The distance from Narita to central Tokyo is roughly 60 km, and every transport option reflects that. Here is what the operators and the airport actually publish -- and where a printed number cannot be trusted.
Bus: Airport Bus TYO-NRT
The cheapest quick way into Tokyo, and the one most comparisons leave out. Narita to Tokyo Station is 1,500 yen for adults and 750 yen for children, with a fastest run of 65 minutes. Late-night and early-morning departures are priced separately at 3,000 yen for adults. Fares were last revised on 1 August 2024 (operator: Airport Bus TYO-NRT).
Train: Narita Express and Keisei Skyliner
The Narita Express (N'EX) runs to Tokyo Station in about 55 minutes, and on to Shinjuku and Shibuya. JR East revised its fares in March 2026 — check the current fare on the JR East site or at the JR ticket office in the arrivals hall. JR East also sells a discounted round-trip ticket for overseas visitors; ask at the JR East Travel Service Center in Terminal 1 or 2 with your passport, and confirm the current price there.
The Keisei Skyliner reaches Nippori and Ueno in roughly 40 minutes, which makes it the fastest train into the north-east of the city. Keisei sets its own fare, split between an ordinary fare and a Liner seat ticket — check the current total on Keisei's own site before you travel.
We are deliberately not printing train fares here. Both operators reprice, JR East did so as recently as March 2026, and a stale fare in a guide is worse than no fare at all.
Airport Limousine
Airport limousine buses run to major stations and hotels across Tokyo. Fares vary by destination, so check the operator's site for your specific stop. Travel time is longer at 85-120 minutes. The advantage is that many buses stop directly at major hotels, saving you a last-mile taxi ride.
Taxi
Narita publishes an official fixed-fare (定額) taxi system by zone, run by members of the Narita International Airport Taxi Operations Committee. No reservation is needed from the airport — tell the driver at the rank, and you may pick your car. Fares as published by Narita International Airport (2026):
| Zone | Wards / cities | Via Keiyo Road | Via Wangan Expressway |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Edogawa, Katsushika, Adachi | 23,500 yen | 26,500 yen |
| B | Koto, Sumida, Minato (Daiba), Shinagawa (Higashi-Yashio) | 28,000 yen | 28,000 yen |
| C | Chuo, Chiyoda, Taito, Bunkyo, Arakawa | 29,000 yen | 31,000 yen |
| D | Shinjuku, Toshima, Nakano, Shibuya, Meguro, Minato (excl. Daiba), Shinagawa (excl. Higashi-Yashio), Ota | 31,500 yen | 32,500 yen |
| E | Itabashi, Kita, Nerima | 34,000 yen | 36,000 yen |
| F | Setagaya, Suginami, Mitaka, Musashino | 35,500 yen | 38,500 yen |
Fixed-price private transfer
NRT Tokyo City Center
From€133for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Read the fine print: expressway tolls are not included and are charged as actual cost on top; a late-night/early-morning surcharge applies between 22:00 and 05:00; an Aqua-Line supplement applies if that route is used; and the fixed fare assumes the expressway — travel by ordinary roads and the meter applies instead. Ranks are at stand 15 (T1), stands 28 and 31-A (T2), and the T3 rank.
Private Transfer
Pre-booked private transfers are priced per vehicle, not per person, and quoted at booking. The quote normally covers tolls, meet-and-greet at arrivals, flight tracking and door-to-door delivery, so the number you agree is the number you pay, whatever time you land. Check the live quote for your vehicle size and destination.
Shared Shuttle
Door-to-door shared shuttles are priced per person. You share the vehicle with other passengers heading to different hotels, so the ride can take considerably longer than a direct run. For solo travelers on a budget it is a middle ground between train and private car.
Cost Comparison for Families
The structural point matters more than any single number: trains and buses charge per person, taxis and private transfers charge per vehicle. A family of four pays four bus or train fares but one car fare. That is why a transfer that looks expensive for one traveller often beats the train for three or four — and why the Airport Bus TYO-NRT, at 750 yen per child, stays competitive for families willing to use a bus stop rather than their hotel door.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Taxi tolls are the main surprise: they sit on top of the published fixed fare as an actual cost, and the 22:00-05:00 surcharge stacks on as well. With trains, the hidden cost is the last-mile taxi from the station to your hotel. Private transfers avoid both since the quoted price covers everything and delivery is to your exact address.