Landing in Tokyo has to be one of my favourite feelings in the world (it’s fair to say that we’re addicted!) but it can also be stressful and more than a little daunting. The immigration lines are long and confusing, you’ll need 2 different QR codes, and then when you finally get through….you’ll need airport transfers into Tokyo.

If you don’t find all of that just a little bit daunting (especially with kids in tow) then you’re a braver traveller than me! Two huge airports, lots of train lines, buses, shuttles… and me and Mike in the middle, just trying to get everyone (and all the luggage) into the city without losing your cool.

Whether you’re arriving into Tokyo Narita Airport or Tokyo Haneda Airport, we’ve got your back. We’ve flown into both Tokyo airports, and survived! Thinking about your own Tokyo airport transfers? This guide breaks down all the options.

I’ll share what’s best for families, first-timers, budget travellers, and those arriving late at night. I’ll also show you the easy options you can book online before you even fly, because my type A personality can’t cope with leaving things last minute! Here’s everything you need to know (and didn’t know you needed to know!) about airport transfers in Tokyo.

1. Narita vs Haneda: What’s the Difference?
2. Getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo
   1.  Train Options From Narita to Tokyo
   2.  Bus Options From Narita to Tokyo
   3.  Private Transfer From Narita Airport
   4.  Taxi
3. Getting from Haneda Airport to Tokyo
   1.  Train Options From Haneda to Tokyo
   2.  Bus Options From Haneda to Tokyo
   3.  Private Transfer From Haneda Airport
   4.  Taxi
4. Best Options by Traveller Type
5. Final Thoughts

Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!

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Narita vs Haneda: What’s the Difference?

So first thing’s first: there are two airports in Tokyo. We’ve flown into both because, honestly, we’re driven by cost and we like to get a bargain on our airfare! If you do have a choice then I would suggest Haneda is a better choice than Narita, simply because it’s so much closer to the city centre, so your Tokyo airport transfers will be easier.

I’ve put together a quick overview of the two airports:

Airport	Distance to Central Tokyo	Typical Travel Time	Good to Know
Narita (NRT)	~60 km	60–90 mins	Bigger, more international flights. Further out of the city.
Haneda (HND)	~20 km	20–40 mins	Closer to central Tokyo. Many domestic + some international flights.

 Rule of thumb: if you can fly into Haneda, without significant financial investment then do it! It’s so much closer and easier with kids. But if you’re at Narita, don’t panic because there are lots of ways to get into the city.

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Getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo

So as with just about every major airport in the world, there are four main ways to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo. You can take the train, the airport limousine bus, book a private transfer, or take a taxi from outside of the airport. Let’s break it down:

 Train Options From Narita to Tokyo

There are two trains that you can take from Narita to Tokyo. Be warned that at peak times these can be uncomfortably crowded, which is something to think about if you have a lot of large luggage.

• Narita Express (N’EX) –This train travels directly from the airport to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. The train is petty comfortable and takes around an hour. Tickets cost £14.99 and you can book yours here.
• Keisei Skyliner –This is the best and fastest option if you’re travelling to Ueno/Keisei Ueno. This route is faster and takes around 40 mins. Tickets cost £11.75 per person and you can book yours here.

✨TIP: Pre-booking your tickets will save the hassle of queuing to book one at the airpot. Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off all of these prices.

 Bus Options From Narita to Tokyo

I think this a really great option: there’s plenty of room for luggage and your seat is guarenteed. The airport limousine bus runs to major hotels and stations, and if you’re visiting Tokyo Disney/Tokyo Bay then it will take you straight to most of the Disney and partner hotels. It’s a great choice if you don’t want to deal with train transfers but the pay off is that it takes a little longer at 90 minutes.

It’s also worth noting that that the Airport Limousine bus stops running at around 6pm, so if you have a late flight, this won’t be the right choice for you. Otherwise this is a great choice for affordability and convenience.

✨TIP – Tickets start from £11.45 per person, and I recommend booking with Klook as they have an exclusive offer where you can board directly with a QR code. It saves so much time and effort! Click here to check times and book!

👉 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off ticket prices.

 Private Transfer From Narita Airport

On our last flight, we opted for private transfers and honestly? This was the best option for us, and I wouldn’t do it any other way! Our flight landed late (at around 9pm) and after a long journey we just didn’t want the hassle of the train: plus when you’re a family of four, it actually doesn’t cost that much more to book a private transfer from Narita airport compared to 4 train tickets.

With loved having a direct, private car waiting with our driver waiting for us in the arrivals hall. I do accept that this is more expensive, but honestly we felt it was worth it for the convenience and the peace of mind. Especially when we were tired, jet-lagged, and wrangling exhausted kids.

👉 Check prices and book your private Narita airport transfers here.
🎁 Use the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off these transfer prices.

 Taxi

If you haven’t planned ahead, it is possible to get a taxi from outside Narita airport into Tokyo but these are very expensive. Expect to pay ¥20,000+ which is an eye watering amount. It’s only worth doing this in an emergency, unless you have money to burn.

You can read about the mistake we made that meant we had to splash out on an airport taxi here.

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Getting from Haneda Airport to Tokyo

Haneda Airport is much closer to Tokyo centre than Narita Airport. That means that no matter which transfer option you choose, your transfers are going to be cheaper! You’ll still have the same four options available to you: the train, limousine bus, private transfer or taxi. This should help you work out which is going to be best for you:

 Train Options From Haneda to Tokyo

There are two different train options from Haneda to Tokyo. These are crowded, but surprisingly fast! Your options are:

• Tokyo Monorail. This train connects you from the airport via the JR Yamanote Line at Hamamatsuchō. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the city centre.
• Keikyū Line. This runs from the airport into Shinagawa, Yokohama, and beyond.

✨ TIP: If you fly into Haneda and plan to take the train into Tokyo then get your SUICA card for the best public transport prices. You can download the SUICA app before you land to make this even easier!

 Bus Options From Haneda to Tokyo

Just like if you fly into Narita, Airport Limousine Buses also run from Haneda to many city hotels and districts. This is a really easy and convenient way to get into the city. There’s plenty of room for luggage and this is an affordable option too. But it’s worth noting that these trains don’t run all night, so if you have a late or early start, this might not be the right option for you.

✨TIP – Tickets start from £4.99 per person, and I recommend booking with Klook as they have an exclusive offer where you can board directly with a QR code. It saves so much time and effort! Click here to check times and book!

👉 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off ticket prices.

 Private Transfer From Haneda Airport

Now we’ve tried private transfer from Haneda Airport, we’ll never go back! Our planes always seem to land in the evening (and our next flight is no exception – we’re due to land at 9.30pm this time) so private transfers are the best choice for us.

Your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall, walk you to their car, and even help to carry your luggage. It’s also not as expensive as you might think: if you’re a family then it’s around the same price as buying 4 train tickets! We love the ease and convenience of a private transfer, and knowing that we just have to sit back, enjoy the view, and our driver will take us right to our hotel.

👉 Check prices and book your private Haneda airport transfers here.
🎁 Use the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off these transfer prices.

 Taxi

What I said about taking a taxi from Narita airport still stands: this is an expensive choice, and you should probably only choose this in an emergency. Taking a taxi to Tokyo from Haneda is cheaper than taking a taxi from Narita (because it’s closer) but if you’re trying to stick to a budget then this is definitely not the most budget friendly transfer type to choose

• Cheaper than from Narita (since it’s closer), but still not the most budget-friendly.

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Best Options by Traveller Type

• Families with Kids or Couples with Lots of Luggage. I recommend booking a private transfer! This is by far our preferred option because it’s so easy and relatively stress free. You don’t have to worry about shunting luggage down stairs and there are no rush hour train transfers with kids on your first day in the city! Now we’ve tried private transfers to Tokyo with our own family, we’ll never go back.
  
• Budget Travellers. It IS possible to visit Tokyo on a budget (we’ve done it and loved every minute!) If you’re a budget traveller then trains are the cheapest way of getting into Tokyo and they’re a pretty quick option too.
  
• First-Time Visitors. If you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time and convenience and ease are your priorities in the face of overwhelm, I recommend either pre-booking thre Limousine bus or a private transfer. That way you won’t have to navigate ticket machines and public transfers on your first day in the city.
  
• Late-Night Arrivals. PLEASE Book a transfer in advance. Trains may not be running late into the night and the Limousine bus stops running at around 6pm (depending on your destination). Don’t end up stuck or worse, forced to pay extortionate taxi prices.

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Final Thoughts

The good news is that no matter which Tokyo airport you land in, you’ve got loads of options available to you. What is key is planning ahead: so work out what’s going to work best for your situation and get it booked BEFORE you get on the plane!

If you’re travelling light and on a budget, trains are brilliant. If you’ve got kids, luggage, or just want to make life easy, booking a transfer is worth every yen. We’re going back to Japan again in March, and we’re so sure that we want private transfers, that I booked them on the same day we booked our flights!

 You can check the latest Tokyo airport transfer options here:

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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!