In many cities in the world, you might expect to jump in a taxi.
Narita to the city centre can cost upwards of 250 US dollars in a taxi.
A taxi from Haneda to the city is more reasonable at more like 80 US dollars ( this is why I talk about choosing Haneda Airport , if possible, in my “Biggest mistakes I see travelers make” article here. )
I think it is best to make the first day easy. So I’m going to out all of the airport to the city options that we use.
This option is my personal favourite.
*Important to note: it is a bus transfer. Don’t let that limousine word get you too excited, ok?
WHY?
Ease with luggage
This is because your luggage is stored under the bus so there is no lugging it to the train station and then up again from the platform. You say goodbye to your luggage when you board and it gets off with you later.
This is especially handy when traveling with kids. I just
Toilet on board
There are a couple of bus companies that offer cheaper transfers such as Keisei Bus Tokyo Shuttle between Narita Airport and Tokyo Station but there is no bathroom on board. No thanks. Especially when travelling with kids. Also means peace of mind if anyone in your group occasionally experiences motion sickness.
Free Wifi on board
The Narita Express ( train) has wifi but I haven’t found it to be as reliable as the bus.
We usually offer our children a little sleep on the bus or offer an iPad or old phone to watch a movie and chill out.
Drop off options all over the city
The Airport Limousine website is here and lists all of the stops from Haneda and Narita International Airports. You are not limited to one location.
It’s easy to “cheat” a cheaper way to get to your hotel
When you look at the Airport Limousine website you will see that the majority of the limousine bus stops are at major hotels. And a mistake that many people make? They think ” oh, it doesn’t stop at my hotel” or “I can’t afford to stay at the hotels it stops at” etc.
But .. .my trick? Find the closest stop to your hotel and then take a taxi from there ( or, you may find that your place is more like across the road or even around the corner!)
The estimated travel time has always been on track for me
( or arrived earlier than listed on the website)
I love being able to see the city from the bus
Unlike trains where I see the stations and the tunnels I can take in the city from the bus and that adds to my excitement.
I never have to worry about finding luggage space
It all goes under the bus. No need to hope that there is space for your items – luggage space is guarranteed with your ticket to ride.
Downsides: Tickets are not included in the JR Pass
But I still don’t think this should stop you from riding the bus. Just start your JR pass from the following day. If it is really important for you to use the JR Pass, then the Narita Express is your best option.
Downsides: Bus options are limited if traveling before 6AM or after 10PM
If you are travelling from the airport to the city outside of these hours I recommend seeking out other options.
If you are planning on travelling TOWARDS the airport and the bus options stop earlier than you’d like… I would consider going early anyway.
PRICES?
Adult tickets are 3100 yen, one way. It is cheaper when travelling earlier in the day or late at night.
Kids prices (12 and under) are half the normal cost. They are free if under 6 and don’t occupy their own seat (if the bus isn’t busy then this is ideal as they will then get to sit anyway.)
It is cheaper again if you buy a set of tickets or your return tickets at the same time.
You can book the limousine bus online or buy at the airport counter.
The Narita Express ( or NEX) and travels to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku and Yokohama every 30 minutes.
My husband loves this option, especially when travelling for work.
WHY?
Travel will never be affected by traffic.
Price is included in the JR Pass
So if you’ve included your 21 days, 14 days or 7 day JR Pass to include your airport transfer days then you can use it right away. Make sure you do your calculations ahead of time to make sure its the best use of the JR Pass.
Trains are clean and smooth sailing
Road congestion won’t affect your journey
The Narita Express train station is under the airport
There are toilets on board (just like on a shinkansen)
Downsides: You will need to lug your own luggage between train platforms and your accommodation
There is plenty of space to store your luggage between the carriages and you can secure your luggage with little combination locks (so no-one could exit the train with your luggage. One way around this is to courier your luggage from the airport to your accommodation ( this is not an option if you’re staying at Airbnb.) More about this in my post on sending your luggage here.
On the Narita Express, I like to take it from the first station Shinjuku and settle in with the kids (reserved seats) and then it stops at Shibuya, Tokyo Station, Chiba Station and then all the Narita Airport Terminals.
PRICE?
Adult tickets are 4000 yen return.
Children 6-11 years are 2000 yen return.
More information on the Narita Express here.
If you are looking for an ekiben (bento to eat on the train) for the Narita Express, there is a bento shop called Ekibenya Itadaki. It’s located in the Miraina Tower exit of Shinjuku Station – just outside the gates. Open 6:30am to 9pm.
You can see pictures of the bento options at Ekibenya Itadaki here. They also have the bentos sold in the shinkansen shaped bento box here.
Depending on the number of people in your group, you may want to consider a private transfer.
I can recommend an amazing company here – legally registered for transporting families AND provide car seats.
You can book ahead of time, in English, on the Klook website.
You can transfer as many as 10 people
Price options include a 7 seater or a 10 seater vehicle.
Also, if you have lots of luggage, maybe think about getting a bigger vehicle – to make sure it all fits?
You can also request child seats in the car for an additional cost
This option is particularly handy if you don’t know the exact location of your accommodation at the beginning of your trip (Japanese addresses for smaller properties can be confusing at first)
This might be a good option if you’re a bit worried about finding your location – for example, if you hotel isn’t that big or well known, if you’re staying with a friend or if you’re at an AirBnb. That way you make the geographical logistics someone else’s responsibility.
It is possible to cancel your booking 24 hours prior to arrival , free of charge
Downsides: You may have to pay additional costs if your flight is more than 2 hours late
More details on the Klook website here
See here for more details on booking a private transfer with Klook.
PRICE?
Prices start at around $140 USD.
So do your homework to see if it makes for a convenient option for the number of people in your group.
Please note; there is also a shared shuttle option with a company called Green Tomato. I have never used it so cannot comment on the service at this point.
Friends of mine told me this service was great and one friend said there wasn’t even anyone else (passengers) in the car with her.
This will company will deliver passengers to the Maihama area (Disneyland area), Hotels and Ryokans. They do not take passengers to airbnbs, apartments or capsule hotels.
PRICE ?
From Narita: 6200 YEN
From Haneda: 5800 YEN
TAXI
We almost always use this option when flying into Haneda as it’s so close to the city centre and usually costs around 8000-9000 yen and takes approx 30 mins. Just grab a taxi from the taxi rank outside of arrivals at Haneda. I’ve written more about taxis in Japan and apps etc here.
UBER
Just a little FYI : Uber is almost always more expensive than taxis in Japan and are often hard to come by.
HOWEVER: a friend of mine shared a little tip with me recently, there is a flat rate for Uber between Haneda Airport and the city centre so that may be worth asking about.
LATE NIGHT BUSES
There are normal buses to all corners of Tokyo from Haneda Airport. Details here.
But there are also late night bus options. The bus tickets cost as little as 2,200 yen. Details here.
