Blog Destinations Public Vehicles Tokyo Station Travel Tips Ueno

How to Get to Narita Airport from Tokyo Station, Ueno and East Tokyo

Departures area at Narita Airport for travelers leaving Japan

Getting to Narita Airport at the end of your trip can feel more complicated than arriving in Tokyo. From Tokyo Station and eastern Tokyo, you can choose from the Narita Express, airport buses, the Keisei Skyliner and taxis.

This guide compares the main options based on your hotel location, luggage, budget and departure time, helping you choose the most practical route for your return flight.

Quick Comparison: The Best Way to Narita Airport

Option	Direct	Luggage	Heavy Rain	Heavy Snow	Road Traffic
Narita Express	○	○	△	△	○
Keisei Skyliner	○	○	△	△	○
Airport Bus Tokyo–Narita	○	○	△	×	×
Airport Limousine Bus	○	○	△	×	×
Taxi	○	○	△	×	×

Choose Your Route to Narita Airport

Select an option below to jump directly to the boarding guide.

Narita Express (N’EX) from Tokyo Station
Best if you are staying near Tokyo Station and prefer traveling by train.
Keisei Skyliner from Ueno or Nippori
Convenient for travelers staying near Ueno, Asakusa, Nippori, or the northeastern side of Tokyo.
AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT from Tokyo Station
An affordable direct bus from the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station.
Airport Limousine Bus from T-CAT
A comfortable option if you are staying near Suitengumae, Ningyocho, Nihombashi, or Hakozaki.

1. Narita Express from Tokyo Station

Narita Express E259 series train at an underground platform in Tokyo Station — The Narita Express departs from Tokyo Station’s deep underground platforms. Check the departure board and your reserved-seat ticket for the correct platform.

Taking the Narita Express from Tokyo Station sounds simple. The difficult part is not choosing the train. It is finding the right entrance, ticket machine and platform inside one of Japan’s largest stations.

This guide shows you exactly where to enter Tokyo Station, which ticket machine to use, how to buy the correct N’EX ticket and how to reach the platform with your luggage.

Where to Start at Tokyo Station

Stairs near Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi North Exit with signs for the Narita Express and Narita Airport — The stairs near the Marunouchi North Exit are clearly marked for the Narita Express and Narita Airport. Follow the sign down to the underground level.

If you are approaching Tokyo Station from the Marunouchi side, start near the Marunouchi North Exit. You will find clear signs for Narita Airport and the Narita Express above both the stairs and Elevator 3.

Elevator 3 near Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi North Exit with a sign for the Narita Express and Narita Airport — Travelers with large luggage can use Elevator 3 near the Marunouchi North Exit. The sign above the elevator clearly indicates the direction for the Narita Express and Narita Airport.

Follow either route down to the underground level. If you have a large suitcase, use Elevator 3. From there, follow the signs toward the JR ticket gates and reserved-seat ticket machines.

Not sure where the Marunouchi side is?
Check our Tokyo Station Exit Guide: Yaesu and Marunouchi

Which Ticket Machine to Use

Look for the machines marked “Shinkansen / Limited Express / Reserved Seat / Non-Reserved Seat.” Although “Narita Express” is not clearly displayed above the machines, you can buy an N’EX ticket here.

JR Ticket Office with ticket machines and a staffed counter near the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate at Tokyo Station — The nearby JR Ticket Office has additional ticket machines and a staffed counter. Travelers who are unsure which N’EX ticket to purchase can ask for assistance here.

Reserved-seat ticket machines selling Narita Express tickets near the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate at Tokyo Station — You can buy Narita Express tickets from these reserved seat ticket machines. Look for the signs marked “Shinkansen / Limited Express / Reserved Seat.”

Watch: How to Buy a Narita Express Ticket from the Machine

The following video shows how to buy both the basic fare ticket and the reserved-seat limited express ticket from a ticket machine at Tokyo Station.

This method is for travelers starting their journey at Tokyo Station without using Suica for the basic fare.

Already traveling on JR with Suica?
Do not purchase another basic fare ticket. You only need a reserved-seat limited express ticket for the Narita Express. See the separate instructions below

After purchasing your tickets, proceed through the JR ticket gate and follow the signs for the Yokosuka–Sobu Line and Narita Express. The platforms are located deep underground.

Enter Through the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate

Marunouchi Underground Central Gate at Tokyo Station with JR ticket gates and direction signs — Enter through the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate, then turn left immediately after passing through the ticket gates.

After purchasing your ticket, enter through the Marunouchi Underground Central Gate.

Once you pass through the ticket gate, turn left. You will see an escalator almost immediately. Take the escalator down and follow the signs for the Yokosuka–Sobu Line (Rapid), Narita Airport and the Narita Express.

The N’EX platforms are located deep underground, so continue following the signs and check the departure board for your train and platform.

Important: Check the departure board and your ticket for the correct platform. Do not rely only on the platform used by a previous train.

2. Keisei Skyliner from Ueno or Nippori

The Keisei Skyliner is a convenient train to Narita Airport for travelers staying near Ueno, Nippori, Asakusa, or northeastern Tokyo.

The Skyliner has reserved seating, so you must obtain a ticket with a specified train, car, and seat before boarding.

Boarding at Keisei Ueno Station?
See our step-by-step guide to taking the Skyliner from Keisei Ueno Station, including where to buy your ticket and how to find the platform.

How to Take the Skyliner from Keisei Ueno to Narita Airport (Avoid Long Lines & Last-Minute Stress)

Keisei Skyliner from Nippori Station

Nippori Station entrance with signs for the JR Lines and Keisei Line — Travelers starting at Nippori can enter here for the JR Lines and Keisei Line. Follow the signs for the Skyliner and Narita Airport after entering the station.

Blue sign for the Keisei Line and Skyliner to Narita Airport at Nippori Station — If you arrive on a JR train, follow the blue signs for the Keisei Line and “Skyliner for Narita Airport.” You do not need to leave the station.

Travelers buying Keisei Skyliner tickets from machines at Nippori Station — Purchase a ticket for a specific Skyliner departure before boarding. All seats are reserved, and your ticket will show the train, car, and seat number.

Buy Your Skyliner Ticket Before Boarding

Skyliner tickets can be purchased from the machines near the Keisei transfer gate. All Skyliner seats are reserved, so your ticket will show a specific train, car, and seat number.

The fare consists of two separate parts:

A regular passenger fare for traveling between Nippori and Narita Airport
A Skyliner reserved-seat ticket

If you are using Suica, PASMO, or another compatible transportation IC card for the regular fare, select the option for the Skyliner ticket only at the machine.

If you are not using an IC card or do not already have a regular passenger ticket, purchase the regular ticket and Skyliner ticket set.

Do not purchase only the reserved-seat ticket unless you already have a valid passenger ticket or plan to use an IC card at the ticket gate.

Skyliner fare notice explaining IC card and combined ticket options at Nippori Station — If you use Suica or PASMO for the regular passenger fare, purchase the Skyliner reserved-seat ticket only. Without an IC card or regular ticket, purchase the combined passenger ticket and Skyliner ticket. Check the current fare before traveling.

Keisei Skyliner platform entrance at Nippori Station for trains to Narita Airport — The Keisei Skyliner entrance at Nippori Station. Check the departure board for your train and use the entrance indicated for your car number.

At Nippori Station, the Skyliner has a clearly marked entrance with an information counter and departure board. Check your reserved car number before entering: the signs direct passengers toward the entrances for Cars 1–5 and Cars 6–8.

Allow Extra Time Before Your Flight

The Skyliner normally operates frequently, but the next available train may sell out during severe weather, railway disruption, or busy travel periods.

When we visited following several days of typhoon-related disruption, fewer Skyliner services were available and the nearest departures were fully booked even though the trains were still operating. Do not plan your airport journey around only one departure.

Station staff advised passengers who needed to leave sooner to take a regular Keisei train from Nippori to Keisei-Takasago Station and transfer there to an Access Express service operating via the Narita SKY ACCESS Line.

This was advice given for the operating conditions at that particular time. During a disruption, do not assume that the same alternative will always be available. Check the live operating information and ask station staff which route is currently running before purchasing another ticket or changing trains.

Reserve your Skyliner seat in advance when possible and leave enough time to take a later train or choose another route if necessary.

Check the official Skyliner timetable and operating information before leaving for the airport.

Boarding from Ueno instead? See our step-by-step guide to taking the Skyliner from Keisei Ueno Station.

3. Airport Bus Tokyo–Narita from Tokyo Station

The AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT is a convenient and affordable option for travelers staying near Tokyo Station. The bus departs from Bus Stop 7 outside the Yaesu South Exit.

Not sure where the Yaesu side is?
Check our Tokyo Station Exit Guide: Yaesu and Marunouchi

The most important thing is to go to the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station. The airport bus does not depart from the Marunouchi side.

Map showing Bus Stop 7 and the JR Expressway Bus Ticket Office on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station — The Narita Airport bus departs from Bus Stop 7 on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station. The JR Expressway Bus Ticket Office is located nearby.

Where to Buy Your Ticket

Entrance to the JR Expressway Bus Ticket Office near Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit — The JR Expressway Bus Ticket Office is located near the Yaesu South Exit and Bus Stop 7. Tickets for the Narita Airport bus can be purchased inside.

The JR Expressway Bus Ticket Office is located close to the Yaesu South Exit and Bus Stop 7. Tickets can be purchased from the machines inside the office.

Travelers using expressway bus ticket machines at Tokyo Station — Select Narita Airport on the ticket machine and check the departure details before paying. The machines are separated according to the accepted payment method.

The machines are separated by payment method:

Use the designated machines for cash payments.
Use the other machines for credit cards or supported mobile payments.
If you are paying with a transportation IC card such as Suica or PASMO, you can proceed directly to the bus stop and pay when boarding.

Signs for cash, credit card, and mobile payment ticket machines at Tokyo Station — Use the machines on the left for credit cards or supported mobile payments. Use the machines on the right if you are paying with cash.

The English displayed on some machines and signs may not immediately make it clear that Narita Airport tickets are available, so confirm that “Narita Airport” is shown before completing your purchase.

Finding the Bus

Narita Airport bus boarding at Bus Stop 7 outside Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit — Go to Bus Stop 7 after purchasing your ticket. Check the electronic display to confirm the destination and departure time before joining the line.

After purchasing your ticket, leave the ticket office and walk to Bus Stop 7. The electronic display at the stop shows the destination and upcoming departure times.

Buses from Tokyo Station currently operate without reservations and without assigned seats. Passengers board in order, so arriving early is a good idea, especially during busy travel periods.

Large suitcases are placed in the luggage compartment under the bus. This makes the bus particularly convenient for travelers who want to avoid carrying luggage through station platforms or making train transfers.

Road traffic can affect the journey, so allow extra time before your flight.

AIRPORT BUS TYO-NRT timetable from Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit to Narita Airport — Buses from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport operate frequently throughout most of the day. Timetables may change, so check the official website before traveling.

Buses depart approximately every 10 minutes during much of the day, making this one of the most flexible ways to travel from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport.

4. Airport Limousine Bus from T-CAT

Airport Limousine bus for Narita Airport at Tokyo City Air Terminal — The Airport Limousine Bus travels directly from T-CAT to Narita Airport, with large luggage stored in the compartment under the bus.

If you are staying near Suitengumae or Ningyocho, the Airport Limousine Bus from the Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT) can be a comfortable and convenient way to reach Narita Airport.

Entrance to Tokyo City Air Terminal in Nihombashi-Hakozaki — Tokyo City Air Terminal, or T-CAT, is a dedicated airport bus terminal near Suitengumae Station.

T-CAT is a dedicated airport bus terminal rather than a major railway station. When we visited, the ticket area and waiting lounge were calm, with plenty of seating and space for luggage. Crowding will vary depending on the day and departure time, but the terminal may feel much less overwhelming than Tokyo’s busiest railway stations.

T-CAT signs directing passengers to the bus station and ticket machines on the first floor — Follow the signs for “Bus Station” and “Ticket Vending” to reach the first-floor departure area.

Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines or at the staffed ticket counter. After buying your ticket, you can wait indoors until it is time to board. Large luggage is stored in the bus luggage compartment, so there is no need to carry suitcases through railway stations or make transfers along the way.

Airport Limousine ticket machines and staffed counter at T-CAT — Tickets can be purchased from the machines or at the staffed counter. Check your destination, departure time, and airport terminal before completing your purchase.

This option works particularly well if your hotel is within walking distance of T-CAT. If reaching the terminal requires several train changes or a long detour, another direct airport service may be more convenient.

Indoor waiting area for Airport Limousine passengers at Tokyo City Air Terminal — Passengers can wait indoors near the boarding area. When we visited, the lounge was calm and had plenty of available seating.

Road traffic can affect the journey time, so allow extra time before your flight. Departure times may also change, so check the current Airport Limousine timetable before traveling.

Airport Limousine timetable information displayed at Tokyo City Air Terminal — This photographed timetable may no longer be current. Check the official Airport Limousine website for the latest departure times and fares.

5. Fixed-Fare Taxi to Narita Airport

A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option, but it is considerably more expensive than the train or airport bus. It may be worth considering if you are traveling with several people, carrying a large amount of luggage, or leaving very early in the morning when public transportation is limited.

Ask your hotel to arrange a taxi or use a taxi app. Because fares and travel times vary depending on your starting point, traffic, tolls, and booking method, confirm the estimated total before departure.