza to Narita Airport is “NearMe.” It’s convenient when traveling with large luggage.
Advantages of NearMe
Here’s a comparison of the advantages of the bus, taxi, and NearMe.
| Bus | NearMe | Taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fare | ¥1,300 | From ¥5,980/person | ¥30,750 |
| Duration | About 1 hour 10 minutes | From about 1 hour | From about 55 minutes |
| Large luggage can be checked | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Door-to-door | × | ○ | ○ |
| Travel at your preferred time | × | ○ | ○ |
| No need to worry about other passengers | × | ▲ | ○ |
| Group travel possible | ▲ | ○ | × |
All options let you check large luggage. However, taxis and NearMe are attractive, low-hassle options since they offer door-to-door service with no worries about transfers and let you travel whenever you like.
What’s more, NearMe can accommodate larger groups, making it a smooth option for families or group travel. Since the fare is fixed, you won’t have to worry about not knowing the cost until you actually ride, as you might with a taxi.
How to Book
You can book NearMe in advance through the official website.
To use NearMe, you need to book by 6:00 PM the day before.
On the site, enter your pickup location, arrival time, number of passengers, and amount of luggage, and a route matching your schedule will be displayed. Press confirm, and you’ll have a provisional reservation. After that, all that’s left is to wait up to 24 hours to confirm whether the shuttle is available.
Payment is made online in advance, so you can complete everything from booking to payment easily.
If you suddenly need to use the service on the same day, they’ll accept your request if there’s availability.
Summary
We’ve introduced the bus along with the train, taxi, and NearMe as ways to get from Ginza to Narita Airport. Each option has its own pros and cons. It’s best to choose based on your purpose.
If you have large luggage, we recommend NearMe, which is more affordable than a taxi. Since it offers door-to-door service and can accommodate large groups, it’s a safe choice even if you’re traveling with small children or elderly family members.
With its clear pricing and travel time, we encourage you to consider NearMe as a new transport option going forward.
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