The experience of a trip starts with your transportation. If you want to travel to Tokyo, the starting point is a long trip by plane to reach one of Tokyo airports.
In addition to creating online content, I am also a tour guide, and one of my tasks is to look for clients at the two major Toyko’s airports: Haneda and Narita. So, I would like to share everything I have learned and help you on your next trip to Japan.
General Advice Before Starting your Journey to Tokyo
Before taking any transport at Tokyo airports, I have two recommendations for you: First, if you have a JR Pass, decide if you want to activate it for your trip from the airport to the city of Tokyo. If the answer is yes, you can activate it at the JR East Travel Service Center offices in Haneda (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or Narita (9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)* Out of these hours, you won’t be able to activate your pass, and you will have to buy a single ticket.
© Chris Hamby
Tokyo is a huge city, so I need to explain how to arrive at different city points rather than explain how to get from the main airports to Tokyo. Also, as if this wasn’t enough, the schedules and routes can change depending on your departure time. So, my second recommendation is to have an internet connection to your smartphone when you arrive and download the Google Maps app. It is perfect for check which train or bus is the first to arrive.
Let’s go!
Tokyo Airports: How to Get From Haneda to Tokyo?
Haneda (羽田空港) is one of the two Tokyo airports located in the Ota neighborhood in the south of the city, close to Kawasaki (川崎) and Yokohama (横浜). If you want some information about the airport’s services, see our guide about Japanese airports.
If your idea is to take a taxi from the airport, it can take between 20 and 40 minutes, and the cost can be between 3,000-7,000 yen, although it depends on the location of your accommodation. A taxi is the most personalized and often the most comfortable method to get to the city, but, on the other hand, it can be expensive, so you have to consider your personal and economic situation.
1. How to Get From Haneda Airport to Shinjuku?
Train
One of the options is taking the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa Station (品川駅) and then taking the Yamanote Line towards Shibuya to Shinjuku Station (新宿駅).
| Price | 500 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 35 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In the Yamanote Line |
The second option, and the best one for those with JR Pass, is the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (浜松町駅) and transfer to the Yamanote Line towards Shibuya to Shinjuku Station.
| Price | 700 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes, the whole trip |
Bus
From this Tokyo airport, you can take the Haneda Airport Limousine bus. This bus drops you directly at Shinjuku Station without any transfer. Also, if you’re planning to stay at Hotel Sunroute Plaza or Hotel Shinjuku Washington, they can drop you off in front of the door.
| Price | 1,250 yen |
| Duration | 40 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
2. How to Travel to Shibuya from Haneda Airport?
Train
The route is similar to Shinjuku’s one. You can take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa Station and then take the Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station (渋谷駅).
| Price | 470 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In the Yamanote Line |
The second option and the best one if you own a JR Pass is take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station, then transfer to the Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station.
| Price | 700 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 40 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes, the whole trip |
Bus
You can take Haneda Airport Limousine bus, which will take you directly to Shibuya Station without any type of transfer.
| Price | 1050 yen |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
3. How to Get to Asakusa from Haneda Airport?
Train
Without thinking twice, I’d recommend taking the Keikyu Airport Line, as it brings you directly to Asakusa Station (浅草駅).
| Price | 520 yen |
| Duration | 35 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
If you want to use JR Pass, you can make more transfers to have a cheaper trip: take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (浜松町駅), transfer to Yamanote Line headed towards Tokyo/Ueno to Kanda Station (神田駅). There, you will have to pay for a ticket to Asakusa Station (浅草駅).
| Price | 830 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes, in Tokyo Monorail and Yamanote Line |
If you don’t have JR Pass, I wouldn’t recommend this route, as it is more difficult, longer, and expensive.
4. Options to Travel to Tokyo Station from Haneda Airport
Train
There are different ways to arrive at Tokyo Station (東京駅) from Haneda. You can choose to take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa Station and transfer to Ueno-Tokyo Line or Yamanote Line (headed towards Tokyo/Ueno) to Tokyo Station.
| Price | 470 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In Yamanote Line |
If you have an activated JR Pass, the best option is to take Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station and change to the Keihin Tohoku Line to Tokyo Station.
| Price | 660 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes, the whole trip |
5. How to Get from Haneda Airport to Ueno?
Train
For those who haven’t got a JR Pass, the cheapest option is to take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa Station and transfer to Ueno-Tokyo Line or Keihin-Tohoku Line to Ueno Station (上野駅).
| Price | 500 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In Keihin-Tohoku Line |
If you have a JR Pass, you can take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station and transfer to Yamanote Line.
| Price | 670 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 35 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes, the whole trip |
6. How Can I Reach Shinagawa from Haneda Airport?
Train
You can travel extremely fast from Haneda to Shinagawa by taking the Keikyu Airport Line.
| Price | 300 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 20 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
Tokyo Airports: How far is From Narita to Tokyo?
Narita Airport (成田空港) is the biggest in Japan and one of the most crowded ones around the world. If you want more information about its services, you can read our Japan airport guide.
This airport is further from the center of Tokyo than its companion Haneda, but it has many travel options. Taking a taxi from Narita to the different parts of Tokyo can cost about $200 and can take about 70 minutes, so I recommend the options below.
1. How to Get to Shinjuku from Narita?
Train
If you have the JR Pass, you can take the Narita Express from the JR company. Keep in mind that there aren’t many Narita Expresses per day traveling to Shinjuku, so it is important to check the schedules before. If there is no train available upon arrival, it will be more convenient for you to travel by another train.
| Price | 3,500 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour and a half |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes |
An alternative way is to take the Skyliner train. You will travel to Nippori Station (日暮里駅), and there you can take the Yamanote Line to Shinjuku Station. You’ll have to buy a ticket at Narita Airport to Nippori Station for this train, then buy a single ticket to travel with the Yamanote Line or use a Pasmo / Suica / JR Pass.
| Price | 2,720 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In the Yamanote Line |
The cheapest option is the Keisei Kine to Nippori Station on the Yamanote Line.
| Price | 1,250 yen (without JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In the Yamanote Line |
Bus
You can take the Narita Airport Limousine Bus that drops you off at different points in Shinjuku, such as the bus station. If you stay in hotels like the Hilton Tokyo, Hyatt Regency Tokyo, or Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, the bus can drop you off in front of the door. Here you can check the bus stops. You can buy the ticket at the arrival area of Narita Airport.
| Price | 3,200 yen |
| Duration | 1 hour and 30 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
2. How to Travel from Narita to Shibuya?
You can take the Narita Express if you have the JR Pass. There are few trains available per day, so it is best to check the schedule before buying the ticket.
| Price | 3,250 yen (without the JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour and 20 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | Yes |
Alternatively, you can take the Skyliner train. You will travel to Nippori Station and there take the Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station. For this train, you have to buy a ticket at Narita Airport to Nippori Station and then there, buy the ticket to use the Yamanote Line or use Pasmo / Suica / JR Pass).
| Price | 2,720 yen (without the JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | In the Yamanote Line |
3. How to Get to Asakusa from Narita Airport?
Train
If your hotel is located in Asakusa, I don’t recommend activating the JR Pass for the outward journey, as the Narita Express does not cover the Asakusa area. In this case, I highly recommend taking the Skyliner train to Ueno Station, then change to the Ginza Line. After two stations, you will get to Asakusa Station.
| Price | 2,690 yen |
| Duration | 55 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
You can also take Keisei Narita Skyaccess that will take you directly to Asakusa Station.
| Price | 1,310 yen |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
4. How to Travel to Tokyo Station from Narita Airport?
Tokyo Station has more Narita Express trains departing from Narita Airport, and you can arrive there without doing any transfers.
| Price | 3,070 yen (without the JR Pass) |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Can I use the JR pass? | Yes |
If you don’t have the JR Pass, you can take the Skyliner train to Nippori Station, and there you can choose the Yamanote Line or Keihin Tohoku Line to Tokyo Station.
| Price | 2,680 yen |
| Duration | 55 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
Bus
You can also take the Narita Limousine Bus, which will take you directly to Tokyo Station.
| Price | 2,800 adults / 1,600 children |
| Duration | 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
5. How to Get from Narita Airport to Ueno?
Ueno is one of the easiest points to get to Tokyo from Narita. I also don’t recommend activating the JR Pass as you only have to take the Skyliner train to Ueno Station.
| Price | 2,520 yen |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
If you want to save a bit of money, you can travel on the Keisei Line, which takes you directly to Ueno Station.
| Price | 1050 yen |
| Duration | 1 hour and 22 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
6. How to Travel to Shinagawa from Narita Airport?
To get to Shinagawa Station, the fastest and most direct way is to take the Keisei Narita Skyaccess.
| Price | 1,550 yen |
| Duration | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
| Can I use the JR Pass? | No |
What To Do If I Land at Night in Any of Tokyo Airports?
If your flight lands after midnight, it can be very difficult to travel to central Tokyo by public transport. If you don’t want to take a taxi or get a private car, one option is to stop over in one of Toyko’s airport hotels or any accommodations close to the airport. It is a good occasion to try a capsule hotel, available in Narita or Haneda *. Some hotels do not receive people at any time, so it is better to book in advance and notify your arrival.
If you don’t want to spend money, the only option is to stay at the airport and wait until the train or bus work again at 5 a.m. If you want to start the day freshly, you can also pay a small amount to take a shower at the airport.
Is it Better to Arrive at Haneda Airport or Narita Airport?
It is a difficult question, as it depends a lot on your needs. Narita is a larger airport with more transportation options and more daily flights. Also, if you want to visit the Chiba or Narita area, it is the perfect airport to start or end your trip. For example, you can discover the wonderful temple of Narita.
At the same time, Haneda offers faster transport to central Tokyo.
You can also choose the airport depending on your hotel location: If you stay in northern Tokyo, I would recommend choosing Narita, and if you are in the south, in Haneda. But as you have already seen, the two airports are very well connected, and there are many trains and buses in a day.
Basically, there isn’t a clear answer and depends on your needs. You also have the option of landing in one and leaving from the other, so you can visit them and judge for yourself.
We hope this Tokyo airport guide will help you to choose your starting and ending point in Japan. Enjoy your trip and hope you want to repeat it again!
