Tokyo Haneda vs Narita: The ultimate Japan airport showdown

Airports in Japan? You're spoilt for choice. But the question of Haneda vs Narita can be crucial to your planning

Get ready for the ultimate showdown: Haneda vs Narita! We're about to dive into the nitty-gritty of Tokyo's two major airports, so you can make the smartest choice for your Japan adventure.

Tokyo Airport Battle Royale: Haneda vs Narita – Which Will Reign Supreme for Your Trip?

So, you're dreaming of dazzling neon, serene temples, and maybe a karaoke all-nighter or two? Japan’s calling! But before you can dive headfirst into the land of sushi and bullet trains, there’s a crucial first step: landing in Tokyo. And that’s where things get a little… airport-plicated.

Huh? Just how many airports are there in Tokyo exactly?

Well, unlike some cities that keep it simple with one main airport, Tokyo’s got a dynamic duo: Haneda and Narita. Both are international gateways, but they offer vastly different experiences.

I want to book a flight to Tokyo. How do I know which airport I will land in?

It’s all about the airport codes. You’ll probably start your search with flights to Tokyo. The airport code for Tokyo is (TYO). Look carefully at the results of your search, though, and you’ll see that some of the flights are to HND and others to NRT. Airport code NRT is specifically for Narita and HND is the code for Haneda.

Tokyo Haneda vs Narita: which is the nearest airport to Tokyo?

Surely Tokyo is Tokyo, right?

Narita airport is 75 kilometres from Shinjuku by car; Haneda is 22 km. But distance is only one factor that you should consider when booking your flights. Which airport should you choose? Fear not, intrepid traveller! After countless trips to Japan (and a few near-misses with the wrong airport train!), Japansophy is here to break it down for you, with a side-by-side comparison and a whole lot of practical advice.

Let battle commence: Tokyo Haneda vs Narita!

Ding ding ding... Rouuuuund 1: Location

Which is the closest airport to Tokyo itself? Haneda wins this round hands down. As you’ll see from the map above, Haneda is much closer to Tokyo city centre than Narita, which is actually in another prefecture altogether. You’ll need around 30 minutes to reach downtown Tokyo from Haneda, while you’ll have to invest an hour-and-a-half of prime Japan-time for the journey from Narita. Haneda is also the closest airport to Yokohama (and to Yokota, Zama and Yokosuka, for example). Narita doesn’t leave this round empty-handed though: it does have the undisputed claim of being Disneyland Japan’s closest airport.

Nearest airport to Tokyo: Haneda

Ding ding ding... Rouuuuund 2: Carriers

Haneda currently serves 46 international carriers, while over 60 airlines fly internationally from Narita. Those 60+ airlines also tend to have more flights a day from Narita than from Haneda. Haneda is catching up, though, with the Japanese government allocating more and more slots to international flights to meet demand, and a number of airlines shifting their focus away from Narita. Haneda is also the domestic flight hub for the city, so if you’re flying into Tokyo to catch an onwards domestic flight, try to make sure you don’t have to change airports or at least that you have time to travel between the two. We’re giving this round to Narita for the time being but watch this space!

Tokyo airport with most international flights: Narita

Ding ding ding... Rouuuuund 3: Price

So which airport gets you the better bang for your buck? Flights into Narita are generally a little cheaper. We looked for a flight from Frankfurt on a mid-week September day in a random survey of flight prices and would have saved just over €100 by flying into Narita rather than Haneda. A direct comparison is tricky, though, because arrival/departure time, the airline and a load of other factors also impact the price. Plus our last flights into Haneda certainly weren’t more expensive than the Narita equivalents. What we can say for sure is that getting from Narita into Tokyo (and back) is likely to eat up any savings you make on your plane ticket, with a taxi transfer / train ticket to downtown Tokyo costing around three times more than from Haneda. We’re gonna call this one a draw.

Cheapest airport to fly into Japan: Narita or Haneda (depends on their form on the day)

Ding ding ding... Final round: Facilities & convenience

There’s no lack of facilities in either airport. Luggage storage, wifi-rental, car rental, limo transfer services... it’s neck-and-neck at Haneda and Narita. Narita is of course bigger and therefore has slightly more to offer in terms of shops and restaurants. If we look at transport connections, Haneda is easier to reach by public transport: while Narita is also well-connected by train, you will have to transfer once in Tokyo to local transport (especially if you’re heading for the western hubs like Shinjuku or Shibuya), whereas the trains from Haneda will take you right into the heart of the city. Don’t forget: trains and buses stop running at around midnight in Japan, so if you come in on a late flight, you may be relying on a taxi getting you to your hotel, which from Narita could set you back over €200 (instead of around €80 from Haneda).

Because Haneda is the teenager of international flights compared to the grande dame that is Narita, Haneda has been experiencing some teething problems handling the increasing number of tourists landing there. Flying into Haneda in autumn 2024, we experienced an unpleasant, chaotic immigration process that took well over an hour to clear. We’re going to knock a point or two off Haneda for what we assume is a temporary hiccup, but it’s still out ahead in terms of overall convenience.

Most convenient Tokyo airport: Haneda.

So, which is the best airport in Japan to fly into: Narita or Haneda?

Ultimately, the answer to this question will come down to your personal preferences and circumstances. Are you in a hurry to get into Tokyo or can you take a bit more time on the Narita Express train, gazing at the suburban scenery as you speed by? Does your favourite airline even fly into Haneda? Is there a decisive price difference between the two airports when you go to book?

Got any tips for your fellow travellers flying into Tokyo? Let us know in the comments below which Tokyo airport wins your approval and why.