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Narita Airport to Tokyo: which train or bus?

Start with your hotel station, not the fastest-looking airport ticket. A direct ride to the right part of Tokyo can make your first hour much easier.

Updated September 23, 2026Official routes linked
Aerial photograph of Narita International Airport
Photo: Petra.G09 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Display cropped; downloaded thumbnail otherwise unchanged.

Advertising disclosure: The transport links in this guide go to official airport and operator pages. We receive no payment or commission from them. Read our full disclosure.
Editorial note: This is a route-planning guide based on published information. We have not personally tested these services.

01 / START WITH THE END

The short answer

Tokyo Station, Shibuya or Shinjuku: check the JR Narita Express (N’EX) for a direct train. Ueno or Nippori: check the Keisei Skyliner. Asakusa or stations on the Asakusa subway line: check a Keisei Access Express service that reaches your station. Tokyo Station or Ginza on a tighter budget: compare an airport bus with the train. These are starting points, not a promise that every departure will be direct.123

1HotelFind its nearest station or bus stop.
2RoutePrefer fewer changes with luggage.
3TimeCheck the live departure after landing.
Flying into Haneda?

Haneda is a different airport with different routes. This guide is for Narita International Airport (NRT).

02 / WHERE ARE YOU STAYING?

Choose by your Tokyo destination

TOKYO · SHIBUYA · SHINJUKU

Look at N’EX

JR East lists direct Narita Express service to these major stations. It has luggage space, and a reserved-seat ticket is available. Check your hotel’s final walk or local connection as well.4

UENO · NIPPORI

Look at Skyliner

Keisei’s reserved-seat Skyliner serves Nippori and Keisei Ueno. Nippori is also a transfer point for JR lines; Keisei Ueno is a separate station from JR Ueno.5

For Asakusa, Oshiage, Nihombashi or Shinbashi, check the exact Access Express departure: Keisei publishes fares to these areas, but services take different routes and not every train stops at the same stations.2 For Tokyo Station or Ginza, Narita Airport also lists a lower-cost bus route. A bus can save a transfer if its stop suits your hotel, but road traffic and the final walk matter.3

Search the full route to your hotel address before paying. A train arriving quickly at the wrong side of Tokyo may cost more time and effort than a slower direct option.

THE ROUTE IN PICTURES

See the route before you go

These diagrams show key stops and changes, not every station or a geographic map. Confirm your train or bus destination, platform and live timetable with the operator.

Tokyo, Shibuya or ShinjukuJR Narita Express (N’EX)
  1. Narita Airport
  2. Tokyo
  3. Shibuya / Shinjuku

Choose a departure that actually serves your stop; some services have different destinations.

Ueno or NipporiKeisei Skyliner
  1. Narita Airport
  2. Nippori
  3. Keisei Ueno

Use Nippori for a JR connection. Keisei Ueno and JR Ueno are separate stations.

Asakusa areaKeisei Access Express
  1. Narita Airport
  2. Asakusa Line
  3. Asakusa

Check the train destination: not every Access Express follows the same route.

For the full network and current service, open the official airport or operator route information ↗.

A Narita Express train at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station
A Narita Express train at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station. The photograph is illustrative; train and platform signs can change. Photo: Endlessrailroad / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Display cropped; downloaded thumbnail otherwise unchanged.
AFTER YOU GET OFF

From the city stop to your stay

Start with your hotel’s exact address. A station or bus terminal can serve several different neighborhoods; the right exit or local connection depends on where you are staying.

  • Tokyo Station

    If your hotel is near Tokyo Station, find whether its address is on the Yaesu or Marunouchi side before following an exit sign. For another district, plan the JR or subway connection first.

  • Nippori / Ueno

    At Nippori, follow signs to JR only if your hotel is beyond the Skyliner stop. At Keisei Ueno, check your hotel map before walking toward JR Ueno or the subway.

  • Shibuya / Shinjuku

    Both stations have many exits. Search your hotel’s nearest exit in your map app while you still have station Wi-Fi or data, then follow that exit rather than the first street-level sign.

Keep this last step on your phone

Save the hotel address and its nearest station exit or bus stop offline before leaving the airport. The route diagrams above are simplified and do not replace live navigation.

03 / COMPARE THE SERVICE

The main train and bus choices

01

JR Narita Express

Direct to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku on listed services. Check JR East’s current route and ticket page for your exact date and station.

JR East official guide
02

Keisei Skyliner

Reserved-seat service to Nippori and Keisei Ueno. If you need another station, include the transfer in your comparison.

Keisei official guide
03

Access Express

A different Keisei service from Skyliner. Its routes may work well for Asakusa-line destinations. Check the service name and the train’s actual destination before boarding.

Keisei route and fares
04

Airport bus

Narita Airport lists buses to Tokyo Station, Ginza and other areas. Compare the stop location, timetable, luggage rules and any road delay risk.

Narita Airport bus guide

All links above are direct, non-affiliate links as of September 23, 2026. Fares, timetables and service patterns may change.

04 / AT THE AIRPORT

Know your terminal before following signs

Terminal 1 uses Narita Airport Station. Terminals 2 and 3 use Airport Terminal 2·3 Station. Narita Airport estimates about a five-minute walk from the station to Terminals 1 and 2, and about a ten-minute walk to Terminal 3. Terminal 3 passengers should allow extra time for that walk in either direction.1

If a bus route better fits your hotel, use the airport’s bus-stop guide for your terminal rather than assuming every service leaves from the same stop.3

05 / BEFORE YOU BUY

Three checks that prevent an awkward transfer

  1. Check the whole journey. Include the trip from the Tokyo arrival station or bus stop to your hotel, especially if you will have large bags.
  2. Check the ticket type. N’EX and Skyliner have their own limited-express ticket rules. JR East and Keisei both publish official purchase instructions; an ordinary rail fare alone may not cover a reserved-seat service.67
  3. Check the current departure. Immigration, baggage collection and the walk to the station vary. After landing, compare the next practical train or bus with the operator’s live information.

You can buy eligible N’EX and Skyliner tickets at airport stations; both operators also describe advance purchase options. For buses, Narita Airport directs passengers to ticket counters or machines for highway-bus tickets and advises checking the current bus operator information.673

Need a map when you land?

Save your hotel address offline and arrange mobile data before departure. Our Japan eSIM guide explains how to check your phone and choose a plan.

EDITORIAL RECORD

Sources & updates

Checked against official airport and operator information on September 23, 2026. Route suggestions are editorial judgments based on listed stops. Confirm service, price, timetable and purchase terms on the operator’s live site before traveling.

  1. Narita International Airport: Rail
  2. Keisei Electric Railway: Access Express destinations and fares
  3. Narita International Airport: Buses leaving the airport
  4. JR East: Narita Express route
  5. Keisei Electric Railway: Skyliner overview
  6. JR East: Narita Express tickets
  7. Keisei Electric Railway: How to purchase Skyliner tickets
YOUR FIRST HOUR

Pick the stop nearest your stay.

Keep your hotel address, route and backup option on your phone before you fly.

See all 10 airport guides

Flying into Haneda? Use the Haneda to Tokyo guide.