Travel guide
Arrival day in Japan: immigration, then airport to city
The first two hours in Japan set the tone for the trip. This guide walks you through landing, immigration and customs, what to sort out before you leave the airport (yen, data, an IC card, your rail pass), and the best way into the city from Narita, Haneda and Kansai Airport, with times from the official airport guides. It also covers sending your suitcase ahead and what to do if you land late at night.
In short
- Fill in Visit Japan Web before you fly; the QR code speeds up immigration and customs.
- From Narita, the Skyliner reaches Ueno in about 40 minutes and the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in just under an hour.
- From Haneda, the Keikyu Line or the Tokyo Monorail gets you to the Yamanote Line in about 20 minutes.
- Shops and trains do not take foreign currency: get some yen at the airport.
- Heavy bags? Use a Hands-Free Travel counter and have them delivered to your hotel.
In this guide
From the plane to the arrivals hall
Most long-haul flights from the US and Europe land at Narita in Chiba, at Haneda in Tokyo, or at Kansai International near Osaka. The steps are the same everywhere: immigration, baggage, customs, then the arrivals hall.
- Immigration. Foreign visitors aged 16 and over scan their index fingers and have a face photo taken (Immigration Services Agency (opens in a new tab)). Have your passport and, if you filled it in, your Visit Japan Web QR code ready.
- Baggage claim. Collect your bags; carts are free.
- Customs. Scan your Visit Japan Web (opens in a new tab) customs QR code at the electronic gate, or hand in the paper form.
- Arrivals hall. Here you find currency exchange, ATMs, transport ticket counters, the JR Pass office and luggage delivery counters.
If you plan to use a Japan Rail Pass, check you got the Temporary Visitor stamp or sticker before you leave the immigration desk. Our visa and entry guide explains why it matters.
Sort these out before you leave the airport
- Yen in cash. Train ticket machines, buses and many small shops do not accept foreign currency, and Kansai Airport alone has 11 exchange offices, some open 24 hours (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Take enough for the first day or two.
- Data. If you set up an eSIM at home, switch on data roaming for it now. Our eSIM guide explains the options.
- An IC card. Buy a Welcome Suica or a TOURIST PASMO for trains and buses; at Haneda, TOURIST PASMO is sold at the Keikyu stations (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). See IC cards.
- Your rail pass. If you bought a JR Pass, activate or pick it up at the JR office, but only start it on the day you first need it.
Narita Airport to Tokyo
Narita is about an hour from central Tokyo, so it pays to pick the right train.
| Option | Goes to | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keisei Skyliner | Nippori, Ueno | About 40 min | Not covered by the JR Pass |
| JR Narita Express (N'EX) | Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama | Just under 1 hour to Tokyo | Free with a JR Pass |
| Limousine bus | Hotels and hubs across Tokyo | Depends on traffic | Easiest with heavy luggage |
| Taxi | Anywhere | Depends on traffic | Flat fares to most central areas |
All times are from JNTO's Narita guide (JNTO (opens in a new tab)); Keisei says the Skyliner reaches central Tokyo in as little as 36 minutes (Keisei (opens in a new tab)). The Narita Express runs about twice an hour during the day. Note the hours: the last Narita Express leaves the airport before 10 p.m., while the last Skyliner leaves around 11 p.m. (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). If your hotel is in Shinjuku or Shibuya, the N'EX goes straight there; for Ueno, Asakusa or the east side, the Skyliner is quicker.
Haneda Airport to Tokyo
Haneda is much closer to the centre. From any of the three terminals, the Keikyu Line runs to Shinagawa in around 20 minutes, and the Tokyo Monorail runs to Hamamatsucho in around 20 minutes, where you change to the Yamanote Line for Tokyo Station, Shibuya or Shinjuku (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). The monorail and the Yamanote Line run on average every five minutes (Tokyo Monorail (opens in a new tab)).
Haneda also works well for late flights: the last Keikyu train leaves around midnight, and the last Airport Limousine bus leaves at 2:20 a.m. with limited stops (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Taxis to most central areas have flat fares, which can make sense for a group of three or four.
Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kyoto
From Kansai International, JR limited express and rapid trains reach central Osaka in just over 30 minutes and Shin-Osaka, the shinkansen station, in about 50 minutes; the JR limited express also continues to Kyoto (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Buses go to the main hotel districts and neighbouring prefectures across Kansai. If you hold a JR Pass exchange order, redeem it at the Green Window in JR Kansai Airport Station.
Send your suitcase ahead
Trains into the city are busy and stations involve stairs. Narita, Haneda and Kansai all have counters that deliver your bags to your hotel, often the same day or on a date you choose (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Bags must be within about 160 cm in total dimensions and 25 to 30 kg, and valuables, fragile items and liquids are not accepted. For a few hours' storage, coin lockers cost roughly ¥300 to ¥600 depending on size.
Just look for the Hands-Free Travel Counter to drop off your items.
Landing late at night
Narita's trains stop earlier than Haneda's. If you land after the last train, JNTO suggests the hotels near the airport, including a capsule hotel connected to Narita Terminal 2 (JNTO (opens in a new tab)). Rest, then take the first train in the morning when you are fresh.
What to read next
Before you book, check the entry rules for your passport, and if you will ride the shinkansen a lot, read whether a JR Pass pays off for your route.
Questions travellers ask
Is the Narita Express or the Skyliner better?
The Skyliner is quicker to Ueno and Nippori (about 40 minutes); the Narita Express goes straight to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya and Shinjuku and is free with a JR Pass.
How do I get from Haneda to Shinjuku?
Take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa or the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho (about 20 minutes each), then change to the Yamanote Line.
Can I pay with dollars or euros at the airport?
No. Transport and shops do not accept foreign currency. Change money or use an ATM at the airport.
Can I send my luggage from the airport to my hotel?
Yes. Narita, Haneda and Kansai have Hands-Free Travel counters that deliver to hotels, often on the same day or a date you choose.
What if I land after the last train?
At Haneda, buses run until 2:20 a.m. At Narita, stay at an airport hotel or the capsule hotel connected to Terminal 2 and take the first train.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Visit Japan Web (Digital Agency)デジタル庁Visit Japan Web (opens in a new tab)
- www.moj.go.jpFingerprints and photo at immigration, PDF (opens in a new tab)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)日本政府観光局Narita Airport: trains, buses and taxis into Tokyo (opens in a new tab)
- Keisei Electric Railway京成電鉄Skyliner: Narita Airport to Ueno (opens in a new tab)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)日本政府観光局Haneda Airport: trains, buses and taxis into Tokyo (opens in a new tab)
- Tokyo Monorail東京モノレールTokyo Monorail for visitors (opens in a new tab)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)日本政府観光局Kansai Airport: trains, buses and taxis (opens in a new tab)
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)日本政府観光局Luggage delivery and coin lockers (opens in a new tab)
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