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Travellers heading to Tokyo, a city that seamlessly blends tradition and innovation, face a choice between two gateways: Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT). These airports have unique characteristics that make your decision critical.
Below you will find a list of the unique features of each airport. This will help you make an informative choice.
Pro tip: To activate your JR Pass, head to the JR East Travel Service Center offices in Haneda (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) or Narita (9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Bear in mind that you can only activate your pass during these specified hours. If you arrive later, you'll have to buy a single ticket.
Image by Jezael Melgoza via Unsplash
Haneda Airport (HND)
Haneda Airport, or Tokyo International Airport, lies 9 miles south of Tokyo Station. It's the world's fourth busiest airport for passenger traffic and third in Asia, accommodating 80 million travellers each year.
Helpful Info: Haneda Airport is the closest airport to Tokyo city centre.
Here's what makes Haneda Airport a good choice:
- Haneda Airport excels with numerous runways for efficient air traffic management.
- High landing frequency ensures smooth flight arrivals and departures, enhancing the travel experience.
- The airport's immense passenger volume reflects its global popularity.
- For travellers with personal vehicles, Haneda Airport offers convenient and spacious parking facilities.
Here's what makes Haneda Airport a bad choice:
- While Haneda shines in domestic connectivity, its international flight options may be relatively limited.
Transfer Options from Haneda Airport to Tokyo: Train, Bus, Taxi and Private Transfers.
- Taxi: €45, 30min (Note: Night fares (22:00 – 05:00) are around €54.50 (¥6,800).)
- Train: €8, 13min (Please be aware that train and monorail services do not operate late at night and can be challenging with heavy luggage.)
- Bus: €15, 45min (You can switch to trains or monorails at Tokyo Station for other parts of Tokyo.)
Private Transfers from Haneda International Airport
Private taxi transfers of AirportTransfer.com from Haneda International Airport (HND) to Tokyo's city centre offer convenient, safe, and efficient travel, especially after a long flight.
Image by Lourd Tan via Unsplash
Narita International Airport (NRT)
Narita Airport, also known as Narita International Airport, lies about 37 miles east of central Tokyo, on the border of Narita City and Shibayama Town. As Japan's second busiest airport, handling over 40 million passengers each year and ranking 49th globally, Narita Airport serves as a crucial hub for Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
Here's what makes Narita Airport a good choice:
- Narita Airport provides a wider range of international flight options.
- A diverse selection of airlines ensures extensive connectivity.
- A vital hub for air cargo movement.
Here's what makes Narita Airport a bad choice:
- The airport's location requires more extended travel to central Tokyo.
Transfer Options from Narita Airport to Tokyo: Taxi, Bus, Train and Private Transfers
- Taxi: €160, 70 min (Price can vary due to factors like night fare, traffic, and your final destination in Tokyo).
- Bus: €46, 80 min (Transfer required upon reaching Tokyo Station to get to your city centre hotel).
- Train: €19.40, 90 min (Keisei Main Line is slower and less convenient with limited luggage space).
Private Transfers from Narita Airport
AirportTransfer.com provides the most convenient door-to-door service from Narita Airport to your Tokyo hotel with a private Tokyo pick-up service.
Haneda Vs Narita - Airlines and Flight Options
Numerous foreign airlines service both Haneda and Narita airports, boosting connecting options and giving travellers a variety of options.
Both airports are served by well-known airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, British Airways, Air France, Singapore, and Thailand. Swiss, Turkish, KLM, Alitalia, Finnair, and SAS use Narita as their only hub.
Haneda Vs Narita - Airport Amenities and Perks
- JAL and ANA provide matching premium lounges at both airports, featuring similar designs and dining options. Narita's first-class lounge is famous for its sushi bar, while Haneda offers a teppanyaki bar for first-class passengers.
- Both airports offer abundant shopping and dining. Narita is an aviation enthusiast's paradise, with a unique collection of aircraft, including rarities like Thai's Airbus A380, making it a special treat for US visitors.