Last priced: April 2026. Prices in JPY one-way for a single adult. Verify on the operator websites — Narita and Haneda transfer pricing is mostly stable but the discount limited express tickets fluctuate.
In This Article
This is the most-Googled budget question for first-time Tokyo visitors and most of the answers online are wrong. The “Narita Express” / N’EX article that ranks first is genuinely good, but it tells you to buy the Tokyo Direct Ticket — useful in 2019, mostly not the cheapest option in 2026 unless you’re going to Yokohama. Below is what’s actually cheapest in April 2026, by airport, with the full prices and the catches.
From Narita Airport: cheapest options
Narita is 60-90 km from central Tokyo depending on which station you’re heading to. The cheapest reliable option is the Keisei Skyliner alternative — not the famous Skyliner itself, but a different Keisei service.
| Option | Price (JPY) | Time to Tokyo Station | Frequency | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keisei Access Express (to Asakusa/Nihombashi) | ¥1,300 | 75 min | Every 40 min | Slower; doesn’t terminate at Tokyo Station |
| Keisei Limited Express (to Ueno) | ¥1,060 | 80 min to Nippori, then transfer | Every 20-30 min | Slowest; many stops |
| Airport Limousine Bus to Tokyo Station | ¥3,200 | 85 min (longer in traffic) | Every 20-30 min | Traffic-dependent; comfortable seats and luggage handling |
| Narita Express (N’EX) | ¥3,070 (off-peak), ¥3,250 (peak) | 55 min | Every 30 min | Fastest train; reserved seats; fares dropped substantially in 2024 |
| Keisei Skyliner | ¥2,580 (¥2,300 advance via Klook) | 41 min to Ueno | Every 20 min | Terminates at Ueno; transfer to Yamanote line for most central destinations |
| Tokyo Shuttle / Access Narita bus to Tokyo Station | ¥1,300 (advance) / ¥1,500 (walk-up) | 75-90 min | Hourly | Cheapest direct-to-Tokyo-Station option; less frequent than the Limousine Bus |
From Narita: the actual cheapest option (and the reason no one mentions it)
The cheapest way is the Keisei Limited Express at ¥1,060, but it’s slow and requires a transfer at Nippori. The Tokyo Shuttle / Access Narita bus is ¥1,300 if you book online in advance — same price as the Keisei Access Express train but it drops you at Tokyo Station with your luggage, which most people prefer after a long flight.
The bus has been the under-the-radar pick on this list for years because Tokyo Shuttle and Access Narita are two separate operators that don’t compete with each other on the airport tour-bus brochures. The bus desks are on Terminal 1 arrivals floor, far end. Buy on the spot, walk to the bay, leave in 10-30 minutes.
The Skyliner is the right call if you’re staying in Ueno or anywhere north of Tokyo Station and the 35-minute time saving over the bus is worth ¥1,000+ to you. Buy the Skyliner ticket on Klook (¥2,300) rather than at the airport (¥2,580) — that’s a ¥280 saving for clicking once before you get on the train.
From Haneda Airport: cheapest options
Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo than Narita — 15-20 km depending on direction. The cheapest options are dramatically cheaper.
| Option | Price (JPY) | Time to Tokyo Station | Frequency | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Monorail + Yamanote line | ¥670 | 35-45 min | Every 5 min | One transfer at Hamamatsucho |
| Keikyu line + JR Yamanote | ¥630 | 35-50 min | Every 5 min | Cheapest; transfer at Shinagawa |
| Airport Limousine Bus | ¥1,300 | 35-50 min | Every 20-30 min | Comfortable; traffic-dependent |
| Taxi flat-rate (city) | ¥6,300-¥7,800 | 25-40 min | On-demand | Worth it for groups of 3+ at odd hours |
From Haneda: the obvious answer is right
The Keikyu line at ¥630 is the cheapest, fastest reliable option to most of central Tokyo. The Tokyo Monorail at ¥670 is functionally identical except it terminates at Hamamatsucho rather than Shinagawa. Pick whichever line is closer to your final hotel.
The Limousine Bus at ¥1,300 is twice the price for no time saving — buy it only if you have heavy luggage and want door-to-hotel service to a participating hotel.
The flat-rate taxi at ¥6,300+ is the genuine surprise on this list. Tokyo’s airport taxi flat rates make taxis competitive for groups: split four ways, ¥6,300 ÷ 4 = ¥1,575 per person, comparable to the bus and faster door-to-door than any train option. After 10 PM the night surcharge kicks in (+20%) and it becomes less attractive.
Two scenarios where everything above is wrong
If you’re heading to Yokohama instead of Tokyo: the Limousine Bus from either airport direct to Yokohama Station is ¥3,700 from Haneda or ¥3,700 from Narita and beats every train option for time and effort. JR’s “Narita Express to Yokohama” is technically cheaper if you have a JR Pass already activated, but for everyone else, take the bus.
If you’re staying in Asakusa: the Keisei Access Express from Narita drops you at Asakusa for ¥1,300 — beats every other option for that specific destination. Don’t take the Skyliner and then transfer; just take the Access Express directly.
The night-arrival problem
If your flight lands after 11 PM (common for arrivals from Australia, Europe, the US west coast), the trains stop. Your options collapse to bus or taxi. Last airport-bus from Narita is around 11:30 PM; from Haneda around midnight. After that it’s the taxi at flat rate or a hotel near the airport — Hotel MyStays near Haneda is ¥7,500-ish for the night and saves you the ¥6,000+ airport taxi if you’re solo. Worth knowing before you book your flight.
The verdict
From Haneda: Keikyu line, ¥630, every time unless you’re solo with heavy luggage in which case the Limousine Bus at ¥1,300 is fine.
From Narita: Tokyo Shuttle / Access Narita bus at ¥1,300 advance for value, or Klook-discounted Skyliner at ¥2,300 if you want fast.
What to read next
Once you’re in central Tokyo, the next decisions are usually where to sleep and what to do first. Both are covered on the site in the same comparison format: cheapest hotels in Shinjuku covers under-¥6,000 stays in the natural arrival neighbourhood, and cheapest tours in Tokyo covers what to do once jetlag wears off. If you’re heading out of the city the next day, cheapest day trips from Tokyo compares the bus-tour vs DIY-by-train options for Mt Fuji, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko.
For the Skyliner discount, the coupons hub has the current Klook code that saves you the ¥280.