Narita Airport (NRT): an overview of Tokyo's eastern gateway

Narita International Airport is one of the two airports that serve Tokyo, and for many long-haul and regional travellers it is the first place they see in Japan. Most people simply call it Narita Airport. On tickets and booking screens it shows up under its IATA code, NRT. Pilots and air traffic controllers use the ICAO code RJAA. Searching for "NRT airport", "NRT Japan" or "Narita International Airport (NRT)" all leads to the same place.

The airport is run by Narita International Airport Corporation, usually shortened to NAA. It opened in 1978. Although the name on the departure board says Tokyo, the airport is not in Tokyo itself. It sits in the city of Narita in Chiba Prefecture, east of the capital. That distance shapes almost every decision you make here, from which train to take to how early to leave your hotel.

This guide walks through the practical questions travellers ask most: which terminal your airline uses, how far Narita is from central Tokyo, the best ways to get into the city, what you will find inside the terminals and a few tips that make departure day calmer.

Narita Airport terminals: which airline uses which

Narita has three passenger terminals. Knowing yours before you set off matters, because the trains stop at two different stations and Terminal 3 is a short walk beyond Terminal 2.

Terminal 1

Terminal 1 is split into a North Wing and a South Wing. The North Wing is used by SkyTeam alliance airlines. The South Wing is home to Star Alliance carriers, led by All Nippon Airways (ANA). If you are flying with a Star Alliance partner, you will usually check in at the South Wing.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is the Oneworld terminal at Narita, with Japan Airlines (JAL) as its main operator. Several airlines outside the big alliances also use it. The railway station beneath it, Airport Terminal 2·3 Station, is also the stop for Terminal 3.

Terminal 3 and the Jeju Air terminal question

Terminal 3 is the low-cost carrier terminal. Jetstar Japan and Spring Japan fly from here, and so does Jeju Air. So if you searched for the Narita Airport Jeju Air terminal, the answer is Terminal 3. Not every budget airline uses it, though, so always confirm the terminal printed on your booking.

Terminal 3 has no railway station of its own. From Airport Terminal 2·3 Station it is roughly a ten-minute walk along a covered walkway. A free connecting bus also links the terminals. Inside, check-in counters are on the second floor and the international departure area, with duty-free shopping, is on the third floor.

Where Narita Airport is and how far it is from Tokyo

Narita Airport lies roughly 60 kilometres east of central Tokyo, in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture. By road the trip usually takes somewhere between one and one and a half hours. At busy times, on holiday weekends or in bad traffic it can stretch to two hours or more.

By train the timing is more predictable. The fastest rail links reach the northern and eastern parts of central Tokyo in well under an hour, while the main stations on the western side, such as Shinjuku, take longer. Choosing a train that stops close to your hotel often saves more time than picking the fastest service on paper.

Getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo and beyond

Narita has two airport railway stations. Narita Airport Station serves Terminal 1 and is about a five-minute walk from it. Airport Terminal 2·3 Station serves Terminal 2 with a five-minute walk and Terminal 3 with a walk of about ten minutes. Ticket counters for the rail operators are inside the terminals.

Narita Express (JR East)

The Narita Express, often shortened to N'EX, is run by JR East. It takes about an hour to Tokyo Station and continues to Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama. It is a comfortable choice if you are staying near one of those stations, and it accepts the Japan Rail Pass.

Keisei Skyliner

The Keisei Skyliner runs to Nippori and Ueno in the north-east of the city. It is the quickest rail link, reaching Nippori in around 40 minutes. All seats are reserved. From Nippori or Ueno it is easy to change to the JR Yamanote Line or the metro.

Access Express and the Keisei Main Line

Keisei also runs the Access Express, which stops at more stations across its network, and slower local trains on the Keisei Main Line. These take longer than the Skyliner but need no reservation.

Airport buses

Airport limousine buses and low-cost coaches link Narita with Tokyo Station, Ginza, Tokyo City Air Terminal and many hotels. Expect roughly 70 to 90 minutes to Tokyo Station, depending on traffic. Buses are handy if you have heavy bags, since they drop you close to many hotels without a change of train.

Taxis and car rental

Taxis wait outside the arrival areas of each terminal, and car rental desks are also available. Because of the distance, a taxi into central Tokyo is a long ride, so most visitors use a train or bus unless they are travelling as a group with a lot of luggage.

Flights and airlines at Narita Airport

Narita is mainly an international airport. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways both run large international networks from here, and airlines from the SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld groups connect Narita with cities across Asia, North America, Europe and beyond. Low-cost carriers in Terminal 3 add regional international routes, including flights to South Korea with Jeju Air.

Narita flights are not only international. Domestic services run from here to cities such as Osaka and Sapporo, which is useful if you want to land in Tokyo and continue straight on without crossing to another airport. People searching for a Narita to Osaka flight will find both full-service and budget options, so it is worth comparing times as well as airlines.

Timetables change with the season, so check current Narita flights and the terminal for your airline when you book.

Facilities inside Narita Airport

For a large airport, Narita is easy to use once you know your terminal. Free Wi-Fi called FreeWiFi-NARITA covers every terminal and the connecting buses, with no registration needed beyond accepting the terms. The network is not encrypted, so avoid sending sensitive information without a VPN.

Coin lockers let you leave bags for up to eight days. If you would rather not carry your suitcase around Tokyo, luggage delivery counters run by companies such as Yamato, JAL ABC and Sagawa Express sit before security in every terminal and can send bags on to hotels.

Across the terminals you will find restaurants, cafés, convenience stores, currency exchange, ATMs and duty-free shops once you pass security. Terminal 2 has a capsule hotel on its basement floor, which is useful after a late arrival or before a very early departure.

Tips for flying out of Narita Airport

The main thing to plan for at Narita is the journey to the airport. Build in time for the train or bus from central Tokyo, then add time for check-in, security and immigration. For international flights many travellers aim to arrive about three hours before departure, especially in the summer holiday period.

Check your terminal the day before. Getting off at the wrong station or going to Terminal 2 when you need Terminal 3 is the most common way to lose time here. If you do end up in the wrong terminal, use the free connecting bus rather than trying to walk the whole way.

Narita also has a night curfew that limits takeoffs and landings, so it is not a 24-hour airport for flights. If you arrive late in the evening, check the last train or bus into Tokyo before you land, as options thin out late at night.

If you are carrying liquids, gifts or duty-free items onward, keep receipts and sealed bags handy in case you pass another security check on a connecting journey.

Narita city and things to see near the airport

Most travellers head straight into Tokyo, but the town of Narita is worth a look on a long layover. Naritasan Shinshoji, a large Buddhist temple complex with a history reaching back more than a thousand years, is a short train ride from the airport. The walk to it from JR Narita Station follows Omotesando, a traditional street lined with craft shops and restaurants known for grilled eel.

Further afield, Tokyo itself offers endless choices, from the old neighbourhoods around Ueno, reached by the Skyliner, to the shopping streets of Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku on the Narita Express route. Chiba Prefecture, where the airport sits, also has coastal towns and countryside for those with more time.

Ready to plan your trip? Compare Narita flights on Traveloka and set a Price Alert so you know when fares move.