Arriving at Narita or Haneda: Your First Day from the Airport to Central Tokyo — TokyoHelp
Arriving at Narita or Haneda: Your First Day from the Airport to Central Tokyo
A full comparison of getting into Tokyo from both airports: Narita via Skyliner / N'EX / bus (~36–90 min) and Haneda via Keikyu / Monorail (~15–45 min). Plus SIM/Wi-Fi, Suica/PASMO (including mobile), luggage forwarding, cash vs card, and a sane first-day order.
9 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-16
The moment you land, the real trip begins. Tokyo has two airports: Narita (NRT) out in Chiba, about 60–90 minutes from the city, and Haneda (HND) right on Tokyo Bay, much closer at roughly 15–45 minutes. This guide covers getting into town from both, plus SIM/Wi-Fi, Suica/PASMO travel cards, luggage forwarding, and cash vs card, then gives you a calm, no-panic order for day one. This is general information, not official advice; check the official links below for live timetables and fares (JR East revised some fares in March 2026, so the amounts here are approximate).
First: did you land at Narita or Haneda?
The two airports work very differently. Narita is far and needs a dedicated airport express or bus; Haneda is close, and almost any train gets you to the edge of the city in well under 20 minutes. After landing, just follow the 'Railways / Trains' signs to the station downstairs or via the connecting walkway. Every rail station is inside the terminal, so you never go outside.
From Narita (NRT): Skyliner / N'EX / bus
Three main options from Narita, depending on where you're headed:
Keisei Skyliner (fastest): about 36 min to Nippori and 41 min to Keisei-Ueno. All seats reserved, with luggage racks. Around ¥2,580 at the counter; buy an e-ticket online/in the app in advance for about ¥2,310 (roughly ¥270 cheaper). Transfer to the JR Yamanote Line at Nippori.
JR Narita Express (N'EX): about 53 min to Tokyo Station, ~80 min to Shinjuku, direct to Tokyo/Shinagawa/Shibuya/Shinjuku, all reserved. Around ¥3,100 one-way to Tokyo Station (after the March 2026 JR fare revision — check the official site); foreign-passport holders can buy the discounted 'N'EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket', and the Japan Rail Pass is accepted. Lockable luggage racks.
Keisei Access Express (cheapest, direct to Asakusa): no reservation, no express surcharge; through-service onto the Toei Asakusa Line gets you to Asakusa in about 55–75 min for around ¥1,370 on an IC card. Great if you're on a budget and staying near Asakusa/Ueno.
Airport bus: e.g. 'TYO-NRT' to Tokyo Station in about 68 min for around ¥1,500 (late-night runs ~¥3,000); Limousine Bus runs direct to many hotels. Easiest when you have lots of luggage or just want a seat straight to your hotel.
Each Narita option has a trade-off: take the Skyliner if you're in a hurry, the N'EX if you have big bags and you're staying around Shibuya/Shinjuku, and the Access Express to save money near Asakusa. Booking the Skyliner or N'EX online in advance is cheaper and locks in a seat.
From Haneda (HND): Keikyu / Tokyo Monorail
Haneda is so much closer to town. Both railways are underground in the terminal, with barely any wait:
Keikyu Airport Line: about 11–14 min to Shinagawa, around ¥327 on an IC card. Many trains through-run onto the Toei Asakusa Line, so you can reach Asakusa with no transfer (about 32–35 min); Yokohama is roughly 23–24 min. Easy transfer to the JR Yamanote Line or Shinkansen at Shinagawa.
Tokyo Monorail: about 13 min to Hamamatsucho on the Haneda Express (up to ~24 min on a local), around ¥519 on an IC card; transfer to the JR Yamanote Line at Hamamatsucho. The Japan Rail Pass covers the Monorail.
Overall, Shinjuku/Shibuya/Tokyo Station are usually 30–50 min away for a few hundred yen.
At Haneda you can't really go wrong: pick Keikyu or Monorail by where you're ending up. Keikyu for Shinagawa/Asakusa/Yokohama, Monorail for the Hamamatsucho/Tokyo Station side. Both run frequently, so there's no real need to pre-buy.
Getting online: SIM / eSIM / pocket Wi-Fi
Getting connected is usually the first thing after customs. Three choices:
eSIM: install before you fly and it works the moment you switch on your phone — the most hassle-free option (your phone must support eSIM).
Physical SIM: arrivals floors at Narita and Haneda have counters (NINJA WiFi, Sakura Mobile, the JAL ABC counter, etc.) and vending machines. Most are 'data-only' with no Japanese phone number.
Pocket Wi-Fi: good for groups or working on a laptop; at Haneda Terminal 3 there's a pickup/return counter on the 2F arrivals lobby near the Keikyu ticket gates.
Many counters let you reserve online and pick up on arrival to skip the line. If you're moving here long-term, use a short-term data plan to bridge the gap, then sort out a proper phone contract once you're settled.
Travel cards: Suica / PASMO (including mobile)
One IC card makes Tokyo transit painless — just tap through the gates, and you can use it at convenience stores and vending machines too.
Easiest on iPhone: add Suica or PASMO straight into Apple Wallet and top up with Apple Pay. Some overseas-issued credit cards can't top up directly — use a Japan-issued card or cash in that case.
For tourists, the 'Welcome Suica' line includes an iOS 'Welcome Suica Mobile' app (since March 2025) that accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard/Amex, so you can set it up before you arrive. Valid about 180 days.
Physical cards are sold at Narita/Haneda and major JR stations. Note the tourist physical Welcome Suica expires fairly quickly (about 28 days) and the balance is non-refundable, so for long stays get a regular Suica/PASMO.
If you're living here long-term, use a regular mobile Suica/PASMO or a regular physical card (which you can keep topping up indefinitely) rather than a 'Welcome' tourist card, so it doesn't expire on you and strand your balance.
Luggage forwarding: travel 'hands-free' and send bags to your hotel
Bags too big and heavy to drag onto a packed train? The airport has Yamato 'Black Cat' (TA-Q-BIN) counters that will ship your suitcase to your hotel or home, so you ride into town empty-handed.
Counters: every Narita and Haneda terminal has a 'Black Cat' counter on the arrivals floor, mostly open year-round, roughly 8:00–21:00.
Timing: delivery to central Tokyo is usually next-day; from Haneda, dropping off before about 11:00 can sometimes get same-day delivery.
Cost: priced by size (sum of the three sides) and weight — a typical Tokyo delivery runs about ¥2,500–¥3,680, with oversized bags a bit over ¥5,000 (airport handling fee included); max about 30 kg per parcel.
On day one your hotel often won't let you check in until around 15:00 — luggage forwarding is perfect here. Send the bags ahead, go eat and explore empty-handed, and they'll be waiting at the front desk when you arrive.
Cash or card?
Tokyo takes cards and QR payments more and more, but carrying a little cash never hurts.
Card / mobile pay: big stations, convenience stores, chains and airports all take Visa/Mastercard; Suica/PASMO is the smoothest for small purchases.
Cash: small eateries, shrines, some buses and independent shops may still be cash-only. Withdraw a little yen on arrival at an airport or convenience-store ATM.
Withdrawals: Seven Bank ATMs (at 7-Eleven) and Japan Post (Yucho) ATMs widely accept foreign cards and are easy to find.
Your first day: a sane order
1Deplane → immigration → baggage claim → customs. You can pre-fill immigration and customs info on 'Visit Japan Web' and show the QR code to speed things up.
2Get online after customs: pick up an eSIM/SIM or pocket Wi-Fi (skip this if you set up an eSIM before flying).
3Set up your travel card: on iPhone, add Suica/PASMO to Apple Wallet and top up; if paying cash, buy a physical card from an airport machine.
4(If you have lots of luggage) take big bags to the Yamato counter and ship them to your hotel/home, then travel hands-free.
5Withdraw a little yen at an airport ATM as backup (Seven Bank/Japan Post accept foreign cards).
6Pick your train by destination: Narita = Skyliner/N'EX/Access Express/bus; Haneda = Keikyu/Monorail. Check the timetable in an app or on the official site first.
7If your bags are forwarded and the hotel can't check you in yet, go eat or sightsee, then return later to grab your luggage and check in.
FAQ
Is Narita or Haneda easier to get into town from?
Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo — Keikyu or the Monorail reaches the edge of the city in around 15 minutes, usually faster and cheaper. Narita is farther and needs the Skyliner, N'EX or a bus, roughly 36–90 minutes. Just use the option for whichever airport you land at.
Do I need to book the Skyliner or N'EX in advance?
Both are fully reserved-seat trains. Booking online/in-app is cheaper — the Skyliner e-ticket is about ¥2,310 (≈¥270 off the counter price) and the N'EX has a discounted round-trip ticket for foreign passports — and it locks in a seat, which matters in peak season.
I'm only here as a tourist — which Suica should I get?
On iPhone, adding Suica/PASMO to Apple Wallet is easiest; there's also the tourist Welcome Suica (including the 2025 iOS app). Note the tourist physical card expires quickly (about 28 days) and the balance isn't refundable, so for a long stay use a regular card.
My hotel won't let me check in on day one — what do I do with my bags?
Ship them from the airport with Yamato (TA-Q-BIN): delivery to Tokyo is usually next-day (sometimes same-day from Haneda). Travel in empty-handed and the bags will be at the front desk when you arrive. Or use a coin locker / hotel luggage room.
Do I really need cash in Japan?
Cards and Suica are increasingly accepted, but small shops, shrines and some buses can still be cash-only. Withdraw a little yen on arrival at an airport or convenience-store ATM (7-Eleven, Japan Post) as backup.
