Tokyo Haneda vs Narita: Which Airport Should You Use?

The Basic Geography

Tokyo is served by two international airports that differ dramatically in their proximity to the city. Haneda Airport (IATA: HND) sits on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, just 14 kilometres from the Shinjuku city centre. By express monorail, the journey to Hamamatsucho Station in central Tokyo takes 13 minutes; by direct Keikyu Line train, the journey to Shinagawa takes 11 minutes with connections available to the Yamanote Line ring connecting all major Tokyo stations. Haneda is, by any measure, one of the most centrally located major airports in any world capital city.

Narita International Airport (IATA: NRT), by contrast, sits 60 kilometres northeast of central Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture. By the Narita Express (N'EX) train, the journey to Shinjuku Station takes 80 minutes; by the limited express Skyliner service on the Keisei Line, the journey to Ueno takes 41 minutes and to Nippori takes 36 minutes. Narita is a significant distance from central Tokyo by any measure, and the ground transport journey is a meaningful factor for time-sensitive travellers.

The airport choice is not purely a matter of preference. Many airlines fly exclusively to one airport or the other from a given origin city, and for passengers who do have a choice, the combination of flight price, airline preference, and ground transport cost must be calculated together to find the true cost difference. The following sections break down each factor in detail.

Airlines and Routes at Each Airport

Haneda has historically handled primarily domestic traffic supplemented by international routes operated by Japanese airlines under bilateral agreements. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) both operate major international hubs at Haneda, and the airport's central location made it the preferred airport for Japanese business travellers heading to short-haul Asian destinations. Haneda's international slots expanded significantly in 2020 when a reconfiguration of its flight paths added capacity for 50 additional daily international departures, attracting carriers including Delta, American, British Airways, and Lufthansa.

Narita remains the primary international hub for foreign carriers operating long-haul routes to Tokyo. United Airlines, Air Canada, Qantas, Korean Air, Air China, and the majority of Southeast Asian carriers serve Narita rather than Haneda. Budget and low-cost carriers including Peach Aviation, Scoot, and Jetstar Japan base their Narita operations here, making it the dominant airport for price-sensitive leisure travellers and the primary entry point for visiting tourists who book the cheapest available fares.

For travellers routing through Japan on a stopover, the airport choice has significant implications for the number of connections required. A passenger flying from London to Osaka via Tokyo who has the choice of Haneda or Narita can take an ANA or JAL domestic connection from either airport to KIX in approximately 75 minutes. However, the Haneda domestic terminal and Narita's domestic connections operate from different buildings, and at Narita, the domestic terminal requires a 15-minute bus shuttle from the international arrivals hall, adding time to the process.

Ground Transport Cost Comparison

The Haneda Airport Monorail fare from Haneda to Hamamatsucho is JPY 500 (approximately USD 3.50). The Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa costs JPY 410. Both services run every 5–10 minutes and operate from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight with occasional late services. The journey time and cost are low enough that most travellers arriving at Haneda feel no need to consider taxis or limousine buses unless their hotel is poorly located relative to the rail network.

At Narita, the N'EX (Narita Express) to Shinjuku costs JPY 3,070 (approximately USD 21) for a one-way reserved seat. The Keisei Skyliner to Ueno costs JPY 2,520. Budget travellers can use the Keisei Access Express — a slower but unreserved service — to reach Ueno for JPY 1,270 in approximately 68 minutes. The cheapest option of all is the Keisei Main Line local service to Ueno at JPY 1,050, but this takes 90 minutes and requires standing during peak hours.

Taxis from Haneda to central Tokyo cost approximately JPY 4,000–6,500 depending on destination and traffic. Taxis from Narita to central Tokyo cost JPY 22,000–30,000 and are rarely used except for business travellers on expense accounts or late-night arrivals after the last train. The limousine bus — a comfortable coach service with luggage holds — connects Narita to major hotels in Tokyo for JPY 3,200 and takes 90–130 minutes depending on traffic on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway.

Facilities Comparison

Haneda's International Terminal, designated Terminal 3 since the renaming in 2020, has an Edo townscape shopping concept on the 4th floor that recreates a period streetscape with traditional craft shops, sake bars, and a sushi restaurant district. The facility is architecturally distinctive and appreciated by both transit passengers and arriving international visitors as an introduction to Japanese aesthetics. The terminal also has an observation deck on the 5th floor offering views of Tokyo Bay and the runway, popular with aviation enthusiasts and one of the few free attractions at a major international airport.

Narita operates three terminals. Terminal 1 handles JAL, Finnair, British Airways, Lufthansa, and several other major carriers; it is the oldest building at Narita and shows its age despite several renovations. Terminal 2 handles ANA, Air France, KLM, and Korean Air among others; it is newer and brighter. Terminal 3 opened in 2015 as a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal and is deliberately minimal — bare concrete floors, exposed steel structure, and a conveyor belt check-in system shared among all LCC tenants. T3's emphasis on functionality over aesthetics is appropriate for its purpose and passengers' expectations.

Lounge quality at Haneda's international terminal is high, anchored by ANA's The Suite Lounge and JAL's Sakura Lounge, both of which are among the finest airline-operated lounges in Japan. Narita has broader lounge access options due to its larger number of international carrier operations, with lounges for British Airways, Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Cathay Pacific all operating there, supplemented by the JAL and ANA facilities in T1 and T2 respectively.

Which Airport Should You Choose?

The case for Haneda is strongest for travellers staying in central Tokyo, particularly in the Shiodome, Shinagawa, Shibuya, or Shinjuku areas. The time and cost savings on the ground journey are significant — a family of four can save JPY 20,000 or more compared to taking the N'EX from Narita, and the 11-minute journey versus 80-minute journey means an earlier effective arrival in the city. Business travellers who value time above all else almost always prefer Haneda when flights are available.

The case for Narita is primarily about flight availability and price. If the only non-stop flight from your origin city to Tokyo serves Narita, then the question is moot. Budget travellers booking LCC tickets through Peach, Scoot, or Jetstar will use Narita by default. Travellers staying in areas north or northeast of central Tokyo — near Ueno, Akihabara, or Asakusa — find the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno competitive with the Haneda rail options in terms of door-to-hotel time.

For travellers with onward domestic connections within Japan, Haneda is strongly preferred. Its domestic terminal (T1 and T2 for JAL and ANA respectively) handles over 400 domestic departures daily to every major Japanese city, and the connections are seamless. At Narita, domestic connections exist but are less frequent and require additional time for the inter-terminal transfer.