Futako-Tamagawa, located in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, has become a popular area in recent years thanks to redevelopment across the whole district—commercial facilities, offices, a bus terminal, and more have opened. Green space has also been developed along the Tama River, making it an area families are drawn to for its access to nature.

This article covers how to travel between Narita Airport and Futako-Tamagawa, looking at buses, trains, and taxis, as well as NearMe, a newer transportation option. We hope you find it useful.

Ways to Travel Between Narita Airport and Futako-Tamagawa

There are four transportation options for traveling between Narita Airport and Futako-Tamagawa:

1. Train
2. Limousine bus (suspended as of January 2024)
3. Taxi
4. NearMe

Let’s look at each one.

1. Train

There are several possible train routes, but we recommend heading from Futako-Tamagawa to Shibuya and taking the Narita Express from there. Including transfers, the trip takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Another option is to go to Oshiage and take the Keisei Line.

	Futako-Tamagawa ⇔ Narita Airport (via Shibuya)	Futako-Tamagawa ⇔ Narita Airport (via Oshiage)
Fare (IC card)	From ¥3,275	From ¥1,468
Travel time	About 1 hour 45 minutes	About 2 hours 15 minutes
Route	■Futako-Tamagawa ↕︎ (Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line) ■Shibuya ↕︎ (JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line Narita Express Limited Express) ■Narita Airport	■Futako-Tamagawa ↕︎ (Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line) ■Shibuya ↕︎ (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line) ■Oshiage (Skytree-mae) ↕︎ (Keisei Oshiage Line) ■Keisei-Takasago ↕︎ (Keisei Main Line) ■Narita Airport

The pros and cons of traveling by train are as follows.

Pros

• The cheapest option
• No traffic jams, so arrival time is easy to predict

Cons

• Transfers can be a hassle
• Trains can be crowded, and you may not get a seat
• No space to store luggage
• Long distances to walk

2. Limousine Bus

The Narita Airport ⇔ Futako-Tamagawa limousine bus used to be operated by Tokyu Bus (Tokyu Transse), but service was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of January 2024, the limousine bus departing from Futako-Tamagawa remains suspended.

If you’d like to use a limousine bus, it’s best to use the one departing from Shibuya instead. The fare and travel time for the bus from Shibuya are as follows.

Fare and Travel Time

Fare (IC card)	¥3,600 (children ¥1,800)
Travel time (including transfers/waiting)	About 1 hour 35 minutes or more
Route	■Shibuya Mark City (Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu) ↓ ■Shibuya Station (Shibuya Fukuras) ↓ ■Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel ↓ ■Narita Airport Terminal 3 ↓ ■Narita Airport Terminal 2 ↓ ■Narita Airport Terminal 1	■Narita Airport Terminal 3 ↓ ■Narita Airport Terminal 2 ↓ ■Narita Airport Terminal 1 ↓ ■Shibuya Station (Shibuya Fukuras) ↓ ■Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel ↓ ■Shibuya Mark City (Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu)
First bus	5:30	9:10
Last bus	13:40	19:40

For details, please check the official website below.

https://www.tokyubus.co.jp/airport/de-futako-narita.html

The pros and cons of the limousine bus are as follows.

Pros

• Even large luggage can be stored in the under-floor trunk compartment
• Nonstop travel to the airport (no stops or transfers along the way)
• You arrive right at the terminal after getting off the bus at Narita Airport (little walking required)

Cons

• May get caught in traffic
• Limited number of departures and time slots
• You may end up sitting close to the passenger next to you

3. Taxi

In Setagaya Ward, where Futako-Tamagawa is located, you can use a “Narita Airport flat-rate taxi.” In many cases, this works out cheaper than the standard metered fare.

The flat-rate taxi fare from Setagaya Ward, Tokyo (where Futako-Tamagawa is located) to Narita Airport starts at about ¥27,000. Between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, the late-night/early-morning flat rate applies, bringing the fare to ¥33,000. Note that the Shuto Expressway toll is charged in addition to this fare.

For reference, a fare search on NAVITIME’s taxi fare tool (https://www.navitime.co.jp/taxi/) shows about ¥34,000 (about ¥40,400 late at night/early morning), so the flat-rate option can save you money compared to a regular taxi.

Pros

• Available at any hour, including early morning and late night, offering flexibility
• Luggage can go in the trunk
• Door-to-door (no need to carry luggage while walking)
• No need to worry about other passengers nearby

Cons

• Fares are very expensive
• May get caught in traffic
• Not ideal for large groups

3. NearMe

NearMe is a new transportation option worth considering. By turning larger vehicles like the Hiace or Alphard into shared-ride taxis, it offers the convenience of a taxi at an affordable price.

The fare from Futako-Tamagawa to Narita Airport starts at ¥6,980 per person. No extra toll charges are added even when using the expressway. Based on simulation, the travel time is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours 10 minutes.

Your first suitcase is free; each additional suitcase costs an extra ¥1,000.

Pros

• Reservations available
• Luggage can be checked
• Door-to-door (no need to carry luggage while walking)
• Great value at about a third of the cost of a taxi

Cons

• Service area is limited (note: Futako-Tamagawa in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo is within the service area, so this isn’t an issue)

About NearMe

NearMe is a shared-ride taxi service provided by NearMe Inc.

Since the service picks you up at a location of your choosing, such as your home, you can travel door-to-door all the way to Narita Airport. Of course, it can also be used for the return trip from Narita Airport.

After booking, you’ll be notified within 24 hours whether a vehicle is available, and your pickup time and vehicle are confirmed by 6:00 PM the day before. On the day of travel, the vehicle heads to Narita Airport while picking up other shared-ride passengers along the way.

The appeal lies in getting taxi-equivalent service at an affordable price—excellent value for money.

The main features of NearMe are as follows:

• More affordable than a regular taxi
• Board from any location you choose
• Earn airline miles with online payment

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

More Affordable Than a Regular Taxi

The appeal is being able to use the service at a more affordable rate than a regular taxi. On top of that, the fare is fixed, which makes it easier to budget for your entire trip.

The service also uses larger vehicles like vans, so even when sharing a ride with other passengers, you can travel comfortably in a spacious cabin.

Board From Any Location You Choose

With NearMe, you can board from wherever is convenient for you—your home, a hotel, and so on. Since it’s door-to-door, you’re freed from the hassle of carrying heavy luggage around.

Online Payment Available, and You Can Earn Miles

On the day of your ride, payment is processed using the credit card you registered when booking, so there’s no need to pay when you get off. This means a smooth, stress-free boarding and drop-off experience, even when you’re in a hurry. You can also earn miles with ANA, JAL, and StarFlyer.

Summary

We’ve covered how to travel between Narita Airport and Futako-Tamagawa. Here’s a summary of the fares, travel times, for train, taxi, and NearMe:

Transportation	Fare	Travel time	Transfers	Pros	Cons
Train	From ¥1,468	About 1 hour 45 minutes	1–2	・The cheapest option ・No traffic jams, so arrival time is easy to predict	・May be hard to secure a seat on the day ・Need to carry large luggage while moving
Taxi	From about ¥27,000 (+ tolls)	About 1 hour 20 minutes	0	・Door-to-door service ・Available even late at night or early morning	・Expensive
NearMe	From ¥6,980/person	About 1 hour 30 min – 2 hr 10 min	0	・Available any time without worry ・Door-to-door with no concern over large luggage	・Travel time depends on traffic conditions

Just like a taxi, NearMe offers door-to-door service, but at less than a third of the cost—making it an excellent value.

Carrying large luggage or traveling with children while transferring trains can be a major source of stress.

Because NearMe uses large vans like the Alphard that can seat up to 9 passengers, you can travel comfortably in a spacious cabin.

It’s also comfortable for larger groups, such as families. Not having to worry about other passengers nearby brings peace of mind for households with small children. You can simulate travel time and fare from Narita Airport to your chosen destination on the official website. Be sure to check it out under your own travel conditions.