Narita, Haneda and Kansai airport to the city

Before you land, fill in Visit Japan Web for one QR code at immigration and customs. Put your arrival in the trip planner and it reminds you to set up an eSIM, load an IC card and book anything that needs booking before you land. Which IC card to get, and whether to add it to your phone, is in the Suica, PASMO and ICOCA guide; for cash on arrival, see cash, ATMs and cards.

Narita to Tokyo

Narita is about 60 km from central Tokyo, so the choice matters more than at Haneda.

Fares for adults, as published on 24 October 2026. N’EX fares reflect JR East’s 14 March 2026 revision; the round-trip ticket is for foreign passport holders. Taxi fares depend on the ward and route, with a surcharge from 22:00 to 5:00.

• Skyliner is the pick for Ueno, Asakusa and the east side. Credit cards are accepted only at the Skyliner ticket counter.
• N’EX is easiest for Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa: one train, no change, reserved seats and luggage space.
• Buses take two bags per person on the Limousine (each up to 50 × 60 × 120 cm and 30 kg), and drop you right at some hotels.

Haneda to Tokyo

Haneda is inside the city, and international flights use Terminal 3 and part of Terminal 2.

Haneda flat-rate taxis from 20 April 2026

Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association, plus tolls. Wards closer to the airport, including Chuo, Minato, Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota and Koto, have no flat rate; you pay the meter, which is usually less. Ask for the flat rate (定額, teigaku) at the stand before you set off.

Tip for any taxi in Japan: type your hotel’s address once on the taxi address card and show it to the driver.

Kansai to Osaka and Kyoto

Kansai International (KIX) is on an island about 50 km from central Osaka. The JR HARUKA and Nankai Rapi:t are the two airport express trains.

JR West’s discounted ticket for foreign passport holders with Temporary Visitor status, valid on the HARUKA. From 1 November it also covers Kobe (¥2,300) and Nara (¥2,200). Without it, you pay the regular fare.

MK’s fixed fares, booked in advance: ¥14,800 to Naniwa ward (Namba), ¥15,400 to Chuo and Nishi wards, ¥16,400 to Kita ward (Umeda) and ¥19,000 to Yodogawa ward (Shin-Osaka). Add about ¥2,000 in tolls and ¥1,000 airport parking, and 20% from 22:00 to 5:00.

Arriving late

• Haneda: the last Keikyu train from Terminal 3 to Shinagawa leaves at 00:08 and arrives 00:20. After that, late-night buses or a taxi.
• Narita: the last trains and buses into Tokyo leave before midnight, some much earlier. Check the operator’s timetable for your day before you fly. A late landing, then immigration and baggage, can easily miss them.
• Kansai: the last trains into Osaka leave around 23:00–midnight, and a late bus runs to Osaka Station. Check KATE, JR West and Nankai for the day.

When a private transfer is worth it

A pre-booked transfer is a fixed price for the whole car, with a driver waiting in arrivals, flight monitoring and help with bags. It’s rarely the cheapest way, but sometimes it’s the sensible one:

• Groups of three or four from Narita or Kansai. Four Skyliner tickets plus a taxi from Ueno to the hotel add up. A shared car takes you door to door, while a metered or fixed-fare taxi from Narita costs ¥29,000 or more.
• Late arrivals, when trains have stopped or you just want to sleep. Welcome Pickups prices Haneda to central Tokyo from €87 by day and €104 at night (19:00–5:59) for a sedan, and Kansai to Osaka city from €114 (day) or €136 (night), all-inclusive with up to an hour of free waiting.
• Families and lots of luggage. Minivans start at €94 from Haneda, with room for big suitcases and no changes on crowded platforms.
• Not worth it from Haneda for two people travelling light: a flat-rate taxi is about ¥7,600–9,100 plus tolls, and the train is a few hundred yen.

Welcome Pickups prices as listed on 24 October 2026; they suggest a pickup 40 minutes after landing. Narita pickups cost more than Haneda; get a quote for your route.

Leaving Japan from 1 November 2026 with tax-free shopping? Allow time at the airport for the customs kiosk, before check-in: see how the airport refund works and the tax refund calculator. If you’d rather not haul your bags to the airport yourself, send them ahead by takkyubin.

Quick answers

What is the cheapest way from Narita to Tokyo?

The airport buses to Tokyo Station, such as AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT at ¥1,500, are the cheapest direct option. The journey takes from about 65 minutes and longer in traffic.

Is the Skyliner or the Narita Express better?

The Keisei Skyliner (¥2,580, from 36 minutes to Nippori) is faster and cheaper if you are staying around Ueno, Asakusa or the east side. The JR Narita Express (N’EX, ¥3,140 to Tokyo Station) runs direct to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku without changing (except from the evening of 6 November to the morning of 8 November 2026, when it runs only to Tokyo).

Is the Narita Express running on 6–8 November 2026?

Partly. JR East says that from about 19:40 on Friday 6 November until about 8:00 on Sunday 8 November 2026 (Tokyo Station times), N’EX runs only between Narita Airport and Tokyo, with no through trains to Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro or Yokohama. Change at Tokyo to the Yamanote, Chuo or Tokaido lines; on the N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket that onward JR East ride is included as long as you do not exit the ticket gates. The Keisei Skyliner (to Ueno) and the airport buses are not part of this JR East work.

How much is a taxi from Narita to Tokyo?

Narita’s fixed-fare taxis to central Tokyo cost about ¥29,000–32,500 plus tolls, depending on the ward and route, with a surcharge from 22:00 to 5:00. Prices change; check Narita Airport’s taxi page.

How much is a taxi from Haneda to Shinjuku or Shibuya?

Since 20 April 2026 Haneda flat-rate taxis cost ¥9,000 to Shinjuku ward and ¥8,500 to Shibuya ward, plus tolls (¥10,700 and ¥10,000 from 22:00 to 5:00). Ask for the flat rate (teigaku) at the taxi stand.

How do I get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto?

The JR Limited Express HARUKA runs direct to Kyoto in about 75 minutes. With a foreign passport and Temporary Visitor status, the HARUKA One-way Ticket costs ¥2,200 through 31 October 2026 and ¥2,700 from 1 November 2026.

Is a private airport transfer worth it in Japan?

From Haneda, a taxi is usually cheaper. A pre-booked transfer is worth it for late arrivals, families with young children, lots of luggage, or groups of three or four from Narita or Kansai, where taxis are expensive and a fixed price shared four ways gets close to train fares.

Flying into Hokkaido instead? From New Chitose Airport the JR Airport train reaches Sapporo in about 37 minutes: see New Chitose Airport to Sapporo.

Sources

Checked against these pages on 24 October 2026. Official pages take precedence over this summary.

1. JR East: N’EX (Narita Express)
   Railway operator.
2. JR East: Yokosuka Line/Sobu Rapid Line tunnel construction notice: Narita Express changes 4–6 Sep and 6–8 Nov 2026
   Railway operator.
3. Keisei Electric Railway: Skyliner FAQ: fares and tickets
   Railway operator.
4. AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT: Airport bus between Tokyo Station and Narita (official site)
   Bus operator.
5. Airport Limousine: Tokyo Station ⇔ Narita Airport: fare and stops
   Bus operator.
6. Narita International Airport: Taxi: fixed-fare zones to Tokyo
   Airport operator.
7. Keikyu: Fare table from Haneda Airport Terminal 1·2 (Japanese, PDF)
   Railway operator.
8. Tokyo Monorail: Fare table
   Railway operator.
9. Keikyu (Haneda Airport Access Guide): Last and first trains for late-night and early-morning users
   Railway operator.
10. Haneda Airport Passenger Terminal: Taxi stands and Haneda flat-rate taxi
    Airport terminal operator.
11. Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association: Haneda Airport fixed fares from 20 April 2026 (PDF)
    Taxi industry association.
12. Kansai International Airport: Train: journey times from the airport
    Airport operator.
13. JR West: HARUKA One-way Ticket (prices through 31 Oct and from 1 Nov 2026)
    Railway operator.
14. Nankai Electric Railway: Rapi:t Digital Ticket
    Railway operator.
15. Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise: Airport limousine bus timetables and fares
    Bus operator.
16. MK Taxi Osaka: Airport fixed fares, Kansai Airport ⇔ Osaka (Japanese)
    Taxi company.
17. Welcome Pickups: Tokyo airport transfer prices
    Transfer company and our affiliate partner; prices as listed on 23 Oct 2026.
18. Welcome Pickups: Osaka airport transfer prices
    Transfer company and our affiliate partner; prices as listed on 23 Oct 2026.

General information. Fares and timetables change; the operator’s own page is always right. JapanBenri is not affiliated with any airport, railway, bus or taxi company.