Narita or Haneda? Compare drive times and private transfer prices to Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone and Hakuba to decide which airport suits your Tokyo trip best.
Tokyo has two international airports: Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture and Haneda Airport in Ota City, Tokyo. When booking flights, fares and schedules often differ between the two, yet many travellers compare only the ticket price and overlook what happens after landing. This guide compares travel times and private transfer prices from both airports to the most popular destinations on the same basis, so you can weigh the full cost of your flight plus ground transport.
The basic differences
| Narita Airport | Haneda Airport | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Narita, Chiba Prefecture | Ota City, Tokyo |
| Distance to central Tokyo (approx.) | 60–75 km | 15–25 km |
| Private car to central Tokyo (approx.) | 60–90 min | 30–45 min |
| Typical train | Keisei Skyliner: from about 41 min to Keisei Ueno | About 30 min by train to Tokyo Station |
| Taxi | Fixed fare plus tolls; fares to Shinjuku Ward and other zones as published on the Narita Airport website | Fixed fare plus tolls; zone fares published by the Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association |
Train and taxi details come from the official airport and railway websites listed at the end of this article.
Private transfer times and prices (ECO sedan, per car, tax included)
| Destination | Narita time (approx.) | Narita price | Haneda time (approx.) | Haneda price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Tokyo | 60–90 min | on request | 30–45 min | on request | on request |
| Yokohama | 85–100 min | on request | 25–40 min | on request | on request |
| Kamakura · Enoshima | 2–2.5 hours | on request | 60–90 min | on request | on request |
| Hakone · Mt. Fuji | 2.5–3 hours | on request | 1.5–2 hours | on request | on request |
| Karuizawa · Nikko | 2.5–3.5 hours | on request | 2.5–3 hours | on request | on request |
| Hakuba · Nagano · Yuzawa | 3.5–5 hours | on request | 3–4.5 hours | on request | Same price |
Journey times are estimates for normal traffic and will be longer on holidays, at peak times and in the snow season. Prices for the Alphard (7 seats) and Hiace (10 seats) are shown on each route page.
Three takeaways from the table
1. For Tokyo or Yokohama, Haneda wins on time and cost
To central Tokyo, the drive from Haneda takes about half as long as from Narita, and an ECO transfer costs on request less. The time gap is even wider for Yokohama: about 25–40 minutes and on request from Haneda, against about 85–100 minutes and on request from Narita. If flights into both airports cost roughly the same, Haneda is usually the easier choice.
2. When Narita flights are much cheaper, include ground transport in the sum
If a Narita flight is clearly cheaper, subtract the difference in ground transport from the difference in airfare. For example, four people heading to central Tokyo by ECO transfer pay on request more from Narita, or on request each. If the Narita ticket saves each person more than that, Narita still comes out ahead on cost, at the price of an extra 30–45 minutes on the road.
3. For the mountains or ski resorts, the gap narrows
For Hakone, the ECO price difference between the two airports is on request, and for Karuizawa or Nikko it is on request — a small share of the total fare. For Hakuba, Nagano and Echigo-Yuzawa, the ECO fare is the same from both airports. In these cases you can choose your airport by flight times and connections rather than by ground transport.
What applies at both airports
- Per-car pricing: as long as everyone fits in one vehicle, the price stays the same.
- Tolls and parking included, so the quote is what you pay.
- One price across Tokyo: any address in Tokyo Metropolis costs the same. Tokyo Disney Resort is in Chiba Prefecture and is quoted separately.
- A fixed night supplement: ¥4,000 for transfers between 22:00 and 06:00, at either airport.
- Child seats available: up to three child safety seats and two booster seats per booking.
- 90 minutes of free waiting at arrivals, and a 24/7 service.
In short
- Staying in Tokyo or Yokohama and flight prices are similar: choose Haneda.
- Narita flights are much cheaper: compare the per-person airfare saving with the per-person transport difference.
- Heading to Hakone, Karuizawa, Hakuba or similar: choose by flight schedule, as the transport difference is small.
Book your airport transfer
Once you have chosen your airport, go to our booking page and enter your flight and party size, or compare the Narita to central Tokyo and Haneda to central Tokyo route pages. For Yokohama and Hakone, see Narita to Yokohama, Haneda to Yokohama, Narita to Hakone and Haneda to Hakone. All quotes are subject to confirmation by our customer service team.
Sources
Information checked on 2026-10-15.
- Narita International Airport, Taxi fixed fares: https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/taxi/
- Keisei Electric Railway, Skyliner (from about 41 minutes to Keisei Ueno): https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/index.php
- Haneda Airport, Train and monorail (about 30 minutes to Tokyo Station): https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/access/train/index.html
- Haneda Airport, Taxi (fixed fares, tolls extra): https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/access/taxi/index.html
- Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association: https://www.taxi-tokyo.or.jp/
FAQ
- Which is closer to central Tokyo, Narita or Haneda?
- Haneda. It is in Ota City, Tokyo, about 15–25 km from central Tokyo, while Narita is in Chiba Prefecture, about 60–75 km away. By private car, Haneda takes about 30–45 minutes and Narita about 60–90 minutes.
- How much more does a private transfer cost from Narita than from Haneda?
- To central Tokyo, an ECO sedan costs on request from Narita and on request from Haneda, a difference of on request. The gap is ¥7,000 for an Alphard and ¥10,000 for a Hiace. All prices are per vehicle with tax, tolls and parking included.
- Are any routes the same price from both airports?
- Yes. To Hakuba, Nagano and Echigo-Yuzawa, an ECO sedan costs the same from Narita and Haneda: on request. For the Alphard and Hiace, Haneda is cheaper: ¥75,000 for an Alphard and ¥80,000 for a Hiace from Haneda.