Landed at Narita and not sure how to reach the city? We compare every option on one page — the Narita Express · Keisei Skyliner · Limousine Bus · budget buses, with real 2026 prices and times, plus SIMs, money exchange, luggage storage, and where to stay near the airport for those late-night flights.
Narita International Airport (code NRT) is Tokyo's main international gateway, but here's the thing — it isn't actually in Tokyo. It sits in Chiba Prefecture, roughly 60–70 kilometres from the city centre. Picture the distance from one end of a metro region to the other, and you'll see why so many travellers get a shock when they realise the train into town takes about an hour. The honest truth is that if you sort out your arrival plan before you even step out of the arrivals hall, the whole thing becomes simple straight away.
Narita has three passenger terminals — Terminals 1 and 2 are the main ones, and Terminal 3 is the low-cost-carrier zone (walkable from Terminal 2, or a free shuttle ride). Both the JR and Keisei railway stations sit on the basement level of Terminals 1 and 2. This page walks you through every option into the city with real prices and times, plus the airport tasks to handle before you leave — SIM, money exchange, luggage, and where to stay if your flight lands late.
Five main options from Narita into the city, side by side in one table — choose by destination, budget and amount of luggage. Prices are approximate one-way fares for 2026 (subject to change, check the latest before you travel).
| Option | Type | Main destinations | Time | One-way fare (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keisei SkylinerExpress train | Express train | Nippori · Ueno | ~36–41 min | ~¥2,580 (advance ~¥2,310) |
| Narita Express (N'EX)Express train | Express train | Tokyo Station · Shinjuku · Shibuya | ~53–90 min | ~¥3,070 (Tokyo) · ~¥3,250 (Shinjuku) · JR Pass valid |
| Keisei Access ExpressBudget train | Budget train | Ueno · Asakusa | ~50–70 min | ~¥1,300 |
| Airport Limousine BusAirport Limousine Bus | Bus | Major hotels · Tokyo Station | ~80–120 min | ~¥2,100–2,900 |
| Budget bus (TYO-NRT / Keisei)Budget bus | Budget bus | Tokyo Station · Kinshicho | ~80–100 min | ~¥1,300–1,500 |
| Taxi (fixed fare)Fixed-fare taxi | Taxi | Door to door at your hotel | ~70–90 min | ~¥22,000–35,000 (+ tolls) |
You've seen the price-comparison table above — here's the detail on each option: where you board, which destinations suit it, and who should pick what. Read it through and you can decide before you even leave the arrivals hall.
The fastest limited-express train out of Narita, running non-stop to Nippori in about 36 minutes and Ueno in about 41. Every seat is reserved and there's room for luggage, making it ideal if your hotel is on the east/north side of Tokyo (Ueno, Asakusa). From Ueno you can connect to the JR Yamanote Line or the metro to reach the whole city.
Tokyo Travel Guide →JR's limited express running straight into the big stations on the west side of Tokyo — Tokyo Station in about 53–60 minutes, then on to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Yokohama. Every seat is reserved (there are no unreserved cars) and there's lockable luggage space. The big draw: if you hold a JR Pass, you ride free — just reserve a seat at the counter.
Is a JR Pass worth it? →Runs on the same line as the Skyliner but stops at more stations and has no reserved seats, so it costs about half as much. It reaches Ueno and continues directly into the Asakusa area. If you're not carrying much luggage and you're not in a rush, this is the most economical of the rail options — about the same as a bus, but with no risk of getting stuck in traffic.
Plan your Japan trip →An air-conditioned coach running directly to many major hotels and key stations in Tokyo. The big appeal is that you board once and ride all the way there — no dragging luggage up and down to change trains, and the crew loads your bags into the hold for you. Perfect if your hotel is a drop-off point, though you'll want to allow extra time, as traffic can build at rush hour.
Tokyo Travel Guide →A low-cost express bus running straight to Tokyo Station — about as cheap as the Access Express train, but with a comfier seat. The first departure is very early and the last runs late, so it works well if your destination is around Tokyo Station / Marunouchi. Book online ahead for a good price and a guaranteed seat.
Plan your Japan trip →The priciest of all the options, but sometimes it pays off — door to door at your accommodation, with no hauling luggage through multiple train changes. It works well if you're a group splitting the cost, your flight lands after the trains have stopped, or you're staying somewhere far from a station. Narita offers fixed-fare taxis by zone, which you can book right at the taxi rank in the airport.
Hotels near Narita Airport →Narita has everything a traveller needs in that first hour — internet, cash, somewhere to leave your bags. Know where to find what, and you'll get out of the arrivals hall smoothly without wasting time.
Terminals 1 and 2 have SIM counters and SIM vending machines, plus pick-up points for pocket Wi-Fi reserved in advance. An eSIM is the easiest of all — buy it online before you fly and activate it the moment you land, with no queue.
There are currency-exchange counters and ATMs that accept foreign cards (look for 7-Bank or Japan Post Bank) throughout the arrivals hall. Japan still runs heavily on cash, so carry a small amount with you before heading into the city.
There are daily luggage-storage counters and a luggage-forwarding (takkyubin) service to send your bags ahead to a hotel in town or another city. Travelling into the city hands-free is far more comfortable, especially if you have several train changes.
The stations are in the basement of Terminals 1 and 2. There's a JR counter (exchange/reserve N'EX seats · issue a Suica IC card) and a Keisei counter (buy Skyliner tickets), with English-speaking staff to help.
Both before and after immigration there are plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops. On the way out, leave time to shop the duty-free zone — you can pick up all your Japanese snacks to take home right here.
Narita has free Wi-Fi throughout the terminals — connect right away to message or order a ride while you wait. But if you want navigation for the whole trip, you'll still want your own SIM/eSIM.
The last trains into the city usually finish around 22:00–23:00. If your plane lands late or you need to check in before dawn, a night at a hotel around the airport — on your first or last night — saves a lot of exhaustion.
The hotel cluster around Narita is concentrated in the Narita and Tomisato areas, and many of them run a free shuttle to the terminals that takes just 5–15 minutes; a few are close enough to walk. The honest truth is that if your flight lands in the evening or leaves at 5 am, not having to gamble on trains and traffic in the middle of the night is peace of mind that's well worth it.
Narita doesn't only connect to the city centre — from here you can continue to Disney, fan out across Tokyo's 23 wards, or fly on within Japan. Here are the routes people use most.
There's a direct Limousine Bus from Narita to Tokyo Disney Resort (the Maihama area) in about 60–80 minutes — handy if you want to head straight to the parks on day one. Alternatively, take a train to Tokyo Station and transfer to the JR Keiyo Line for Maihama, about 15 more minutes.
From the express-train terminals — Ueno (Skyliner) or Tokyo Station/Shinjuku (N'EX) — connect to the JR Yamanote Line or the Tokyo Metro to reach any ward with ease. A single IC card (Suica/PASMO) works on every line with one tap.
Heading to Kyoto, Osaka or somewhere far? Ride the N'EX into Tokyo Station and transfer straight to the shinkansen (even better value with a JR Pass). Or to fly domestically, Narita has some domestic flights and connections to regional airports.
See clearly how far Narita is from central Tokyo, and where the two express lines drop you — the Skyliner terminating at Ueno · the N'EX at Tokyo Station.
Tokyo's other airport, much closer to the city — compare the Monorail, Keikyu and buses, and decide whether to fly into Narita or Haneda.
Haneda Guide →The 10 closest hotels around Narita, both free-shuttle and walkable — ideal for late-night or pre-dawn flights.
See Airport Hotels →Hotels, sights, the best neighbourhoods, and how to get around the city — start planning your trip here.
Tokyo Guide →Enter your route and see whether a JR Pass beats buying tickets separately — including the N'EX into the city.
Calculate JR Pass →A ready-made 7-day Japan trip you don't have to plan yourself — route, hotels, and what to see each day.
See the 7-Day Plan →Visa · eSIM · IC cards · JR Pass · yen · power plugs · Japanese etiquette — everything before you fly.
Travel Prep →You've picked the arrival plan that fits your trip — the next step is the stay. If your flight lands late or leaves at dawn, start with a hotel near the airport, or open the Tokyo guide to find a place in the centre, right by the neighbourhood you want to explore.