When you consider your options to get from Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa you can consider three main factors to decide the option which is best for your particular circumstances.  These three deciding airport transfer factors are whether you are looking for the easiest, cheapest or fastest option – usually you can achieve only one or two of these factors.

Key deciding factors also include how long you are in transit for on arrival into Narita Airport.  If you have just completed a long haul or red eye flight, are travelling with young children or are arriving late at night, then the last thing you want to deal with on arrival is trying to work out the complex system which is the Tokyo train system.

Therefore in putting together this article my mission is to help you to have a brilliant first day in Tokyo by assisting you to choose the easiest and most cost effective option to get from Narita to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa and also in the reverse direction.  Choose wisely – it can make a real difference to how you start your holiday in Japan!

Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group or Discord Server

You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!

Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Tokyo Airport Transfer Articles

I have also developed a set of articles to help you work out the best way to transfer between Narita Airport and the following major areas in Tokyo.  Click on the article below to see the options which will best suit your situation (note that some articles are located on Japan Travel Planning and some articles are on Pretraveller).

• Narita Airport to Tokyo and Ginza Stations
• Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa Stations
• Narita Airport to Northern Tokyo, including Ueno, Asakusa, Akihabara the Tokyo Dome and Ikebukuru
• Narita Airport to Yokohama
• Narita Airport to Haneda Airport
• Where to Stay in Tokyo With a Japan Rail Pass

Distance from Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa

The first misconception that most people have is that they do not understand that Narita Airport is not actually IN Tokyo!  The actual driving distance from Narita Airport NRT to Tokyo Station is 70 km / 44 mi to the east of Tokyo.

Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa are located to the western side of Tokyo, and are readily accessible on the same train line which is the JR Yamanote Line.

Check out the map below to see the location.

How to Get to and From Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Shibuya

Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Shibuya are all located close together to the western side of Tokyo so I have grouped them together as the transportation options from Narita Airport are similar.

Below I have detailed the six options in order of easiest and most cost effective options to travel from:

• Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku Station and from Shinjuku to Narita Airport.
• Narita Airport NRT to Shinagawa and from Shinagawa to Narita Airport.
• Narita Airport NRT to Shibuya and from Shibuya to Narita Airport.

1.    Limousine Bus Narita NRT to and from Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa

A very affordable option to travel from Narita Airport NRT is using the shared Limousine Bus.  This is a great affordable option, particularly if you have booked a hotel which is a drop off point for the service.  If you have booked other accommodation, you will still need to make your way from the closest drop off point to your accommodation.  Options include catching the train, walking or catching a taxi from the closest drop off point to your accommodation.

You can book a one way or return ticket for the Limousine Bus service direct from Narita Airport to the Shinjuku area or the Shibuya and Shinagawa areas.

My recommended option to book the main Tokyo Limousine Bus service is through Rakuten.  Click here to check out availability and prices and to make your booking.  Details as follows:

• Service Area. Includes drop off to hotels in the area around Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa.  The Voyagin article has a link you can click to see a map of the drop off options to assist you to find the option which is closest to your accommodation.
• Travel Time. This option is quite quick to the drop off point as only destinations in a small area are designated as the drop off point, however if you need to travel further that will add to your total travel time.
• Hours of Operation. This service operates from 6.55am to the final departure from Narita at 10.50pm, and runs every 5 to 30 minutes within those times.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. It is recommended that you book this service at least 72 hours prior to your pick up time.
• Pricing is $US 30 per person each way, a flat rate to cover all drop off locations within Tokyo.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the Tokyo Limousine bus transfer option from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa:

• Solo traveller: $US 30 plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Couple: $US 60 plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 120 plus add on taxi/train fare if required

2.    JR Narita Express to and from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations

A convenient public transportation option to travel from Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa is using the Narita Express or N’EX train.  If your accommodation is further than a short walk you will still need to make your way to your accommodation using either another train or a taxi and/or walking.

You can book a one way or return ticket at either Narita Terminal 1 Station or Narita Terminal 2-3 Station for the Narita Express service direct to Shinjuku, Shibuyu or Shinagawa Stations, or direct from Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations to Narita Airport.

If you have purchased a Japan Rail Pass and it has been activated you can use this pass to travel on the Narita Express with no extra charges.  Click here to check out pricing and how to purchase a Japan Rail Pass, note you need to order at least one week before you depart.

Details are as follows:

• Service Area. Includes a direct train trip to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations, and you can then change trains to access other stations.
• Travel Time. This option is approximately 80 minutes from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations for direct, some services will take longer, and more time from there depending on your final destination.  You then need to either walk or catch a taxi to your accommodation.
• Hours of Operation. This service operates from 7.45am to the final departure from Narita at 9.44pm, and runs every 15 to 30 minutes within those times.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. Pre-booking not required.  (Japan Rail Pass MUST be pre-booked)
• Pricing is $US 45 per person each way for Green Car (First Class) tickets, and $US 30 per person each way for the Ordinary Car (2^nd Class).  Tickets for children aged 6 – 11 years old is 50% of the adult fare.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the Narita Express transfer option to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations:

• Solo traveller: $US 30 for Ordinary Car plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Couple: $US 60 for Ordinary Car plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 90 for Ordinary Car plus add on taxi/train fare if required

3.    Keisei Skyliner to and from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations

While you can catch the Narita Express to Tokyo Station and then change trains to travel to Ueno, the faster and cheaper (but not easier) option is to catch the Kensei Skyliner train direct to either Ueno or Nippori Stations, and then change trains to travel to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations.  Japan Rail Passes cannot be used for this service.

If your accommodation is further than a short walk you will still need to make your way to your accommodation using either another train or a taxi and/or walking.

My recommended option to book the Keisei Skyliner is through Rakuten– you can book either a single or return journey, and can also package a subway pass with your tickets.  Click here to check out availability and prices and to make your booking.

Details are as follows:

• Service Area. Includes a direct train trip to Ueno or Nippori Stations, and you can then change trains to access other stations.
• Travel Time. This option is approximately 56 – 63 minutes total from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations.  You then need to either catch another train, walk or catch a taxi to your accommodation.
• Hours of Operation. This service operates from 7.28am to the final departure from Narita at 10:30pm, and runs every 20 minutes within those times.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. Pre-booking not required but the easiest option is to pre-book your ticket through Voyagin.
• Pricing is $US 25 per person each way.  Tickets for children aged 6 – 11 years old is $US 12.08.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the Keisei Skyliner transfer option from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa Stations:

• Solo traveller: $US 25 plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Couple: $US 50 plus add on taxi/train fare if required
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 74 plus add on taxi/train fare if required

4.    Narita NRT Airport Shuttle Bus to Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Shibuya

A shared airport shuttle bus is a great cost effective option to travel easily from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Shibuya areas and in reverse from Shinjuku, Shinagawa and Shibuya to Narita Airport.

My recommended option to book an airport shuttle bus is through Get Your Guide.  Click here to check out availability and prices and to make your booking.  Details as follows:

• Service Area. A door to door service to the main 23 wards of Tokyo city (does not include Disneyland area), which includes both hotels and apartments – so if you have booked your accommodation through AirBnB or equivalent you will be both dropped off and/or picked up directly from your apartment ? .  Easy!
• Travel Time. You will travel with other passengers going to a similar area in Tokyo, so the time to your door will take longer depending on how many drop offs are before yours.
• Hours of Operation. This service also operates 24 hours per day 7 days per week so will cater well for late night flight arrivals as well as early morning departures.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. It is recommended that you book this service at least 72 hours prior to your pick up time.
• Pricing for a one way shared airport shuttle service is $US 91 per adult and $US 23 per child, and does not have a maximum number – the company will provide an appropriate vehicle of multiple vehicles.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the shared airport shuttle bus option from Narita Airport to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shingawa:

• Solo traveller: $US 91
• Couple: $US 182
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 251

5.    Narita Airport Private Transfer to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa

A private airport transfer is a great option to get from Narita Airport to your accommodation in Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa as quickly and as easily as possible, and is particularly good for larger groups and families.

My recommended option to pre-book an airport shuttle bus is through Get Your Guide.  Click here to check out availability and prices and to make your booking.  Details as follows:

• Service Area. A door to door service to the main 23 wards of Tokyo city (does not include Disneyland area), which includes both hotels and apartments – so if you have booked your accommodation through AirBnB or equivalent you be both dropped off and picked up directly from your apartment ? .  Easy!
• Travel Time. You are the only occupants of the vehicle so you will be taken directly to your door – so this is the shortest travel time option and should be equivalent to either a taxi or Uber.
• Hours of Operation. This service also operates 24 hours per day 7 days per week so will cater well for late night flight arrivals as well as early morning departures.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. It is recommended that you book this service at least 72 hours prior to your pick up time.
• Pricing for a one way private airport transfer service is $US 239 for up to three passengers.  For four to six passengers the price is $US 327.  For seven to nine passengers the price is $US 381.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the Narita airport private transfer option to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa:

• Solo traveller: $US 239
• Couple: $US 239
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 327

6.    Taxi or Uber from Narita NRT to Shinjuku

A question many people ask is whether Uber is available in Tokyo.  You will be pleased to know that you can catch either a taxi or an Uber from Narita Airport NRT to Shinjuku.  For taxis you can just walk out to the taxi rank, for Uber you can book via the Uber app and be picked up directly from the airport.

Details are as follows:

• Service Area. A door to door service to anywhere you like.
• Travel Time. You are the only occupants of the vehicle so you will be taken directly to your door – so this is the shortest travel time option
• Hours of Operation. This service also operates 24 hours per day 7 days per week so will cater well for late night flight arrivals as well as early morning departures.  Note that taxis in Japan charge a surcharge of 20-30% for rides between 10pm and 5am.
• Timeframe to Pre-Book. Pre-booking not required
• Taxis come in three sizes – small for up to 4 passengers, medium for up to 5 passengers and large for up to 5 passengers, however some medium and large taxis may still only take up to 4 passengers. Taxis are typically immaculately maintained and provide good service.
• Estimated pricing for a one way taxi fare from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station is $US 220 (no surcharge). Most taxis take credit card but check before you commit.
• Uber is available only in Tokyo in Japan however is typically more expensive than a taxi. Your Uber options include either a Black Car which can accommodate up to 4 passengers or a Black Van which can accommodate up to 6 passengers.  Estimated pricing for a one way Uber fare from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station is $US 255 for a Black Car and $US 265 for a Black Van.  Uber can be paid via the app so this is a cashless transaction.

Here are several pricing scenarios for the taxi or Uber options to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Shinagawa:

• Solo traveller: $US 220 (taxi – no surcharge) or $US 255 (Uber)
• Couple: $US 220 (taxi – no surcharge) or $US 255 (Uber)
• Family: 2 Adults and 2 children: $US 220 (taxi – no surcharge) or $US 255 (Uber)

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Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group or Discord Server

You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!

Disclaimer:  This article contains affiliate links.  If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.