What Is a Narita Airport Shared Taxi? A Complete Guide to Services and How to Use Them
11 min read
*This article is based on information as of October 2023.
Some travelers aren’t sure which mode of transport to use to get to Narita Airport. Trains keep costs down, but transferring with luggage can be a hassle.
This article explains shared taxis, a convenient option for getting to Narita Airport. We’ll also cover how they differ from regular taxis and list the available services, so if you’re still deciding on transportation, be sure to check this out.
What Is a Narita Airport Shared Taxi?
The “shared taxi” isn’t a very familiar concept in Japan. Here we introduce how it differs from regular taxis and flat-rate taxis, along with its pros and cons.
Overview
As the name suggests, a shared taxi is a service that lets multiple people share a single taxi. The people you share with aren’t limited to friends or family — they’re other passengers who have booked the same taxi run. When you book a taxi from your departure point to Narita Airport, people departing from nearby locations are grouped into the same vehicle.
Because the fare assumes sharing, it’s cheaper than a regular metered fare, and many companies offer it at a flat rate.
A similar service is the flat-rate taxi. A flat-rate taxi has a fare that’s fixed in advance based on your departure point. It’s often cheaper than a regular taxi, but since the fare is per vehicle, it can still work out expensive if you’re traveling alone.
There’s also the chartered taxi, another service offered at a flat rate. This is a taxi priced by time, which is very convenient if you want to stop somewhere besides the airport and your home.
Pros and Cons of Shared Taxis
Here are the pros and cons of Narita Airport shared taxis.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cheaper than a regular taxi; Flat-rate fare gives peace of mind; Eco-friendly | Requires advance booking; Can take longer than a regular taxi |
Let’s look at each in detail.
Pro 1: Cheaper Than a Regular Taxi
Since multiple people share one taxi, you can use the service for less than a regular taxi or flat-rate taxi. Because the fare is set per person, it’s convenient not just for travel but also for business trips.
Pro 2: Peace of Mind With a Flat Rate
Shared taxis are basically flat-rate. Toll charges are included, so unlike other taxi services, you won’t need to pay any extra fees. Knowing the fare in advance means you can use the service with peace of mind.
Pro 3: Eco-Friendly
Since you share the ride with people headed to the same destination, routes that would otherwise require multiple vehicles can be covered with just one car. Making good use of empty seats makes it an environmentally friendly way to travel.
Con 1: Advance Booking Required
Since it’s a shared ride, advance booking is mandatory. You generally need to book by the day before at the latest, so it’s not an option if a trip to Narita Airport comes up suddenly.
Con 2: Can Take Longer Than a Regular Taxi
Because the vehicle isn’t going direct but stops to pick up other passengers, it can take longer than a regular taxi depending on the situation. If you’re short on time, a flat-rate taxi might be a better choice.
List of Narita Airport Shared Taxi Companies
There are four shared taxi services available for Narita Airport. Here’s a comparison table:
| Service Name | Coverage Area | Fare | Booking Deadline | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NearMe | Tokyo’s 23 wards, Mitaka City, Musashino City, and Funabashi, Urayasu, and Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture | From ¥5,980 | By 6:00 PM the day before boarding | Free up to 48 hours before boarding |
| GREEN TOMATO | 15 wards of Tokyo, Maihama area | ¥6,600–7,200 | By 2 days before boarding | Free up to 7 days before boarding |
| Hire Airport Bin | Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture | From ¥15,980 | By 7:00 PM the day before boarding | Free up to 6:00 PM the day before boarding |
| Chuo Taxi Co., Ltd. | Nagano and Gunma Prefectures | From ¥29,000 | By 6 days before boarding | Free up to the day before boarding |
Let’s look at each in detail.
[Tokyo/Chiba] NearMe
NearMe operates shared taxis to Narita Airport from within Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. Since it covers all 23 wards, you can book from a wide range of areas.
The discount rate increases with more people sharing and with early booking, making it an even better deal.
| Adult fare | From ¥5,980 (tolls included) *when traveling alone with the share discount applied |
|---|---|
| Child fare | Half the adult fare (free if seated on a lap) |
| Operating hours | To/from Narita Airport: no time restrictions |
| Booking deadline | To/from Narita Airport: by 6:00 PM the day before boarding *same-day booking possible if space is available |
| Cancellation | Free up to 48 hours before boarding |
| Coverage area | Tokyo’s 23 wards, Mitaka City, Musashino City, and Funabashi, Urayasu, and Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture |
| Checked luggage | Up to 1 suitcase free |
Reference: NearMe
[Tokyo/Maihama Area] GREEN TOMATO
GREEN TOMATO is a travel company that operates shared shuttles. It offers door-to-door transport from Narita Airport to hotels in 15 Tokyo wards and the Maihama area.
Since the service is built around hotel transfers, it’s very convenient if your hotel falls within the coverage area. Note that pickup/drop-off at private lodgings, capsule hotels, and guesthouses is not covered.
| Adult fare | From ¥6,600 (tolls included) |
|---|---|
| Child fare | No set fare (free for ages 0–1 if not occupying a seat) |
| Operating hours | To Narita Airport: no time restrictions; From Narita Airport: only for arrivals between 6:00 AM and 8:30 PM |
| Booking deadline | Online booking by 2 days before boarding |
| Cancellation | Free up to 7 days before boarding |
| Coverage area | Hotels in Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo, Taito, Koto, Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota, Shibuya, Toshima, Arakawa, Edogawa, and Sumida wards, and the Maihama area |
| Checked luggage | Up to 2 suitcases free |
Reference: GREEN TOMATO
[Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture] Hire Airport Bin
Operated by Basumado.com Co., Ltd., Hire Airport Bin is a service offering door-to-door transport between Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture and Narita Airport.
It runs 24 hours a day and can be used by a single passenger. You can also park your own car for free at Basumado.com’s parking lot before boarding the taxi.
| Adult fare | From ¥15,980 (tolls included) |
|---|---|
| Child fare | From ¥7,990 (free for infants not occupying a seat) |
| Operating hours | To/from Narita Airport: no time restrictions |
| Booking deadline | To/from Narita Airport: by 7:00 PM the day before boarding |
| Cancellation | Free up to 6:00 PM the day before boarding |
| Coverage area | Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Checked luggage | Up to 1 suitcase free |
Reference: Basumado.com Co., Ltd.
[Nagano/Gunma] Chuo Taxi Co., Ltd.
Headquartered in Nagano Prefecture, Chuo Taxi Co., Ltd. operates shared taxis in Nagano and Gunma Prefectures.
It also offers an express service for group charters, making it very convenient for travel to and from the Nagano and Gunma areas.
| Adult fare | From ¥29,000 (tolls included) |
|---|---|
| Child fare | Not set |
| Operating hours | To/from Narita Airport: 5:00 AM–12:00 AM |
| Booking deadline | To/from Narita Airport: by 6 days before boarding |
| Cancellation | Free up to the day before boarding |
| Coverage area | Nagano and Gunma Prefectures |
| Checked luggage | Up to 1 suitcase free |
Reference: Chuo Taxi Co., Ltd.
Comparing Narita Airport Shared Taxis With Other Modes of Transport
When heading to Narita Airport, how much do fares and travel times differ between shared taxis and other modes of transport? We compared regular taxis and flat-rate taxis alongside other options between major stations and Narita Airport Terminal 1.
Reference: Jorudan Transit Guide, Tokyo Airport Transport, Airport Bus Tokyo-Narita, NAVITIME, Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association, NearMe
Tokyo ⇔ Narita Airport
From Tokyo Station to Narita Airport, every mode of transport takes around 60–70 minutes. Given the hassle of transfers, door-to-door options like flat-rate taxis and shared taxis are recommended.
| Mode of Transport | Fare (per person) | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train (IC card) — JR Narita Express | From ¥3,072 | About 60 min |
| Bus | From ¥1,300 | About 70 min |
| Regular taxi | About ¥26,900/vehicle + tolls | About 60 min |
| Flat-rate taxi | From ¥23,000/vehicle + tolls | About 60 min |
| NearMe (shared taxi) | Base fare from ¥14,800 (from as low as ¥5,980) | 60–100 min |
Shinjuku ⇔ Narita Airport
Between Shinjuku and Narita Airport too, there isn’t a huge difference in travel time between modes of transport. If you can take advantage of NearMe’s early-booking and share discounts, you can travel comfortably and affordably without having to carry your luggage around.
| Mode of Transport | Fare (per person) | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train (IC card) — JR line + Skyliner | From ¥2,765 | About 60 min |
| Bus | From ¥3,600 | About 90–120 min |
| Regular taxi | About ¥30,000/vehicle + tolls | About 70 min |
| Flat-rate taxi | From ¥25,000/vehicle + tolls | About 70 min |
| NearMe (shared taxi) | Base fare from ¥14,800 (from as low as ¥5,980) | 75–110 min |
Setagaya (Futako-Tamagawa) ⇔ Narita Airport
The limousine bus from the Futako-Tamagawa area is currently suspended. Taking the train keeps costs down, but the downside is that the transfers are complicated and take a long time.
For areas that require a lot of transfers, taxi services are well worth taking advantage of.
| Mode of Transport | Fare (per person) | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train (IC card) — Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line + JR line + Skyliner | From ¥2,992 | About 100 min |
| Bus | Suspended | – |
| Regular taxi | About ¥34,000/vehicle + tolls | About 80 min |
| Flat-rate taxi | From ¥27,000/vehicle + tolls | About 80 min |
| NearMe (shared taxi) | Base fare from ¥15,800 (from as low as ¥6,980) | 90–130 min |
For Narita Airport Shared Taxis, We Recommend “NearMe”!
If you’re considering a shared taxi, we recommend NearMe, which also covers a wide service area.
By making good use of the share discount — which gets better as more passengers share the ride — and the early-bird discount for advance bookings, you can use the service for less than the base fare.
No need to carry your luggage around, and you can be picked up from anywhere you like, not just your home. Why not try traveling door-to-door to Narita Airport?
Here’s more detail on NearMe’s fares and how to book.
NearMe’s Coverage Area and Fares
NearMe’s coverage areas and fares are as follows.
| Route | Adult Fare/Person | Airport Flat-Rate Taxi (Reference Price) *Some are metered fares |
|---|---|---|
| Funabashi City | From ¥4,980 | ¥14,600–17,500 |
| Edogawa, Koto, Sumida, and Katsushika wards | From ¥5,980 | ¥19,000–21,000 |
| Urayasu and Ichikawa cities | From ¥5,980 | ¥19,900–20,500 |
| Chiyoda, Taito, Chuo, Bunkyo, Adachi, and Arakawa wards | From ¥5,980 | ¥23,000–26,000 |
| Ota, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Toshima, Minato, Meguro, and Kita wards | From ¥5,980 | ¥25,000–29,000 |
| Setagaya, Nakano, Suginami, Itabashi, and Nerima wards, Musashino City, Mitaka City | From ¥6,980 | ¥27,000–31,000 |
You can check the actual fare and time on the booking screen, so be sure to try the simulation.
How to Book and Use the Service
You can book NearMe through the official website or via the app. Bookings are accepted up until 6:00 PM the day before boarding, so be sure not to forget.
The only information you need to enter is your destination, pickup location, date and time, number of passengers, and number of bags.
The AI system factors in ride-sharing with other passengers and displays the optimal route. If a higher share rate is available, it will be suggested at the time of booking, so be sure to check.
Once you select a route and make a provisional booking, you’ll be notified within 24 hours whether a vehicle can be arranged. During busy periods, arranging a vehicle can sometimes be difficult, so it’s best to book early.
If a vehicle is available, you’ll receive the vehicle details and exact meeting point by 6:00 PM the day before boarding. Since you register your credit card at the time of the provisional booking, there’s no need to worry about payment on the day.
You can also earn miles with JAL, ANA, and Solaseed Air flights. Be sure to enter your flight number and frequent-flyer membership number when booking.
Reviews
Finally, here are some reviews from people who have actually used NearMe. If you’re curious, be sure to check them out.
Flights into Haneda are so much easier on the body even for late-night arrivals
And nearMe. is way too convenient Getting dropped off at home for a bit more than the pre-COVID night bus is great So many people are using it that hire cars are overflowing the pickup area — hope it doesn’t affect operations going forward
— Tae (@t_ae) September 22, 2023
On the way back from Haneda, I used nearMe, and it was especially helpful with kids. Not having to transfer is such a relief. Once I land at Haneda, I really don’t want to walk anymore.
[nearMe.Airport] You can get a ¥1,000 discount coupon. *You’ll need to register as a member from the page https://t.co/2wZWrKHImK
— Miffo@Working Mom Survival (@32_pv) August 24, 2023
@nearme_jp I used NearMe. The ride itself is easy, but it took quite a detour — Haneda → Setagaya → Bunkyo. It usually takes about 30 minutes to get home, but this time it took an hour and a half. I guess that’s unavoidable with a shared ride. It seems like it would be more convenient when sharing with someone headed the same direction. On the way there I was the only passenger going to Narita, so maybe that’s why it felt longer. pic.twitter.com/sBi798yqhQ
— Mii (@al76296751) September 30, 2023
Summary
Shared taxis let multiple people split the cost of one vehicle, making them an economical and eco-friendly way to travel. Four companies currently offer this service from Narita Airport.
While advance booking is required, they offer door-to-door transport at a lower price than a regular taxi. Be sure to give it a try.
For trips from within Tokyo, NearMe is also a great option. Why not travel to Narita Airport comfortably, without transfers or having to carry your luggage? Try the NearMe simulation!
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