Cheapest Train From Narita Airport to Tokyo

Cheapest Transport to Get From Narita Airport to Tokyo

•  Greg Lane
 
•  July 7, 2014
 
•  Getting around Transport
 
•  24 Comments

The prettier Keisei Skyliner. Pic by Yuichi Shiraishi used under a Creative Commons license.

For newcomers to Tokyo it can come as quite a surprise that Tokyo’s main international gateway – Narita Airport – is not really very close to Tokyo at all.  In fact it’s so rural and remote that the view on the first part of the train journey is predominantly of rice paddies – and a faux-Dutch windmill.

Photo credit: grrlie

While finding the cheapest transport to get from Narita to Tokyo is a worthy quest in itself, it has become more important because of the arrival of low cost carriers like Jetstar Japan - which use Narita as their base of operations for domestic flights out of Tokyo.  Some of the fares are cheap enough to make tourists coming to Japan consider whether they should get the JR Pass or just book a couple of flights on an LCC. However, since Narita Airport is not right in the middle of Tokyo (like the much more conveniently located Haneda Airport) transport costs to and from Tokyo should be factored into your overall costs.

Bus

Although the convenience of not having to cart your luggage around is great, the ‘Limousine Bus‘ service (the buses are in fact the least limousine-like wheeled transport you are likely to take) to major hotels all over Tokyo at 3,000yen each way is definitely not the cheapest option.
Considerably cheaper, is the Tokyo Shuttle.  The bus costs only 1,000yen 900yen and runs to the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station from where you can easily jump on the subway or various JR Lines.  The service does have a few small conditions – you can catch it at any time of day without a booking from Narita Airport for the advertised 900yen.  However, when returning to Narita Airport from Tokyo, without a reservation, it will cost you 1,500yen for early morning and late night buses. Early morning buses are any that depart before 6am.  Note that unlike Limousine Buses, the first Tokyo Shuttle leaves Tokyo Station at 1:30am – which means you can catch those ridiculously early flights out of Narita. As an added bonus, you can pick up a 1-day Tokyo Metro pass for 500 yen – a 210yen saving on the regular price. You still have to take about four regular trips on the subway to make it worthwhile – which could be quite ambitious after a long haul flight!

Another cheap bus option from Narita Airport is The Access Narita, which will drop you off at either Tokyo Station for quick access to JR Lines or Ginza Station so you can jump on the subway. The one way journey is only 1,000yen for adults and 500yen for kids. The Access Narita claims to be easier to use than the Tokyo Shuttle because you only have to line up at their bus stop rather than buy paper tickets at a counter.  Their buses do look rather nice and they also have toilets, which might come in handy after a long flight.

Regular Train

The cheapest regular trains that run the route from central Tokyo to Narita Airport run on the Keisei Line.  The good thing about the Keisei Line is that it connects with the Toei Asakusa Subway Line and the Yamanote Line so can be accessed from a lot of different stations in central Tokyo.  The bad news is that it’s a regular train – so catching it with your suitcase during rush hour (I’ve done this) can be hazardous to your health!
To help you on your first visit, here’s photo guidance of catching the cheap train from Narita to Tokyo,

Here’s a summary of the route and cost to get from Narita Airport to some main stops in central Tokyo:

Destination	Start	Change at	Next Train	Total Cost
1. Ikebukuro	Keisei Narita Limited Express	Keisei Nippori	JR Yamanote – forShinjuku/Shibuya	1,200 yen
2. Shinjuku	Keisei Narita Limited Express	Keisei Nippori	JR Yamanote – for Shinjuku/Shibuya	1,230 yen
3. Shibuya	Keisei Narita Limited Express	Keisei Nippori	JR Yamanote – for Shinjuku/Shibuya	1,230 yen
3. Tokyo	Keisei Narita Limited Express	Keisei Nippori	JR Yamanote – for Tokyo	1,190 yen
2. Asakusa	Keisei Narita Limited Express	Keisei Ueno	Tokyo Metro Ginza Line – for Asakusa	1,200 yen

First Find The Keisei Line at Narita Airport and get on

Ask for a ticket to your destination but not on the Sky Liner, or if you’re planning on having a few days in Tokyo, ask for a Pasmo card – this is a top up card usable on all trains, buses etc in the Tokyo area. You can also get a Suica card, from the JR station ticket office opposite – it doesn’t matter which one you buy, they both work on all trains and cost the same.

Next go through the (two) ticket barriers and down stairs to the Keisei platform N.B. NOT the Sky Liner platform.

1) Trains From Narita to Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Tokyo

For transfers on to the JR Yamanote Line, get off at Nippori

Source: http://tokyocheapo.com/