Airbnb Tokyo Airport Transfer: Addresses, Lanes, Check-Out

An Airbnb gives you space and a kitchen, which suits families and groups. The trade-off is that most rentals are in residential streets with no front desk and no driveway. The tricky part of an Airbnb Tokyo airport transfer is rarely the motorway; it is the last hundred metres.

Japanese addresses find the block, not always the door

Most Japanese addresses are based on numbered blocks (chome, ban, go) rather than street names and house numbers, and many small streets have no name at all (see Japan Post's address guide). Put an address into a navigation app and it often takes you to the block, not the building entrance.

So when you book, please send three things:

1. The original Japanese address from your host, not your own translation or a romanised version.
2. The building name and room number, since one address can cover several small buildings.
3. A map pin, or your host's photo of the entrance, which helps the driver more than anything.

Tokyo Airbnb on a narrow lane: where the transfer drops you

Many residential lanes in Tokyo are narrow; some are one-way and some are closed to cars altogether. Describe the road outside your rental when booking, and our team will confirm the drop-off point with the driver. If the car cannot get in, you will be dropped at a wider corner nearby for a short walk. The exact stopping point depends on conditions on the day.

With lots of luggage you want that walk to be short. For a family with large cases, the Alphard seats 7 with room for 6 bags; for a bigger group, the Hiace seats 10 with room for 9.

Arriving late in a residential street: mind the house rules

Many rentals' house rules ask guests to keep noise down at night, and suitcase wheels on a quiet lane are loud, so the closer the drop-off is to the door, the better. Confirm the check-in method with your host before you arrive, such as a keypad or lockbox, so you are not phoning anyone at the door.

We operate 24 hours; rides between 22:00 and 06:00 carry a ¥4,000 surcharge. For more on late arrivals, see arriving late at Haneda or Narita.

Going home: check-out long before your flight

Rental check-out is usually in the morning, while your flight may be in the evening, leaving hours with nowhere to put your bags. A few options:

• Ask your host about late check-out, or whether you can leave bags until the afternoon.
• Set your airport transfer for check-out time, store your bags at the airport and go out light. Narita and Haneda both offer baggage storage; see each airport's website.

You choose the pickup point and time for the airport run; just give the rental address and your preferred departure time when booking. Route details: Narita to Tokyo and Haneda to Tokyo; for how one fare covers all of Tokyo, see Tokyo airport transfer flat rates explained.

Send the Japanese address, building name and a map pin in one go, and the last hundred metres stop being a problem. Submit your trip on the booking page.