Narita Airport serves as Tokyo’s primary international gateway, located farther from the city center than its rival Haneda Airport. Despite being overshadowed in recent years, it’s a solid airport in its own right, run with all the characteristic Japanese efficiency you’d expect. The transfer process is reasonably simple, staff are courteous, and there are efficient trains into Tokyo, so the distance from the city isn’t a big issue. Here’s everything you need to know.
What to expect from Narita Airport?
Narita is located in Chiba, well to the east of Tokyo and surrounded by a whole lot of farmland. It’s a large airport with three terminals. While Haneda has snagged a lot of the long-haul flights recently, that’s not necessarily a bad thing for travelers.
In my experience, it means the airport is often uncrowded. Pair that with Japanese punctuality, and you’ve got a surprisingly chill place to start your trip.
Getting to and from Narita
The first thing to know about getting to and from Narita is that taxis are available but they are very expensive. Trains will tend to be nearly as convenient and in some cases faster than a car ride, so these are best avoided for most people.
However you should know there are also buses that run to key points in Tokyo including to the major hotels – and if I’m staying in a Tokyo hotel and I have bags or multiple people with me I do sometimes find it to be the better option compared to schlepping bags through a Tokyo train station before connecting onward to your hotel.
Rail options
The classic choice is the Narita Express (NEX), which will get you to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and even Yokohama in as fast as 53 minutes to Tokyo Station. It’s comfortable and reliable.
If you’re in a real hurry, the Keisei Skyliner zips you to Ueno Station (on the north side of central Tokyo) in around 41 minutes. It’s quicker, but unless Ueno is your final stop, the total travel time might be a wash once you transfer.
Bus options
Look for the bright orange Airport Limousine Buses. They go to a ton of spots around Tokyo and offer door-to-door service for many big hotels. It might take a bit longer than the train, but not having to wrestle your suitcase on the subway is a luxury worth considering. You can check their website for a full list of hotel stops.
Layout of the airport
Narita has three terminals that each exist as their own little islands, and if you’re connecting you’ll likely only experience one. That’s mainly because the major alliances are neatly consolidated across Terminals 1 and 2, while Terminal 3 is primarily for low-cost airlines.
Here’s how the alliance divisions break down:
Terminal 1 houses Star Alliance (South Wing) and Skyteam (North Wing)
Terminal 2 houses oneworld flights
Terminal 3 serves primarily low-cost carriers
Terminal 1 is further subdivided into five different satellites, but not to worry, it’s all pretty straightforward and signage is very clear. Terminal 2 has a more straightforward layout with one main building and one additional satellite building connected by walkways past security.
Transferring between terminals
Although many connecting passengers will not need to transfer terminals, there are various convenient ways to do so while remaining airside in the secure area. Narita offers shuttle buses between all the terminals, and it’s also possible to walk via an “access corridor” between Terminals 2 and 3 if you’d rather stretch your legs. Like everything else here, the shuttles are frequent and the signs are clear.
Tip: When connecting at Narita, you’ll have to go through security again, no matter where you’re coming from. The good news is that the lines are well-organized and move fast, so it shouldn’t add much stress.
Connecting from international to domestic
If you’re arriving from abroad and connecting to a domestic flight in Japan, you will be required to clear immigration and exit the secure area, meaning the process is a little more involved as you’ll have to do the whole departure process again. But as with every other process at Narita, it’s straightforward.
Destinations to/from Narita
Narita serves long-haul flights from all over Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia. This makes it a logical and convenient transit point for trips between the US and Australia or Southeast Asia. I’ve connected through Narita several times on my way to other spots in Asia, and it’s always been a smooth experience.
Domestically, Narita flies to numerous destinations across Japan, primarily via low-cost carriers like Jetstar Japan, Peach, and Spring Japan. It has fewer daily flights than Haneda, which handles most of Tokyo’s domestic traffic, but Narita’s domestic schedule is usually timed to connect with major international arrivals. This can be a convenient option if your final destination in Japan isn’t Tokyo.
Tip: Flights to smaller Japanese cities can sometimes be pricier than flying into Tokyo. The high-speed rail network in Japan is incredible, so it’s worth checking if it’s cheaper (and maybe just as fast) to fly into Narita and take a train from there. That’s what I usually do.
Where can you conveniently reach from Narita?
Tokyo is easy to reach from Narita thanks to the excellent train service, it just takes a little longer than from Haneda. If you’re headed to anywhere east of Tokyo or in the Chiba prefecture, Narita is very convenient. There are also local trains that can get you to the eastern parts of Tokyo without having to go all the way to central Tokyo Station first.
Alternatives to Narita
The only real alternative is Haneda Airport, located just south of Tokyo on the bay. In many ways, Haneda is the preferred airport for its proximity to the city, and most international airlines fly there if they can get a slot. Most travelers end up at Narita because the fares are often better.
It’s also worth knowing that if you’re headed to Osaka, you can find direct domestic flights there from Narita too.
What to do during a layover
Unless you have a lengthy layover, I wouldn’t recommend trying to dash into central Tokyo. It’s a lot of travel time for a short visit, and Tokyo can be overwhelming right after a long flight.
Instead, consider dropping by the nearby town of Narita, which the airport is named after. You can get a real taste of Japan without the stress of navigating Tokyo. The Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is the main highlight and definitely worth a visit. The approach street to the temple, Narita-san Omotesando, is also great to explore. And since it’s Japan, you can’t go wrong just wandering around and grabbing a bite to eat. Everything is delicious.
Tip: Head over to the nearby Sora no Yu hot spring hotel and soak in a Japanese style hot spring for a few hours. You can also stay overnight here.
Lounges
Terminals 1 and 2 have the usual lineup of airline and contract lounges you’d expect. The best ones belong to the home carriers, JAL and ANA, and many of their partner airlines use them as well. You’ll also find a United Club and various other airline lounges. Plus, there are contract lounges accessible with memberships like Priority Pass.
It’s worth knowing that Terminal 3, the low-cost terminal, currently doesn’t have any lounges.
Tip: ANA has an arrivals lounge that’s a game-changer after a long flight. You can grab a shower and a snack, which is especially great if you’re connecting to a domestic flight. It’s open to ANA first-class passengers, ANA Diamond and Platinum members and Super Flyers Card holders.
Airport hotels
Narita is blessed with a wide array of airport hotels that are easily accessed via free shuttle buses. They are all fairly similar and largely unchanged since they came up in the 1980s and 90s, but they’re generally comfortable.
If you’re into seeing airplanes from your hotel room, I can recommend the Marroad International which is ideally placed for that. Or if you want to do the capsule hotel thing, 9 hours Narita has a location right in Terminal 2 and it can be a very convenient option especially if you just want to nap for a few hours.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
