Train, taxi or bus: Which is the best way to go to Ginza from Narita Airport?
Ginza, the center of luxury shopping in Tokyo, is also one of the neighborhoods with the highest availability of hotels. Very close to Tokyo Station and well connected to the main tourist attractions of the city, it’s the place selected by many tourists to stay during their visit to Tokyo. It’s also the area with some of the best sushi restaurants!
If your accommodation is in Ginza, in this article I’m going to introduce the best options to move from Ginza and Narita Airport, from express trains or direct buses to cheaper options, including private transportation.
Are you staying in another neighborhood? This articles may help you:
If your area is not in the above list, check out this article with general information about how to get from Narita Airport to different parts of Tokyo city! How to Travel Between Narita Airport and Tokyo
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
Getting from Narita to Ginza quick comparison
Before going into the details of each service, let’s have a quick comparison to give you an idea. Basically there are three ways to get from Narita Airport: train, taxi and bus. Within these categories, there are different options and prices.
The following chart shows three of the most important points that people usually look for when deciding that are how much it cost, how many time it takes, and how many people (for example sometimes sharing a taxi can be better than going on express train, etc).
- Approx fare: This is the lowest cost possible for this service. In some services prices might change depending on where your destination is or the time of day you’re using this service.
- Time: This is the lowest time possible for this service. Time might change in some services depending on where your destination is or the conditions (heavy rain, traffic jam, etc).
Skyliner | N’EX | Airport Taxi | Regular Train | Limousine Bus | |
Approx fare | 2,300 yen | 3,320 yen | from 22,700 yen | 1,150 yen | 3,100 yen |
Passengers | 1 pax | 1 pax | Up to 6 | 1 pax | 1 pax |
Time | 65 minutes | 75 minutes | 1 hour | Up to 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
Booking | Book here | Book here | Book here | Buy a train ticket there | Book here |
Fast and Affordable: Express Trains
If you value convenience over price, the best way to get from Narita Airport to Shinjuku is either by Narita Express or Airport Limousine bus.
The Skyliner is an express train from the Keisei railway company that connects Narita Airport to Tokyo in about 40 minutes, being the fastest transportation option between the airport and the city. Usually high-speed trains in Japan are quite expensive, but the Skyliner cost 2,570 yen for adults and 1,150 yen for children (6-11 years old) which is a reasonable price.
In addition to the speed, another advantage of the Skyliner that makes it worth the price is that all the cars have a space at the beginning to leave your luggage and be able to travel without worrying. The seats are large and spacious, and free Wifi available.
However, it only stops at Nippori (36 minutes) or Ueno Station (41 minutes), so you have to transfer to get to Ginza. From Nippori Station you can transfer to the JR Yamanote Line and get off at Yurakucho, which is a station very close to Ginza. Or from the Ueno Station you can take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line but I recommend changing at Nippori as it’s faster and easier (Tokyo Metro stations are more complicated and have many exits).
Buy NOW the Skyliner Discount Ticket online
The other express train available from Narita Airport is the Narita Express or N’EX operated by the Japan Railways Group company. However it’s more expensive than the Skyliner and takes a bit longer. It takes one hour from Narita airport to Tokyo station, and there you have to change trains to Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi line til Ginza. Alternatively, you can walk from Tokyo Station to Ginza as it takes less than 10 minutes.
The usual price is 3,320 yen, but if you buy a round-trip ticket there is a 33% promotion so it costs 4,070 yen for adults or 2,030 yen for children. And if you have the Japan Rail Pass, the Narita Express train is included so you don’t need to pay extra, just show your JR Pass when booking the tickets.
As the Skyliner, the N’EX have space for the suitcases and free Wifi.
Click HERE to book Narita Express Tickets online
Luxury and Comfort: Private Transfer
Taxis or private transportation is the best option at most airports around the world for those who value comfort over other factors and don’t mind paying. It’s the most convenient option if your flight it’s really early in the morning or arrives late in the night or when you don’t speak the local language and is your first time in the country. In Japan a regular taxi between Narita Airport and the center of Tokyo cost around 27,000-30,000 yen, even more if there is a traffic jam. In addition, you need to pay the tolls fee.
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Travel without Luggage: Airport Limousine Bus
Airport Limousine Bus is a popular option for many tourists as it’s almost as convenient as a taxi, but more economical (especially if you are traveling alone or in a small group). The Airport Limousine Bus goes from Narita Airport to most major hotels in Tokyo in around 90 minutes and have a price of 3,100 yen for adults or 1,550 yen for children.
So it’s the perfect option for those who don’t want to carry luggage around the city and prefer to arrive directly at the hotel door but a private transportation it’s over their budget. However, please note that doesn’t stop at all the hotels, so check if your hotel is included or not.
Buy NOW Airport Limousine Discounted Tickets online
Cheapest Option: Keisei Main Line
If you are looking for the cheapest option regardless of time or convenience, then the answer is the regular train. Keisei main line follows the same route that the Skyliner but with a normal regular train instead of a high speed one. Besides time, this also means that the train will have many stops all the way through and normal seats without no special space for suitcases.
The positive side if your hotel or accommodation is in Ginza, is that you can take only one train from Narita Airport to Higashi Ginza Station without any transfer. The journey takes about 90 minutes.
Do you want to get around Tokyo in the cheapest way possible? Check out this article with all the information about the Tokyo Subway Unlimited Pass! ▶︎Tokyo Subway UNLIMITED Pass: How to Get and How Much You Can Save
Overall
So now with so many options available probably your big question is, which is the best way to move between Narita Airport and Ginza? Here you have a small comparative chart with the pros and cons of all the options to help you to decide!
Express Train | Private Transfer | Bus | Local Train | |
Budget Friendly | ★★☆ | ☆☆☆ | ★★☆ | ★★★ |
Time | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★☆ | ★☆☆ |
Comfortable | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★☆☆ |
Convenient | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★☆☆ |
Private Groups | ☆☆☆ | ★★★ | ☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆ |
Personally my favorite options it’s the Skyliner, as long as moving around with your suitcases isn’t a problem for you. If you prefer to arrive directly at the hotel’s door then private transfer or limousine bus, depending on how many people and how much money you are willing to spend. I don’t recommend the local train unless you really want to save money.
Where to buy and where to take the Train /Bus in Narita Airport?
Both the JR ticket counter for the NEX’T and the Keisei counter for the Syliner are located on B1 of Narita Airport, as well as access to the tracks. On the other hand, the ticket counters for bus tickets are located on the first floor, close to the arrival gate. You can find more information in this article: How to Travel Between Narita Airport and Tokyo
If you are if you are wondering how to get around Tokyo once you get there, this article may help you ▶︎The Ultimate Guide for Transportation in Tokyo
▽Transportation Guide for Other Popular Destinations▽
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▶︎How to Get to Disneyland and DisneySea from Tokyo
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▶︎How to Get to Kyoto from Tokyo
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▶︎10 Best Destinations to Go from Tokyo by Bus
I hope you found it useful! If you want to know the best places to visit and things to do in Ginza or other trips about transportation in Tokyo, these articles may interest you too!
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Written by
From Barcelona to Tokyo. Coffee & Adventure lover🌏☕️
I started to like Japan because of the anime, music and doramas, but after my first trip to the country I found what I love the most: traveling around, the culture and history. I have travelled a lot in Japan, but I still have many places to discover that I want to share with you🙋🏼♀️ Let’s discover Japan together!
Also, as a foreigner living in Japan for over 6 years I understand what kind of things are difficult when you move here and I want to help other people in the same situation that I have in the past.