Narita International Airport (NRT)
All international flights come into Narita Airport which is 41 miles away from Tokyo city center.
Taxi
Taxis are best for getting around a bustling city like Tokyo, but they are expensive. You will spend ¥19500 JPY – ¥21500 JPY for a 1 to 2-hour ride depending on traffic.
Airport Bus
The bus is accessible and stress-free to get to the city center. The bus picks up luggage just outside of Terminals 1 and 2, and then drops you at downtown hotels. If you have heavy baggage or are staying at one of the 40 hotels that the Airport Limousine Bus serves, it is the most cost-effective way to travel at ¥3100 JPY. It departs every hour from the airport but can take up to two hours to reach your hotel.
Train
The fastest way to Tokyo is the JR Narita Express which leads into Tokyo station from Airport Terminal 2 Station and the station at Terminal 1. It departs once each hour and twice an hour during peak travel times. The trip costs ¥3000 JPY one-way. At Tokyo station, the train splits and first cars head into Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, while rear cars go into Shinagawa. The cost for these stations is ¥3100 JPY. The Keisei Skyliner departs from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 in the airport and heads to Ueno Station in Tokyo within an hour. These trains leave every 40 minutes from 7:52 am to 10:00 pm for a fare of around ¥2000 JPY one-way. The limited express trains are cheaper and take 71 minutes for a cost of around ¥1000 JPY.
Car Rentals
If you want to drive around Tokyo, look for deals on affordable car rentals with momondo.
Haneda Airport (HND)
Some international airlines still land in Haneda (Tokyo International Airport). It is near the city center and is used for domestic flights typically. From here you can take the Airport Limousine bus to Tokyo station, Tokyo City air terminal to downtown, and Shinjuku Station. Fares are ¥1000-1200 JPY. Locals typically take the monorail from Haneda to Hamamatsucho Station in 15 minutes for ¥500 JPY or the Keikyu Line for a 19-minute ride and ¥400 JPY. Arriving anywhere else in Japan, you will need to take the Shinkansen bullet train into Tokyo, Ueno, or Shinagawa stations. They are all served by taxis and subways. Domestic long-distance ferries arrive at Ariake Ferry Terminal on an artificial island next to Odaiba in Tokyo Bay.