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Tokyo Transportation Guide

Tokyo Transportation Guide explains how to go to Tokyo central from airports, how to go to Tokyo from other cities, and how to transport within Tokyo.

Tokyo transportation: How to access to Tokyo

 

From Airport to Tokyo

There are 2 international airports near Tokyo, Narita Airport and Haneda Airport.

Here is transportation information from these airports.

From Narita Airport  (NRT)

By train

One of the most popular transportations from Narita Airport to Tokyo is a train.

There are 2 railways operating between Narita airport and Tokyo, JR and Keisei.

JR Narita Express

JR operates airport express, NE'X (Narita Express), between Narita airport and major stations in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba.

Narita Express stops at Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Omiya, Yokohama, and Chiba.

It is an easy way to go to Shibuya and Shinjuku from Narita airport.

For getting Narita Express ticket, please check this page.

Keisei Skyliner
Keisei also operates airport express, Keisei Skyliner, between Narita airport and Keisei Ueno.

Keisei Skyline stops at Nippori and Keisei Ueno, closed to JR Ueno station.

 

By bus

There are many buses from Narita Airport to major areas of Kanto, including Tokyo.

There are buses from Narita Airpot to major hotels in Tokyo.

It takes 90 ~ 120 minutes from Narita Airport to Tokyo central, depending on traffic.

Transportation from airport to Tokyo 

 

From Haneda Airport (HND)

By train

The train is the most popular transportation from the airport to Tokyo central.

There are 2 railways from Haneda airport to Tokyo central, Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu.

Tokyo Monorail
Tokyo Monorail operates between Haneda airport and Hamamatsucho, one of JR Yamanote line stations connecting subways and JR.

It takes 13 minutes from Haneda airport international terminal station to Hamamatsucho station by express train.

Tokyo Monorail is convenient to go to Tokyo station and some subway stations, such as Roppongi.

For detail, please visit Tokyo Monorail official site.

Keikyu line
Keikyu operates between Haneda airport and Shinagawa where Tokaido Shinkansen stops.

It takes 13 minutes from Haneda airport international terminal station to Shinagawa station by express.

Keikyu line is convenient to go to Tokyo, Shibuya, and Shinjuku station, as well as Yokohama and other stations in Kanagawa prefecture. Also, some trains directly go to Asakusa.

For detail, please visit Keikyu official site.

 

By bus

There are many buses available from Haneda airport to major areas in Kanto, such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Hachioji, Yokohama, and Omiya.

For detail, please visit here.

 

 

From other cities to Tokyo

Here is transportation information from other cities, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Sapporo, to Tokyo.

By Shinkansen 

Shinkansen is the most popular transportation to move around Japan, especially within the main island, Honshu.

It is easy and fast to move to Tokyo from the following cities:

  • From Kyoto to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Shin-Osaka to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Nagoya to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Kobe to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Sendai to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Nagano to Tokyo >>> check tickets here
  • From Kanazawa to Tokyo >>> check tickets here

From Kyoto to Tokyo, to take Shinkansen is strongly recommended as there is no airport closed to Kyoto.

Fast and easy transportation to Tokyo: Shinkansen bullet train 

By air

From cities located not on the main island, air transportation is the main option.

There are many flights between Tokyo and cities not located on the main island, such as Fukuoka, Sapporo, Matsuyama, Okinawa, Miyazaki, and Hakodate.

There are also flights between Tokyo and cities in the main island, such as Hiroshima, Okayama, Osaka, Toyama, Sendai, Akita, and Niigata.

Transportation from islands to Tokyo: Air

By bus

There are buses between Tokyo and major cities like Kyoto, Osaka, and Sendai.

It is, for most of the cases, the cheapest way to move from cities to Tokyo, but it takes the most time.

This is good transportation for budget travelers.

 

Transportation in Tokyo

Subways & Railways

The main transportation within Tokyo is subways and railways.

In total, there are more than 10 subways and railways.

 

Subway
There are 2 subways, Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. Over 10 lines cover most of the central areas of Tokyo.

Major stations, such as Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ueno, have subway stations. And, there are popular areas which have only subway station(s), such as Roppongi, Tsukiji, Nihonbashi, and Tochomae. Subway is the most important transportation for tourists to move around Tokyo efficiently.

>Tokyo Metro official site

>Toei subway official site

 

Railway
The major railway is JR, operating Shinkansen and several lines in Tokyo.

JR Yamanote Line is a circle line connecting major stations, such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Ueno.

JR Chuo Line runs to cross the center of Tokyo. This line connects Tokyo, Shinjuku, Nakano, Takao, and more.

JR Sobu Line runs to cross the center of Tokyo. This line stops Tokyo, Shinjuku, Kinshicho, Funabashi, and Chiba.

JR Keihintohoku Line runs north-to-south of Tokyo. This line connects Tokyo, Shinagawa, Ueno, Nippori as well as Urawa, Omiya, Kamata, and Yokohama.

JR Saikyo Line goes north of Tokyo. This line stops Shibuya, Ebisu, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Akabane, and Omiya.

 

Tokyu railway is a line whose main station is Shibuya. This line goes southwestern side of Tokyo area and Kanagawa prefecture.

>Tokyu railway official site

Odakyu railway is a line whose main station is Shinjuku. This line goes to Kanagawa prefecture, including Hakone. This is popular transportation to go to Hakone. Also, there is a line goes to Gotemba.

>Odakyu railway official site

Keio railway is another line with Shinjuku as the terminal station. This line goes to Tama area of Tokyo.

>Keiko railway official site

Seibu railway has lines go to Tama area and Saitama.

>Seibu railway official site

Tobu railway is a line starting from Asakusa. This line goes Saitama and Tochigi. This line is a popular line to go to Nikko from Tokyo. It is also known at a line with a station next to Tokyo Sky Tree.

>Tobu railway official site

Keikyu railway is a line from Shinagawa. This line is popular to access to Haneda airport.

>Keikyu railway official site

Keisei railway is a line from Ueno. This line is popular to access to Narita airport.

>Keisei railway official site

 

 

Subway and Railway: Ticket

It is very complicated to purchase tickets from one station to another if a route uses more than 1 railway and/or subways.

The best way to use transportation in Tokyo is to have Suica, pre-paid e-money card.

With Suica, there is no need to purchase tickets.

Suica can be used for most of railways and subways.

For detail, please check Suica page.

 

Taxi

Taxi is a convenient way to move around Tokyo, but it costs.

Price starts from 410 JPY and increases depending on distance and time.

Taxi can be found anywhere on street. By showing your hand, you can catch a taxi if it is available.

You can find a taxi stop at major stations and department stores/shopping malls.

You can pay by cash and credit card for some taxes.

And many taxies accept payment by Suica, pre-charged e-money card.

 

Tokyo Hotel Search

If you are looking for hotels at a good price, check hotels below.

You can compare hotel prices from various travel sites. 

Seat guide

Shinkansen seats are available in four levels depending on the comfort and services your require.

Ordinary Seat

Regular seats used on Reserved cars and Unreserved cars of Shinkansen. Consider it as "economy class" seat.

Green Seat

Better seats with more space than ordinary seats. All Green Seats are reserved only. Consider it as "business class" seats.

Reserved Seat (Ordinary Reserved Seat)

Your seat is reserved and secured when you book your tickets. Head to the station with a peace of mind.
Seats are the same as Ordinary Seat.

Green Reserved Seat

Better seats and free blankets. Popular among Japanese business persons, executives and people who values comfortable travel. Consider it as "business class" seats.

GranClass Seat

Know as "First Class" of Shinkansen seats. Only available on Hokuriku and Tohoku Shinkansen lines. Gran Class seats comes with airline-like amenities and meals.The most expensive of all.

Unreserved Seat

You can take any open seats in unreserved cars of any train on the departure date. (No departure time will be indicated on your tickets.)
The best seat type if your priority is the cost and are traveling during less-crowded season/time.

 

 

For further information and photos, please visit official page at http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/types.html