Transferring Between Haneda and Narita: how to travel between Tokyo's two airports

Not long ago, we were looking for flights to Osaka and came across an offer that was almost too good to be true - a direct flight to Narita with a domestic flight to Osaka tacked on that was much cheaper and also faster than other two-leg flights. It was tempting until I looked a bit closer and saw that the domestic flight was leaving from Haneda, with a mere 3 hours to transfer. No thanks - that ain't gonna work!

Here's what to look out for when booking your Japan flights and how to handle a transfer between Narita and Haneda if it's unavoidable.

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Distance between Haneda and Narita Airport

Tokyo's two airports sit on opposite sides of the greater Tokyo metropolitan, roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) apart (a minimum of 1.5 hours by bus or train). If you’re considering flights to Japan that will involve transferring between Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) - for example, flying into Tokyo from your home country and flying on directly to Kyushu or Hokkaido - the first thing you need to know is that the two airports are not connected internally. This means you're going to have to clear Japanese border control, collect all checked baggage, travel right the way across Tokyo and part of Chiba prefecture, and check in from scratch for your next leg.

How much time do you need to connect between Narita and Haneda airports? Is 4 hours enough?

Honestly? I think 4 hours is cutting it tight, and you're assuming here that there are no delays on the in-coming flight, that airport processes (be it immigration, security controls, baggage claim) are fast and there are no traffic jams. I would never allow myself less than 5 hours, for a bit of a buffer for peak-hour highway traffic, baggage claim lines, and long security checkpoints at your departing airport. If you have no checked baggage, everything is on time and you take a taxi/private transfer, 4 hours is just about doable.

Is it easy to transfer from Haneda to Narita (or the other way around?

As long as you've got enough time, which is absolutely crucial, transferring between Narita and Haneda is relatively easy, because you've got several option (outlined below). The easiest options, we think, are the limousine bus and private transfer, simply because you'd don't have to worry about dragging your luggage on and off trains and they are both direct options without having to change somewhere.

Is there a shuttle between Haneda and Narita?

Sort of, if you count the limousine buses than run between the two airports. But they're not organised by the airport or a particular airline, they're not free (you're responsible for organising your own ticket) and there are only a couple of buses every hour from around 7 am until 8 pm, so don't cover early morning or late evening flights.

How much does it cost to get from Narita to Haneda?

It depends on your choice of transport. The Access Express train is the cheapest at around 1900 yen each way. The limousine bus costs around 3600 yen, but is possibly worth the extra because you don't have to worry about managing your luggage on a crowded commuter train. A private, pre-booked transfer starts at around 14000 yen, so pays off if you are a group of four or more.

What are your transit options for transferring between Haneda and Narita airports?

Keisei Access Express (Airport Kaitoku)

This is the cheapest and fastest option - a direct train between the two airports with no changes along the way. It takes around 95 minutes and costs about 1900 yen one-way. The advantage of taking the train is that you're not subject to traffic delays. The disadvantage of this option is that you're travelling on a normal commuter train; part of the route is the Asakusa subway line, which in our experience can get extremely full, especially at rush hour and particularly between Haneda and Asakusa or so. If you have large suitcases or are travelling with young kids, for example, this can be really awkward and make the journey pretty stressful. The other thing is, these direct, express trains only run 1-2 an hour, so waiting for one could potentially add a lot to your transfer time.

N'Ex combined with Keikyu line

This is another train option, so, again, you don't have to worry about getting delayed in traffic. The Narita Express (N'EX) is a special JR airport express train, with plenty of space for luggage and reserved seats. The N'Ex gets a bad rap on social media for being expensive, but combined with the Keikyu line, it costs the same as the limousine bus service (around 3600 yen). The N'Ex will only get you as far as Shinagawa (in around an hour and 15 minutes) and you will have to transfer there to the Keikyu line to Haneda Airport (or the other way around, if you're travelling from Haneda to Narita). The Keikyu line does not have dedicated luggage space or reserved seats, but we've never seen it super full and that part of the journey is only around 12 minutes anyway. Tickets for the N'Ex can be reserved in advance on Klook, giving you one less thing to think about when you arrive in Japan.

Limousine bus

We're big fans of limousine bus airport transfers, to be honest. Yes, they can get stuck in traffic, so are slower than other options (between Narita and Haneda, you need to allow around 80 minutes generally, but it can take as much as 2 hours in heavy traffic). But if you have the luxury of time between flights, you can hop on one of these buses at one airport and jump out at the other, with no wrestling your luggage on and off trains. The only problem is that there are only 1-3 buses an hour from around 7am until around 8pm and when they are full, they are full - seated passengers only. So if your flights are early in the morning or late at night or you hit peak passenger time, you could be out of luck. You can reserve tickets for the limousine bus in advance on Klook, if this is your best option.

Taxi/private transfer

This is the most expensive option, but can work out economical for families or groups. Prices for a private transfer for 4 people start at around 14000 yen, if you book in advance (check prices on booking.com). Taking a taxi spontaneously from the airport's taxi rank is likely to cost much more, possible twice as much when highway tolls are factored in). Like the limousine bus, taxis and private transfers are subject to traffic, but are generally a wee bit faster than the bus. As well as being the most comfortable way of travelling between Tokyo's two airports, taking a taxi or private transfer means that you don't have to hang around waiting for the next train or bus, so this can cut down your overall transit time too. If you book a transfer in advance, your driver will track your flight and be waiting to whisk you to the other airport immediately.

Transferring between Narita and Haneda: don't forget...

• This is not the same as a connecting flight within an airport. You will have to leave the airport you arrive into completely, travel across Tokyo and in most cases check in again for your second flight from scratch.

• Airlines will not transfer your luggage automatically across the city between HND and NRT. You will have to go and pick up your bags at the carousel, take them with you to the second airport and check them in again there.

• Arrive at least 2 hours before an international flight or 60 minutes before a domestic flight to re-check baggage and clear security.

• If you are using a luggage forwarding service to send your bags to or from the airport, allow plenty of extra time to pick up your bags there or arrange the forwarding service.

• If you are transferring between airports on your way out of Japan and want to claim back tax on your purchases, allow PLENTY of time to complete this process, especially as the system changes in November 2026: expect queues, delays and a bit of chaos.

If you are trying to sort out the logistics of your upcoming Japan trip, you might be interested in these posts:

• Find out what the cheapest, fastest ways to get to central Tokyo from Narita Airport are, or how to make your way into town from Haneda.

• Maybe you're still looking at flights? Our post on Narita vs Haneda airports will help you decide which is best for your trip.

• Heard about the Suica card and wondering if you need one to get around Japan? Our Suica FAQ has all the info on buying a Suica, where to use it and if it's useful.

• Taking the Shinkansen instead of a domestic flight might be a better option for you. Our post tells you how to do the math.

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