Narita to Central Tokyo - Passage Notes

Mode	Time	Cost	Best for
Narita Express (N'EX)	60-90 min	~3,070 yen	Most travellers. Direct to Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya.
Skyliner	36 min to Ueno	~2,520 yen	Staying in Ueno or Asakusa. Fastest option to northeast Tokyo.
Access Express	~70 min	~1,270 yen	Budget travellers. Same Keisei line, slower but half the price of Skyliner.
Limousine Bus	75-120 min	~3,200 yen	Direct to major hotels. Good with heavy luggage. Traffic dependent.
Taxi	60-90 min	~20,000-30,000 yen	Groups of 3-4 splitting the cost. Late arrivals when trains have stopped.

Narita Express (N’EX)

The default recommendation for most travellers, and the one I use. The N’EX runs every 30-60 minutes from both Narita terminals to Tokyo Station (55 minutes), then continues to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Shinagawa depending on the service. Reserved seats, luggage racks between carriages, and English announcements throughout.

The main drawback: it is not cheap, and the journey feels long after a twelve-hour flight from London. But the convenience of stepping off the train directly into the JR network makes it worthwhile. From Tokyo Station you can transfer to the Metro or Yamanote Line within minutes.

Tip: Look for the N’EX Tokyo Round Trip ticket if you plan to return to Narita by train - it offers a significant discount on the standard fare.

Skyliner

The fastest option if you are staying in Ueno or Asakusa. The Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in 36 minutes, which is genuinely impressive. The Skyliner itself is comfortable - wide seats, smooth ride, luggage space. The limitation is that Ueno is only useful as a destination or transfer point for the northeast side of the city. If you are heading to Shinjuku or Shibuya, the N’EX is more direct.

Access Express

The budget option, and a perfectly good one. Same Keisei line as the Skyliner, but the regular express service rather than the premium train. Around 70 minutes to central Tokyo, no reservation needed, and at 1,270 yen it is less than half the Skyliner price. You will not get a reserved seat and the train makes more stops, but if you are watching your budget this is the smart choice.

Limousine Bus

The name is misleading - it is a coach, not a limousine. But the service is genuinely excellent for specific situations. The buses run from both Narita terminals directly to major hotels and transport hubs across Tokyo. If your hotel is on the route, you step off at the door with your luggage - no navigating stations, no stairs, no transfers.

I have used the limousine bus to Roppongi and it was the most effortless airport transfer of the trip. The trade-off is time: 85-120 minutes depending on traffic, and you are at the mercy of the road conditions. Book at the counter in the arrivals hall.

Taxi

For most travellers, a taxi from Narita is not practical. At 20,000-30,000 yen for the journey, the cost is prohibitive unless you are splitting between three or four people. The one scenario where it makes sense: arriving very late when trains have stopped running and you need to get to central Tokyo before morning. Even then, consider staying at a Narita airport hotel and taking the first train.

Staying near Narita

For late arrivals or early departures, the Hilton Narita and Nikko Narita are both within shuttle distance of the terminals. Functional, clean, and they solve the problem of a midnight arrival without an expensive taxi ride into the city.

Where to stay at the city end

If taking the N’EX to Shinjuku, you are perfectly positioned for the most practical first-timer base in Tokyo. See our Tokyo neighbourhood guide for hotel recommendations.