Narita International Airport (NRT), one of Tokyo’s two main airports, is actually located a fair distance outside Tokyo’s center.
There are a variety of different ways to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo, bus and train being only two of them. This variety can seem a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors.
Let’s take a closer look at Narita Airport’s many ways of access to turn confusion into convenience!
Speed is important! And comfort!
Leaving Narita International Airport by train is the preferred choice of many a traveler. With the Keisei Electric Railway and JR East, the airport is served by two train stations.
Narita International Airport also has two stations, Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station beneath Terminal 1, as well as Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station, which can be found beneath Terminal 2.
If you happen to arrive at Terminal 3, either a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride will take you to Terminal 2.
Top: the Keisei Skyliner; Bottom: The Keisei Information Center
If speed is your main concern when transferring from Narita Airport to central Tokyo, your best choices are the Keisei Skyliner or Narita Express by JR East.
The Keisei Skyliner operates up to three trains per hour, taking you from Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station to Nippori Station in 36 minutes, and to Ueno Station in 41 minutes for a fare of 2,570 yen.
Especially Nippori Station is a convenient hub for transfer, connecting to important lines such as the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin Tohoku Line, as well as JR Joban Line.
At Ueno Station, travelers have access to the Shinkansen bullet trains to Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku, as well as Tokyo’s lines, such as the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hibiya Line, and Oedo Line.
Next to speed and convenience, however, the Skyliner and the Narita Express also offer a wonderfully comfortable experience. The ergonomically designed seats will let you relax in the modern, stylish interior of the train as it glides over the rails and reveals different sceneries of Tokyo and its surroundings.
With air conditioning and outlets to charge all kinds of devices, the trains are as modern as it gets on the one hand, while having a hint of Japan’s rich history and tradition, on the other hand, manifested in traditional plaid patterns adorning the stylish interior. A multi-functional toilet and a washroom can be found in the fifth car.
For international visitors to Japan, the Skyliner E-Ticket Service offers a both reasonably priced and convenient method to get one’s hands on a ticket for the conveni…
