How Not to Cry at Narita, Part 1 – The Taxi

While talking to family planning a trip to Japan this autumn, I had a realisation: figuring out how to get from Narita Airport to your Tokyo hotel can be surprisingly tricky - and it might even affect which hotel you choose. With so many options, it's not as simple as "just hop on a train."

So here’s my take on getting from Narita to Tokyo, and also, where to chose a hotel in Tokyo. Starting with the taxi. With the taxi you can get to really any hotel in Tokyo (or Chiba, or Yokohama for that matter).

But - should you take a taxi from Narita Airport into Tokyo?
Short answer: No.

Long answer:
I get it. Taxis are comfortable. You get in where you are (at the airport), get out where you need to be (at the hotel). No stairs, no dragging suitcases, no train transfers to puzzle out while jet-lagged. But if you’re flying into (or out of) Narita Airport, a taxi is usually not your first choice.

And no, it’s not just because I like trains and buses.

It’s because Narita - despite its former name, “New Tokyo International Airport” - isn’t actually in Tokyo. It’s in Chiba Prefecture. Sixty kilometres away from central Tokyo, to be precise. 80 from Shinjuku (see below). That’s not “just outside” - that’s “now you’re in another prefecture” territory. For the non-metric folks: 60km is a bit less than 40 miles, 80km is 50 miles.

Screenshot from Google Maps

A regular taxi from Narita to central Tokyo will run you somewhere between ¥19,000 and ¥33,000. That’s before highway tolls, which are added on top. If your flight arrives at an inconvenient time - say, just before midnight - you’ll also get hit with late-night surcharges. In contrast, the trains (Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner) will get you to the city for anywhere from ¥1,300 to ¥3,500. No meter anxiety. No surprises.

Yes, there are set tariffs to the different wards in Tokyo. To get to Shibuya from Narita for example, a taxi ride costs ¥25,000. But there’s also the traffic.

On a good day with zero congestion, a taxi might take 60 to 90 minutes. But good days are rare during Golden Week, Obon, or the New Year holidays. A traffic accident on the express-way or a rainy Friday evening, and that trip can stretch to two hours or more. And let’s be honest - if you are going to the airport, your flight won’t wait just because the Bayshore Route decided to turn into a parking lot.

Meanwhile, trains just… go.
The Skyliner takes about 40 minutes to Ueno or Nippori. The Narita Express takes about 60, but it goes straight to major hubs like in West Tokyo, like Shinjuku, or Shinagawa. No traffic, no “we’re stuck on the ramp” updates. Just you and your suitcase, gliding into the city.

Speaking of suitcases - taxis don’t always win there either. Tokyo taxis are compact. Two full-size suitcases might not even fit. That one time where I had to buy a second suitcase in Europe… I was so scared of the taxi ride home (from Haneda though…). If you have luggage and do want the taxi, you can book a van or jumbo taxi, but those are pricier and might require booking at least two days in advance (if you go from the city to the airport).

Credit: Soushin Private Taxi Service

And that “fixed rate” taxi option? Not as straightforward as it sounds. It does work from Narita to Central Tokyo - but from Tokyo to Narita, unless you book ahead, you’ll just be in a regular metered cab. Want an English-speaking driver, guaranteed availability, or a cab that takes credit cards? That might be extra. Honestly, it adds up fast.

Of course, there are exceptions. I do recommend the taxi, if:

You will get a private driver anyway - travel light and don’t mind the splurge (company costs), by all means.

You’re going to Ibaraki for a factory audit, and getting to your local hotel by public transport would involve three train transfers, and two local buses.

You’re travelling with three toddlers, a cello, and someone recovering from knee surgery - a small taxi fleet might actually be your best bet.

And if you’re staying in Chiba, well, Narita’s practically around the corner.

But for nearly everyone else?
Trains or buses are cheaper, faster, more predictable.

What I usually do recommend - and what I actually do myself - when going from Tokyo to Narita: I stay near Narita the night before a morning flight. If my departure’s around 11 am, it’s perfect. I send my suitcase ahead two days in advance, take the bus to Narita after work, check into a hotel, where my luggage is waiting. I have dinner and that’s it. The next morning? Wake up at 7, eat a quiet breakfast, catch the hotel shuttle at 8:30, and roll into the airport by 9. Get my WiFi, insurance, buy some kitkats (yes, I do buy them as well). No stress. No traffic. No meter ticking up in the background.

It’s not flashy. It’s not dramatic.
But it works.