There are five main ways to access central Tokyo from Narita Airport (New Tokyo International Airport).
1. Express Bus (Airport Limousine Bus)
2. Railways ① Keisei Skyliner (express train with all seats reserved)
3. Railway ② Rapid train on Keisei Line
4. Railway ③ JR’s Narita Express limited express train
5. Taxi
*Please note that there is no Grab or Uber in Japan.
Characteristics of Transportation Between Narita Airport and Central Tokyo
1. Express Bus (Airport Limousine Bus)
Direct service runs not only between Narita Airport and terminal stations such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Tokyo Stations, but also to major hotels, towns outside Tokyo, regional cities, and various other locations. It is also convenient because it departs from the arrival lobby.
Recommended for: those who have a lot of luggage, want to make the most of their time, or are unfamiliar with Tokyo.
2. Railways ① Keisei Skyliner (express train with all seats reserved)
This is an all-seat limited express train that connects Narita Airport to Nippori Station and Ueno Station (Keisei Ueno Station) in approximately 40 minutes.
The buses run approximately every 20 minutes from approximately 7:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Recommended for: speed and comfort
3. Railway ② Rapid train on Keisei Line
This conventional line connects Narita Airport with Nippori Station and Ueno Station (Keisei Ueno Station).
It is an inexpensive and stable way to travel, although it may take longer and requires transfers.
Recommended for: cheapness and punctuality
4. Railway ③ JR’s Narita Express limited express train (all seats reserved)
This is an all-seat limited express train operated by JR East connecting Narita Airport with Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku stations.
Recommended for: those who wish to go to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station or Yokohama Station without changing trains on schedule.
5. Taxi
Many cabs are waiting at the airport. It is possible to board a cab without a reservation and go anywhere you wish. In addition to regular metered cabs, there are also fixed fare airport cabs. Flat fare cabs (airport cabs) are also available without a reservation.
The fare from Narita Airport to central Tokyo costs approximately 30,000 yen.
* There is no Grab or Uber service in Japan.
Ranking of Popular Sightseeing Spots in Tokyo
Number of visitors
1st Shibuya 2nd Shinjuku/Okubo 3rd Ginza
Satisfaction
1st Shibuya 2nd Akihabara 3rd Ginza
*Source: From the 2023 Survey Report on the Behavioral Characteristics of Foreign Travelers by Country/Region.
Most travelers stop at Shibuya as their first destination.
Access Comparison Chart from Narita Airport to Shibuya
| Means of Transportation | Time Required | Number of Transfers | Cost | WIFI / Power supply | Boarding Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway Bus Official HP | 1 hour and 40 minutes | 0 times | 3,600 yen | Included | Arrivals Lobby T1 Bust stop No. 10 T2 Bus stop No. 17 T3 Bus stop No. 9 |
| Skyliner Official HP | 1 hour and 30 minutes | 1 time | Approx. 2,800 yen | Included | Underground Because there is no station at *T3, Please board the train from T2. |
| Regular Train (esp. non-Shinkansen) | 1 hour and 40 minutes | 1 or 2 times | Approx. 1,500 yen | N/A | Underground Because there is no station at *T3, Please board the train from T2. |
| Narita Express Official HP | 1 hour and 20 minutes | 0 times | Approx. 3,300 yen | Included | Underground Because there is no station at *T3, Please board the train from T2. |
| Cab | 1 hour and 30 minutes | 0 times | Approx. 30,000 yen | N/A | Arrivals Lobby |
Highway Bus (Airport Limousine Bus) Experience from Narita Airport to Shibuya
Flights departing the night before from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport, or Singapore’s Changi International Airport all arrive at Narita Airport around 7:00AM to 8:30AM one after another. The flight I boarded from Bangkok also took about 6 hours to arrive at Narita Airport. By the time I arrived in Japan, it was only 8:00 AM.
The flight was short and I felt sleep deprived. After getting off the plane, we proceeded through immigration, baggage claim, customs, and arrived safely at the arrival lobby of Terminal 1 (T1) before 9:00. There’s so many ways to get to Shibuya, but should I take a bus? the train?
Since I wanted to sleep a little longer and had a lot of luggage, I decided to take an express bus (airport limousine bus) that goes directly to Shibuya, which I could board right in front of the arrival lobby.
As you can see in the photo, there was an express bus ticket sales counter right in front of me as I exited the arrival lobby.
It is located right in front of Narita Airport Terminal 1 (T1) North Wing, or South Wing, depending on which one you arrive at.
After arriving, I immediately purchased a highway bus ticket to Shibuya. There was only a 9:20 AM. highway bus bound for Shibuya available.
Route:
Narita Airport Terminal 3 (T3)
↓
Terminal 2 (T2)
↓
Terminal 1 (T1)
↓
Shibuya Station (Shibuya Fuclas)
↓
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
The bus stopped at Shibuya Mark City (Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu) in that order.
Express bus tickets can be purchased at a manned counter or from an automatic ticket vending machine, which is available in English, Korean, and Chinese as well as Japanese. Tickets should be bought at the machine by credit card.
Purchase a boarding pass and go outside the arrival lobby.
Go to Terminal 1, bus stop No. 10, which is the bus stop for the highway bus to Shibuya.
For North Wing arrivals, exit from the North Exit (N2) in front of you and you will see the express bus stop #1. After that, walk along the street to stop #10 (about 2 minutes). For South Wing arrivals, exit from the South Exit (S2), and bus stop No. 10 will be right in front of you.
(See the overall map of the T1 bus stop for a clearer view.)
As I waited for the express bus bound for Shibuya to arrive at Terminal 1, Bus Stop No. 10, people began to line up.
The photo on the left shows a convenience store in the South Wing arrival lobby.
You may want to shop here for water and snacks, just in case!
Credit cards were also accepted here, so there is no need to worry even if you haven’t exchanged your currency yet.
To exchange money into Japanese yen, the Tourist Information Center at the Shibuya Fukuras Bus Terminal is convenient.
As the attendant was making her rounds with the passengers, I realized more and more people were showing up for the Shibuya bus.
Bus stop No. 10 doubled as both a bus stop for express buses bound for Shibuya and Tokyo Station, separating customers bound for Shibuya (the first bus to arrive) and Tokyo Station (the second bus to arrive) into two rows.
The attendant will ask you if you want to go to Shibuya, and if you say “Shibuya,” he or she will direct you to the Shibuya-bound line.
The bus bound for Shibuya comes first, so they put the suitcases to be checked in the trunk of our bus closer to the road. Each person can leave up to two suitcases in the trunk of the express bus bound for Shibuya.
(As shown in the photo on the right, two lines will be formed. The line closer to the road is for Shibuya.)
9:18 AM
A high speed bus bound for Shibuya entered platform 10.
Suitcases left on the side of the road will be placed in the trunk of the bus by the attendant, so you only have to board the bus with your hand luggage.
Seats are unreserved; passengers who boarded from T3 or T2 were already seated, so I sat in an empty seat.
9:21 AM
Departure was 1 minute behind schedule.
The train was equipped with Wi-Fi and restroom facilities, but with a little sleep deprivation and the comfortable shaking of the bus, I fell asleep quickly. The seats were also equipped with electrical outlets, so I charged my phone before I slept.
10:30 AM
I was awakened by an announcement.
It appears that we will be arriving at Shibuya shortly.
10:40 AM
The express bus from Narita Airport had almost no traffic and arrived at the Shibuya Fukurusu Bus Terminal right in front of Shibuya Station at around 10:40 AM, 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time. The ride was so comfortable that I slept through the whole bus ride. I felt so refreshed afterwards despite my sleep deprivation. I think the best thing about taking a highway bus is that you can take your time to rest!
Next, mot of us got off at the Shibuya Fukuras Bus Terminal.
The highway bus will then head to Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel → Shibuya Mark City (Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu).
When you get off the bus, the tourist information center “shibuya-san” will be right in front of you.
It offers a variety of services related to sightseeing, including luggage storage, currency exchange, tourist information (with multilingual staff), Wi-Fi rental, smartphone charging service, and ticket sales for express buses and other services.
Next door was also Starbucks to my relief!
When I went to the back of the tourist information center, I found a café space and next to it, many suitcases. Many tourists left their luggage here. This is very convenient if you immediately want to start sightseeing in Shibuya! The staff also seemed to speak English and other languages, so I was able to talk to them easily.
We still had some time before our hotel check-in, so we decided to look around the Tourist Information Center. There was a place to rest and it was warm and heated.
At the info center, we learned about the ” SHIBUYA STREET RIDE ” sightseeing bus, an open-top bus that tours around the Shibuya area! This sightseeing bus allows you to see Shibuya in a different way and is fun for the family.
Conveniently, the departure time was also from the Shibuya Fukuras bus terminal where we are now! And the departure time is 11:25 AM, which was perfect!
I immediately left my luggage as the tourist information center and bought a ticket!
Tickets for “SHIBUYA STREET RIDE” are more economical to purchase on the web vs. at a ticket vending machine, so purchasing tickets on the web is recommended! → Discover the official website
The person at the counter was kind enough to tell us this tip, and there was also a QR code to the website on the counter, as shown in the photo. Of course, you can also purchase tickets from a ticket machine.
“SHIBUYA STREET RIDE” is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for national holidays. Please be careful.
The photo on the right shows the fee for baggage storage. Many people checked their baggage.
Business hours: 10:00-19:30
Large luggage: 1,000 yen per piece per day
Small luggage (55 cm high x 40 cm wide): 500 yen per piece per day
Around 11:00 AM
An open-top bus with a lively design entered the terminal.
Since I was there, I took pictures of the open-top bus from various angles to commemorate the event.
I quickly showed my ticket to the crew and boarded the train!
11:25 AM
And we were off for downtown! After a long overnight journey, we finally arrived at Shibuya.
It felt quite unique to experience the known spots such as Scramble Crossing and Hachiko from the open-top bus (SHIBUYA STREET RIDE). It gives you a different perspective of the area.
Walking around Shibuya afterwards became more enjoyable, and can be fun for the whole family.
You can also enjoy just sitting on the bus, which was nice after long flight and trip.
After enjoying Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Harajuku, Takeshita Street, Jingu Gaien, National Stadium, Omotesando, etc. on the bus for about an hour, we returned to the Shibuya Fukuras Bus Terminal.
After getting off the bus, passengers can enjoy sightseeing in Shibuya while looking at their smartphones with the “SHIBUYA STREET RIDE” passengers-only city walking guide, which picks up the highlights of the Shibuya area!
We took the daytime bus, but if you take the evening bus (6:20 PM), you can see the Omotesando illumination from the second floor of the open-top bus during the winter season. You romantically move under the lights at a leisurely pace; I wanted to try it the next time I come!
Around 12:30 PM
We returned to the Shibuya Fukuras bus terminal.
What should we have for our first lunch in Japan? We once again consulted with the tourist information!
Our journey in Japan has finally begun!
What kind of town is Shibuya?
Shibuya is the most popular and often the first stop for foreign tourists in Tokyo.
In Shibuya, you can feel the energy and dynamism of Tokyo.
Shibuya is home to Tokyo’s leading terminal station and is one of Tokyo’s most popular downtown areas.
It is also a popular and fashion and culture destination for young people comparable to Times Square in New York, Piccadilly Circus in London, and Siam in Bangkok.
What are popular places for foreign tourists near Shibuya Station and Shibuya Bus Terminal?
Shibuya Scramble Crossing: This is a world-famous intersection and a photo-op spot for many tourists.
Hachiko: A symbol of fidelity and love, Hachiko’s story is known not only in Japan but also around the world.
Shibuya 109: The center of Japanese fashion, where you can enjoy the latest trends.
SHIBUYA SKY: This new symbol of Shibuya is popular for its spectacular view from the rooftop observation deck 229 meters above the ground, from which you can see as far as Mt.Fuji.
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE: This is a regular sightseeing bus that allows passengers to enjoy the streets of Shibuya and the Shibuya area on a double-decker open-top bus.
Upon arrival in Japan, we recommend that you first head to Shibuya to enjoy the Shibuya area!
Details of Express Bus (Airport Limousine Bus) from Narita Airport to Shibuya
Details of Express Bus (Airport Limousine Bus) from Haneda Airport to Shibuya
shibuya-san” for luggage storage and tourist information in Shibuya
Access from Shibuya to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Shinagawa
From Shibuya to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, etc. can be easily reached by train.
From JR Shibuya Station to JR Shinjuku
7 minutes by “Line 1” Yamanote Line (outbound)
5 minutes on Saikyo Line or Shonan Shinjuku Line
From Subway Shibuya Station to Shinjuku Sanchome Station
6 minutes by Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
JR Ikebukuro Station from JR Shibuya Station
16 minutes by “Line 1” Yamanote Line (outbound)
11 minutes on Saikyo Line or Shonan Shinjuku Line
From Subway Shibuya Station to Subway Ikebukuro Station
12 minutes by Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
JR Shinagawa Station from JR Shibuya station
15 minutes by “Line 2” Yamanote Line (inward bound)
Production cooperation: Tokyu Bus Corporation
