Tokyo Narita International Airport

About Narita International Airport

Narita International Airport (NRT) is Tokyo’s primary long-haul international gateway, located in Chiba prefecture around 60 km east of the city centre. Opened in 1978, it now handles around 30 million passengers a year across three terminals and remains the principal hub for both ANA and JAL international flights despite the rise of Haneda. Terminal 1 hosts Star Alliance carriers, Terminal 2 hosts oneworld and SkyTeam, and the smaller Terminal 3 is dedicated to low-cost carriers including Jetstar, Peach and Spring Japan. Cargo, maintenance and a small village immediately south of the airport complete the site, with the historic Naritasan Shinshoji temple a 15-minute drive away for layover sightseeing.

Getting from NRT to Tokyo

Narita is a long way out of Tokyo. The Higashi-Kanto Expressway and the Bayshore Route link the airport with central Tokyo in 60 to 90 minutes outside rush hour and longer in evening traffic. The JR Narita Express runs to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Yokohama in 80 to 110 minutes, while the Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in 41 minutes. Both rail options require a transfer to the local subway and lifting luggage at busy stations, which is why many visitors with bags prefer a door-to-door private transfer. Cheaper limousine bus services run to many central hotels but generally take 90 to 150 minutes and stop multiple times.

Terminals and pickup points

Narita has three terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 are connected by a free shuttle bus and an internal walkway, and Terminal 3 sits a short walk from Terminal 2 through a covered path. Pre-booked drivers wait at the Arrivals lobby meeting point near the central information counter of the relevant terminal, holding a name sign. Signage at Narita is bilingual and the meeting points are easy to find after baggage reclaim. Porter assistance can be added at booking and wheelchair-accessible vehicles can be specified in the booking notes.

Common transfer routes from NRT

The most-booked rides from Narita run to Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Asakusa and Tokyo Station, with travel times of 75 to 110 minutes depending on traffic. Disneyland Resort at Maihama takes around 50 minutes and is a popular first-day pickup for families. Onward transfers to Haneda for connecting flights take 80 to 110 minutes via the Bayshore Route. Longer rides reach Hakone, Karuizawa and Nikko for ryokan stays straight after a long-haul arrival, and Yokohama is 60 to 90 minutes via the Bayshore Route. Direct transfers to Mount Fuji’s fifth station are also available as a fixed-fare full-day charter for groups.

Booking your NRT transfer

Pre-booking takes about two minutes. Enter your flight number, terminal and party size, then choose a saloon, minivan or minibus depending on luggage. The fare is fixed and includes expressway tolls, the driver tracks your flight with a 60-minute free wait, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before pickup. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL, Wero and Alipay are accepted at checkout. Child seats can be added for a small fee, and oversized luggage such as golf clubs or ski bags can be flagged in the booking notes so the right vehicle is dispatched.