Narita Express Guide: Ticket Prices, Timetable & How to Ride

Author's Profile Picture
Narita Express

From Narita Airport to Tokyo, it is recommended to take the JR "Narita Express N'EX" (Narita Express). It takes as little as 53 minutes to reach Tokyo Station (the actual time may vary slightly depending on the train). This article compiles route maps, ticket prices, timetables, seat allocation tutorials, and discounted package tickets. It's a must-read for independent travelers to Tokyo!

See All Flights
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Thu, May 14
Fri, May 15
One way
15% off
From 606.00CAD 516.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Thu, May 14
Fri, May 15
One way
15% off
From 606.00CAD 517.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Sun, May 17
Mon, May 18
One way
15% off
From 606.00CAD 518.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Thu, May 14
Fri, May 15
One way
14% off
From 606.00CAD 519.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Tue, Jun 2
Wed, Jun 3
One way
12% off
From 606.00CAD 532.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Thu, May 14
Fri, May 15
One way
12% off
From 606.00CAD 532.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Mon, May 18
Tue, May 19
One way
12% off
From 606.00CAD 532.00
Sydney
SYD
Tokyo
NRT
Mon, May 11
Tue, May 12
One way
12% off
From 606.00CAD 533.00

What is Narita Express?

What is Narita Express?

Source from Photo AC

The "Narita Express N'EX" operated by JR East connects Narita Airport with major stations in Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama, etc. It only takes 53 minutes to get from the airport to Tokyo Station at the fastest. There are also advantages such as free JR transfer within the station and free seat allocation with a JR PASS. In addition, the Narita Express N 'EX is divided into two classes: regular carriages and green carriages. It offers free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a large luggage storage area.

Item

Details

​​Operating Hours​​

6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

​​Timetable​​

Departures approximately every 30-60 minutes (please check the official website)

​​Car Classes​​

Green Car (First Class), Ordinary Car

​​Travel Time​​

Narita Airport to Tokyo Station: 53 minutes

Narita Airport to Shibuya Station: 1 hour 15 minutes

Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station: 1 hour 25 minutes

What is Narita Express Timetable?

If you want to take the NEX Narita Express, you can refer to the following schedule. Please note that the earliest service departs from Narita Airport at 07:37 and arrives at Tokyo Station at 08:52. The latest train departs at 21:44 and arrives at Tokyo Station at 21:44.

What is Narita Express Timetable?
🎁 Come for Best Choices on Trip.com! | Grab a Japan eSIM| Book Cheapest Flights to Japan! | Find top Japan hotels!

What are Narita Express Ticket Prices?

What are Narita Express Ticket Prices?

Source from APPI Resort

Destination Station

Travel Time

Adult Fare (Ordinary Car)

Adult Fare (Green Car)

​​Tokyo​​

Approx. 53-65 minutes

3,070 JPY / ​​~31 AUD​​

3,840 JPY / ​​~38 AUD​​

​​Shinagawa​​

Approx. 65-75 minutes

3,250 JPY / ​​~33 AUD​​

4,020 JPY / ​​~40 AUD​​

​​Shibuya​​

Approx. 70-80 minutes

3,250 JPY / ​​~33 AUD​​

4,020 JPY / ​​~40 AUD​​

​​Shinjuku​​

Approx. 75-85 minutes

3,250 JPY / ​​~33 AUD​​

4,020 JPY / ​​~40 AUD​​

​​Yokohama​​

Approx. 90 minutes

4,370 JPY / ​​~44 AUD​​

6,640 JPY / ​​~66 AUD​​

​​Ofuna​​

Approx. 100 minutes

4,700 JPY / ​​~47 AUD​​

6,970 JPY / ​​~70 AUD​

Note: For children (ages 6 to under 12), the base fare, limited express ticket, and reserved seat ticket are half the adult price; the green car ticket is the same as the adult price. During some periods, there may be peak/off-peak season surcharges or discounts.

[Official Ticket] [Special Package] Narita Airport Express - Keisei Skyliner Ticket + Tokyo Metro Subway 24/48/72-hour Pass
[Official Ticket] [Special Package] Narita Airport Express - Keisei Skyliner Ticket + Tokyo Metro Subway 24/48/72-hour Pass
4.8/5
535 reviews
It was a great choice, considering I had to travel a long distance with children and luggage. The trains run every 20 minutes, and since I had assigned seats, I was able to sit comfortably from beginning to end. However, because there were so many travelers exchanging tickets, I had to wait in line for about 20 minutes. I recommend planning your itinerary with plenty of time to spare.
[Official Ticket] Tokyo Subway Ticket 24/48/72 Hour Ticket  (Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway)
[Official Ticket] Tokyo Subway Ticket 24/48/72 Hour Ticket (Tokyo Metro + Toei Subway)
4.8/5
2447 reviews
I actually used the Tokyo Pass (72-hour subway pass) on my recent trip to Tokyo, and I'd like to share my honest experience. The advantages are really obvious. My itinerary was very packed, with about 5-8 subway rides a day, covering Asakusa, Ueno, Ginza all the way to Shinjuku and Shibuya, almost all within the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines. Because it's unlimited rides, I didn't have to constantly calculate fares or worry about running out of Suica balance, which was much more relaxing. In the end, the total transportation cost for three days was actually cheaper than buying individual tickets. However, there are some minor drawbacks. For example, it doesn't work on the JR Yamanote Line, and a few times the navigation showed JR routes, requiring me to switch to the subway version, which took a little extra time to plan. Also, the time is calculated from the moment the card is activated, not by the number of days, so I recommend activating it on the first morning for better value.
[Official Ticket] Skyliner Keisei Electric Railway Ticket [Tokyo Airport Express: Narita International Airport - Ueno/Nippori]
[Official Ticket] Skyliner Keisei Electric Railway Ticket [Tokyo Airport Express: Narita International Airport - Ueno/Nippori]
4.9/5
2914 reviews
The Skyliner journey from Narita Airport to Ueno was smooth, quick, and comfortable. The ticket collection process itself wasn't difficult, but the location was a bit unintuitive: after exiting the escalator, you need to walk to the right towards the service center to find the correct ticket collection point. First-timers might find it a little tricky. Overall, it was very convenient, and I would definitely use it again.

What are Narita Express Stops & Map?

What are Narita Express Stops & Map?

Source from Japan Station

Take the NEX Narita Express directly from Narita Airport to the major stations in Tokyo and its surrounding areas, which can be directly connected to major stations such as Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shibuya Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station, and Yokohama Station.

🎁 Come for Best Choices on Trip.com! | Grab a Japan eSIM| Book Cheapest Flights to Japan! | Find top Japan hotels!

Get Connected in Japan

See All Attractions
225528 booked
4.7/57559 reviews
Japan SoftBank 4G/5G eSIM | TikTok & ChatGPT Available | Day Pass/Total Data Package | 24-Hour Billing | QR Code
SIM card
CAD 0.38
166826 booked
4.6/57215 reviews
Japan | 5G eSIM | Day Pass/Total Package | 24H Billing | 1-30 days | QR code
SIM card
CAD 0.17
21648 booked
4.6/51339 reviews
Japan 5G eSIM | Daily/Total Package | 500MB/day - 30GB total | 1-30 days | QR code
SIM card
CAD 0.15
1175 booked
4.3/5116 reviews
Japan eSIM | 1-30 days | Up to 60GB of data high-speed | Coverage on Leading Network
SIM card

Seat Class Differences of Narita Express

The seats on the Narita Express N'EX tickets are divided into two grades: "Regular carriages" and "green carriages". The regular carriages are already equipped with comfortable seats, folding tables, power sockets, free Wifi and ample luggage space. However, the seats in the green carriages have an additional 14 centimeters between the front and back, are more spacious, and are equipped with leather seats, providing a more upscale riding experience.

Seat Class Differences of Narita Express N'EX

The interior of the ordinary carriage of N'EX

Source from JR-EAST

Seat Class Differences of Narita Express N'EX

The interior of the green carriage of N'EX

Source from JR-EAST

How to Buy Narita Express Tickets On-Site?

How to Buy Narita Express Tickets On-Site?

Source from Unsplash

Location of the Ticket Office

After entering the country, follow the "Railway Train" sign and arrive at the JR station on the first basement floor of Narita Airport. Both Terminal 1 and Terminals 2 and 3 have the "JR EAST Travel Service Center", "Green Windows" and "automatic Ticket vending machines". Here you can purchase tickets for the Narita Express N'EX and exchange them for JR Passes, etc.

On-site Narita Express Ticket Booking Guide

Passengers can purchase tickets by themselves at the Narita Express N'EX dedicated ticket vending machine at Narita Airport.

In addition to purchasing tickets for the "Narita Express N'EX" at the ticket vending machine, you can also directly complete the seat allocation and obtain a "Designated Seat Ticket". If there is a long queue at the on-site counter, using the automatic ticket vending machine can save you a lot of time! Here are the steps you might follow to buy tickets.

  • Select the language and the type of ticket to purchase
  • Choose whether to "transfer to Shinkansen" later
  • Select the departure station
  • Select the departure station
  • Select the number of passengers
  • Select the train and carriage type, your seat
  • Select the transportation option
  • Make the payment and collect the ticket

Online Narita Express Tickets Purchase

In addition to purchasing tickets on-site, you can also purchase tickets online through the "JR EAST Train Reservation" on the JR East official website first. After arriving in Japan, collect the tickets at the ticket vending machine using the QR Code. If the flight is delayed, you can also reassign your seat upon arrival or directly change to a reserved seat.

🎁 Come for Best Choices on Trip.com! | Grab a Japan eSIM| Book Cheapest Flights to Japan! | Find top Japan hotels!

How to ride the NEX Narita Express

How to ride the NEX Narita Express

Source from Wikipedia

From Narita Airport to Tokyo Station

  • Depart from Narita Airport and follow the instructions to the NEX Narita Express Platform
  • You can purchase NEX Narita Express tickets at the B1 ticket counter or make a reservation in advance through the website. Show your purchase voucher to exchange for the ticket
  • Take the NEX Narita Express with your ticket and get off at Tokyo Station

Tokyo Station to Narita Airport

  • Head to the Narita Express departure Station at Tokyo Station
  • You can purchase NEX Narita Express tickets at the ticket counter or make a reservation in advance through the website. Show your purchase voucher to exchange for the ticket
  • Take the NEX Narita Express with your ticket and arrive at Narita Airport. Once you get off the train, that's the end of the Narita Express line. You've arrived!.

Attractions around the Main Stations of Narita Express

Attractions around the Main Stations of Narita Express

Source from Unsplash

The NEX Narita Express connects major popular areas in Tokyo. The following table shows the attractions near the main stations for your reference: 😁

Station

Key Attractions

​​Tokyo Station​​

Imperial Palace, Ginza District, Tokyo Station City

​​Shinjuku Station​​

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Kabukicho

​​Shibuya Station​​

Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue, Harajuku (Takeshita Street)

​​Shinagawa Station​​

Shinagawa Aquarium, Gotoku-ji Temple

​​Yokohama Station​​

Minato Mirai 21, Cup Noodles Museum, Yokohama Chinatown

Attractions Near around Express
Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace
4.7/5
1299 reviews
This elegant and beautiful city is peacefully situated in the bustling Tokyo city center. It's definitely worth a visit!
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
4.8/5
2606 reviews
Amazing place, just scan the QR at the gate and enjoy.
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
4.6/5
17 reviews
brilliant location well worth a visit !

Top Japan Hotel Recommendation

See All Hotels
NO.1
8.5/10563 reviews
KOKO HOTEL Tokyo Nishikasai
Hotel in Tokyo
NO.2
8.3/10372 reviews
Asakusa YOSHII Hotel
Hotel in Tokyo
NO.3
9.1/101568 reviews
Hot spring OSAKA HINODE HOTEL NIPPONBASHI
Hotel in Osaka

FAQs about Narita Express

  • How much does Narita Express cost?

    How much does the Narita Express cost? A one-way ticket usually runs around ¥3,000 for the regular seats, and if you want to treat yourself, the Green Car (first class) is about ¥4,500. If you've got a Japan Rail Pass, you're covered, so no extra cost there.
  • Which is better, Narita Express or Skyliner?

    Choose the Skyliner for the fastest journey to Ueno or Nippori stations, but note it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Opt for the Narita Express if your destination is directly served, such as Tokyo, Shinjuku, or Yokohama, and you have a JR Pass, as it is covered and provides more direct connections to these major stations.
  • Which station does Narita Express go to?

    After leaving the 2 stations at the airport, the Narita Express stops at Tokyo Station and many major districts and cities in the region, including Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama. The main Narita Express stations include: Narita (town) Chiba.
  • Where can I purchase Narita Express tickets?

    You can buy Narita Express tickets online through the official JR-EAST Train Reservation site or third-party sites like Klook, or purchase them after arriving in Japan at airport or major train station ticket vending machines and Travel Service Centers. Online purchases allow you to reserve your seat in advance, while on-site purchases are also available, including using reserved seat ticket vending machines equipped with passport readers.
Disclaimer: This article has been provided by an individual contributor or third party platform. If there is any discrepancy regarding the copyright, please contact us directly and we will delete the content immediately.
Zora

Zora

Trip.com Blogger

Hi, I am Zora from Shanghai, I've explored many spots across China, and also taken me further abroad including Australia, Malaysia, Finland and so on. For me, travel is about connecting deeply with each place. As a true travel enthusiast, I love diving deep into all the travel hacks, from booking secrets and ride-hailing discounts to travel promotions. I'm here to share every trick I know, guaranteed to help you save big and travel smart. Let's explore the world cleverly together!

183 articles
Blogger
>>
Narita Express
aaaa