Best Way to Get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo – Train, Bus or Private Transport?
Lying around 18km directly south of central Tokyo, and within the limits of the city, Haneda Airport is one of two international airports – along with Narita Airport -servicing Japan’s capital. As Japan’s busiest airport, Haneda is a common arrival and/or departure point. If it’s your first time coming to Japan, you may well be asking what’s the best way to get from Haneda Airport into Tokyo? On this page we provide everything you need to know about how to get from Haneda Airport into Tokyo with a minimum of fuss including the option of:
3 / Taxi
5 / Frequently Asked Questions
After providing those options, the page concludes with some frequently asked questioned to assist with comparisons of the different transport services on offer and which one might best suit your needs. Let’s begin with:
1 / TRAIN: TOKYO MONORAIL
The Tokyo Monorail runs from all three terminals at Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho Station, from where connecting lines carry passengers onward to all areas of the city. A one-way journey from the airport to Hamamatsucho Station costs JPY500 and typically takes 15 to 25-minutes depending on the service and which terminal you are using, with some services as fast as 13-minutes.
Most passengers will however use Hamamatsucho Station to transfer to another line for their final destination including Tokyo Station: JPY660 / 25 to 30-min; Ueno Station: JPY670 / 30 to 35-min; Shinjuku Station: JPY700 / 45-min. All carriages on the monorail are non-reserved. Importantly for international visitors, the monorail is covered by a range of Japan Rail (JR) Passes including: the full JR Pass / JR East Pass / JR Hokuriku Arch Pass.
Using the monorail with a JR Pass: it’s easy! You don’t need any additional ticket or need to make any further payment. Simply show your pass at the ticket gates and you’ll be waived through. But remember, if you have just arrived in Japan, you will first need to activate the pass to use it on the monorail – see our ‘Haneda Airport’ page for details.
To purchase a ticket: as the monorail is an inner-city/ordinary train line, you cannot buy tickets online or in advance. You simply buy them from the ticket machine or ticket window at the airport. Services depart on average every 4-minutes, so it really is very simple. For further information, see the official Tokyo Monorail website.
2 / TRAIN: KEIKYU LINE
The Keikyu Line is an inner-city train service running from Terminal 1/2 and Terminal 3 at Haneda, to Shinagawa Station. A one-way journey to Shinagawa will cost JPY300 and take as little as 11-minutes but up to 20-minutes depending on the service.
From Shinagawa Station it’s an easy onward journey to popular accommodation areas including Tokyo Station/Marunouchi, Odaiba, Ebisu and many other areas including Yokohama – via Keikyu Kamata Station.
It is important to note that unlike the monorail, the Keikyu Line is not covered by any JR Pass. Therefore, even if you are holding a pass you will need to purchase a ticket to use the line.
To purchase a ticket: as the Keikyu is an inner-city/ordinary train line, you cannot buy tickets online or in advance. You simply buy them from the ticket machine or ticket window at the airport. Ticket machines have English and other foreign languages making them easy to use. For further details, see the official Keikyu website.
3 / TAXI
Given Haneda’s proximity to central Tokyo, using a taxi is a good option for many visitors wanting to avoid navigating public transport with their luggage and getting themselves to their accommodation.
Operating from 1F/outside the ground floor of Terminal 3 at Haneda, ‘flat-rate’ taxis operate 24-hours a day and offer a convenient service to any ward in Tokyo. Rates vary depending on which area in Tokyo you are headed but as a guide: to Tokyo Station/Marunouchi costs JPY6100, to Shibuya costs JPY6800, to Shinjuku costs JPY7300, and to Ueno costs JPY7300. Surcharges apply for late night/early morning taxis between 22:00 to 05:00. Both sedan and wagon-type taxis are available, capable of carrying 4 passengers. See the following page for a complete list of rates to the different areas of Tokyo.
Payment can be made in cash or using credit card. There are plenty of taxis available at the stand.
4 / PRIVATE TRANSPORT
Numerous shuttle services and private taxis operate from and to the airport, offering competitive prices and convenience, especially if you are willing to share with other passenger in a combined shuttle service.
For visitors arriving at Haneda Airport but wanting to head to a location other than central Tokyo, arranging private transport from the airport can be a convenient and economical option, especially when traveling as a group or family. Based in Nagano and operating all year round, we can arrange private transport from the airport directly to your preferred destination in Central Japan including any of the region’s fantastic ski resorts.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your interests and schedule. A great option for families and groups of friends wanting to travel together in comfort, we can arrange transport for individuals, couple, families and groups of up to 44 passengers per vehicle.
Vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety. As a registered travel agent, we can package your transport with accommodation, tours, restaurants and more! We take the hassle out of arranging your travel to Nagano and Central Japan, so you can relax, sit back and discover everything the region has to offer!
For tips and suggestions of what’s on offer just outside of Tokyo, see our ’30 Things To Do Near Tokyo: Best Day-Trips & Overnight Getaways’ page.
5 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We hope the information included above has made it a little easier to understand which transport option best suits your needs. In making arrangements for travel to Japan, we find the following questions are common:
MONORAIL vs KEIKYU – Which train should I use?
Using either train service from the airport is cheap, easy and relatively straightforward, connecting to other lines and the entire city via either Hamamatsucho Station or Shinagawa Station. The big difference between the two services is that the Tokyo Monorail is covered by the Japan Rail (JR) Pass whereas the Keikyu Line is not covered. Visitors holding a JR Pass can use the monorail free of charge but simply showing their pass at the ticket gates and being waived through. The pass does not however cover the Keikyu LIine Even if you are holding a JR Pass, if you want to use services on the Keikyu Line you will have to buy a ticket at the full price. In terms of ticket prices, if you do need to purchase a ticket for the Monorail to Hamatsucho Station costs JPY500 one-way, or for the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station, JPY300. Both services are fast with the fastest monorail service to Hamamatsucho taking 13 minutes and fastest Keikyu service to Shinagawa taking 11 minutes (however expect a travel time closer to 20-minutes for most services). Services on both lines are frequent and all carriages/seating is non-reserved. As both lines are ordinary inner-city train lines, carriages can be crowded at navigating your way through with luggage at peak hour can be a challenge.
MONORAIL vs KEIKYU – Which is best for getting to hotel?
For many visitors, deciding between the two services can be confusing so let’s start by saying that using either is totally fine and ultimately both will connect through to all parts of Tokyo. However, there are certainly some better options depending on where you are staying. Let’s start with visitors heading to the popular Tokyo Station/Marunouchi area. Both services can be used to reach Tokyo Station – a journey of JPY660 / 30-minutes using the monorail (via Hamamatsucho Station) and JPY470 / 30-minutes using the Keikyu Line (via Shinagawa Station). The big difference is that the monorail is covered by the JR Pass while the Keikyu is not. The same applies to most other areas as both Hamamtsucho and Shinagawa Stations are stops on the Yamanote Loop Line. For visitors heading to areas including Odaiba, Ebisu, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, Shinagawa Station is closer than Hamamatsucho making the Keikyu Line a good option; while areas including Tokyo, Akihabara and Ueno are closer to Hamamatsucho, making the Tokyo Monorail the best option. However, it is also worth nothing that Shinagawa and Hamamatsucho are only two stations apart of the Yamanote Line, meaning the time difference is quite small and transferring at either station will ultimately get you where you’re going – and of course, if you’re using a JR Pass, then using the monorail will be your best option. For information about popular accommodation areas in Tokyo, see our ‘Where to Stay in Tokyo?’ page.
TAXI vs TRAINS – Is using a taxi a good option for me?
Given Haneda’s relatively close proximity to central Tokyo, using a taxi is a good option for many visitors. The ‘flat-rate’ system guarantees the cost your fare, regardless of traffic and how long it takes to reach your destination, allowing you to sit back, relax and be transported directly to your accommodation or chosen destination. For couple and small families especially, this is economical and convenient option – particularly for first-timers who might find the public transport system difficult to navigate with luggage and kids in tow. It should be noted that in certain circumstances, surcharges including late/early services between 22:00 to 05:00 and use of tollways to reach certain destinations will apply. With taxis waiting at the airport, it’s good to keep this option in mind – always appealing a the end of a long flight.
PRIVATE TRANSPORT – It’s much more expensive. Why would I use it?
It is certainly true that private transport is likely to be much more expensive than using the trains or bus. So why use it? Arranging a private charter from the airport allows you to picked-up upon arrival and transported directly to your destination of choice. For visitors not heading into Tokyo, especially those arriving for Nagano’s winter ski and snowboarding season, arranging private transport from the airport to you ski resort and accommodation of choice, allows you to get there fast, in comfort and without having to navigate central Tokyo with your luggage and gear. Regardless of the time of year you are visiting, private transport can save you significant time and hassle in getting you directly to your destination while also allowing the flexibility of incorporating other destinations and activities along the way. Most importantly, as COVID-19 continues to impact on travel within Japan, arranging private transport allows you to move with comfort and peace of mind, especially when you choose to do so with us.
BOOK A PRIVATE CHARTER – Why choose Snow Monkey Resorts?
Operating all year round, our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinationsin combination with any activity that suits your interests and schedule. Vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety; and as a registered travel agent, we can package your transport with accommodation, tours, restaurants and more!
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Central Japan.
Got a question about visiting Central Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
WHERE TO STAY IN TOKYO?
Not just the largest city in Japan but also the largest city in the world, Tokyo is a sprawling giant that must be experienced at least once. Knowing where to stay when visiting Tokyo can make a huge difference when it comes to getting around the city and ultimately, getting the most out of your time there. Our ‘Where To Stay In Tokyo?’ page breakdowns the best areas to stay including accommodation listings.
