The Japanese version of this article is here. (Nihongo)

This article tells you how to travel between the two airports in Japan, Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) and Narita Airport (Narita International Airport).

Haneda Airport has been primarily the base for domestic airlines, and Narita Airport has been the base for international and LCC airlines. Although recently, the number of international flights departing from Haneda Airport has been steadily rising.

There are occasions in which it is necessary to travel between these two airports. For example, you might transfer from a domestic flight to an international flight, also from an LCC flight to a non-LCC flight.

First of all, let’s see the locations of these two airports. Haneda Airport is the southeast of central Tokyo, and Narita Airport is in an eastern suburban area away from Tokyo.

The shortest distance between these two airports is about 39 miles (63 kilometers), and the distance by train is about 53 miles (85 kilometers).

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The followings are major public transportations or typical trip plans between Haneda and Narita Airports.

1. Airport Limousine bus
2. Airport Kaitoku (Access Express)
3. Keikyu train and Narita Express (Transfer at Shinagawa Sta.)
4. Taxicab

Let’s take a close look at each of them in the following sections.

Airport Limousine bus

Adult one-way fare: JPY 3,100
Approximate travel time: 1 to 1:25 hours

Airport Limousine (NRT-HND Inter-Airport Route) is the non-stop bus that directly connects  Haneda and Narita airports, and departs every 10 or 15 minutes during daylight hours.

Timetable and other information are here. No reservation is required.

It is a little bit more expensive than other transportations. But, it is best suited for especially first-timers in Japan who are not used to board trains in Japan. Also, If you bring big luggage, you would be better off taking Airport Limousine, which has extra space for luggage.

Sometimes, these buses may delay due to traffic jams in Tokyo metropolitan area. So, if you are in a rush, taking a train might be a better alternative in some cases.

If you are short-term tourists from a foreign country, there are discounted tickets which are only available to them.

Please check the ticket deals in Airport Limousine bus website for details.

Airport Kaitoku (Access Express)

Adult one-way fare: JPY 1,800
Approximate travel time: 1:40 hours

Airport Kaitoku (Access Express) is the rapid train that directly connects Haneda and Narita airports. No reservation is required.

Two different railway companies, Keikyu and Keisei, operate Airport Kaitoku (Access Express).

So if you board the train from Haneda Airport Station, the train name is called “Airport Kaitoku” bound for Narita Airport. And If you take on the train from Narita Airport Station, the train name is called “Access Express” bound for Haneda Airport.

Sometimes, boarding a right train is a little bit tricky, in particular for first-timers in Japan, so you would be better off to make sure the destination of the train is right before boarding a train.

Time intervals between Airport Kaitoku (Access Express) trains bound for Narita Airport (Haneda Airport) are about 40 minutes during daylight hours.

If you can’t wait for 40 minutes, you can catch a next train, and change trains at the next station.

Airport Kaitoku (Access Express) takes a long time than Airport Limousine Bus. But you don’t have to worry about being stuck in any traffic jams.

Keikyu Train and Narita Express (Transfer at Shinagawa Sta.)

Adult one-way fare: JPY 3,600 – 5,140
Approximate travel time: 1:40 to 2 hours

With this trip plan, you are going to travel between two airports by taking two trains, Keikyu train, and Narita Express (N’EX).

Keikyu trains run between Haneda Airport station and Shinagawa station. And Narita Express runs between Shinagawa Station and Narita Airport station. That means you transfer trains at Shinagawa station.

All seats of Narita Express are reserved. Please check JR East’s website about booking and purchasing tickets.

If you are a short-term tourist from overseas, you can buy a discounted round-trip ticket called N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket.

Taxicab

Adult one-way fare: JPY 28,810 – 29,990
Approximate travel time: 1 to 2:40 hours

You can take a taxicab to travel between Haneda and Narita airports.

A taxicab is a relatively easy way to move the short distance. Taxies are everywhere, and everyone knows how to take a taxi.

But it is considerably more expensive than other alternatives, due to the long distance between the two airports.

If you take a taxicab with a family or a group, the overall expense gets a little bit more reasonable because taxi fares are charged per group, not per person. But it is still considerably more expensive than buses and trains.

Few taxi drivers in Japan speak English, so it would be a good idea to be able to speak a few easy Japanese phrases.

Summary

The following table shows the summary of public transportations or trip plans between Haneda and Narita airports.

Approximate travel time is the time required when moving without delay.

• Airport Limousine Bus is fast and requires no transfer. If you have no particular reason, Airport Limousine Bus would be the first choice.
• If you in a hurry and afraid of being caught in traffic jams, or if you want to save money, taking trains would be the alternative.

This article will be updated when necessary, corresponding to the changes in public transportation circumstances.

Tag

Tokyo