Narita International Airport: Difference between revisions

The airport is in [[Narita]], nearly 70 km northeast of Tokyo, in [[Chiba (prefecture)|Chiba prefecture]]. It is Japan's main international airport. The airport is generally modern and efficient, but sometimes overcrowded, particularly at immigration. Security has been rather heavy, especially when coming in, due to continuing controversy over land expropriatedrequisition for building the airport, which had caused far-left violence during the 1960s and 1970s. CCTV security cameras and facial recognition systems for departing passengers and airport visitors have replaced manned ID checks.

Narita should not be confused with [[Tokyo Haneda Airport|Tokyo International Airport]] (Haneda), which is much closer to downtown Tokyo, and serves the vast majority of domestic flights and an increasing array of international flights. If you need to transfer between airportsthe two, allow ata leastbare 5–6minimum of 4 hours between flights if you have a single ticket with a guaranteed connection, and more if you don't.

Smoking is prohibited on any ofall these trains is prohibited.

From Narita Airport, arguably the most convenient train service into Tokyo is the Japan Railways (JR) [https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/nex/ '''Narita Express'''] ('''N'EX'''). The ride takes 55–60 minutes to [[Tokyo/Chiyoda|Tokyo Station]], with the easiest connections to the ''Shinkansen'' (bullet train) and services continuing to some of Tokyo's major train stations such as [[Tokyo/Shinagawa|Shinagawa]], [[Tokyo/Shibuya|Shibuya]] and [[Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinjuku]]. As of October 2022 trainsTrains operate out of the airport daily between 7:37 and 21:44 daily, with most departures about every 30 minutes. Smoking is not permitted on board the Narita Express. All seats are reserved, but reservations can be purchased at any time.

The N'EX is '''free''' for users of a [[Rail travel in Japan|Japan Rail Pass]] or JR East Pass. Seats can be reserved when you changepick yourup exchange order for athe Rail Pass at the JR Travel Service Center (or at the regular JR counter when the Service Center is closed). Foreigners without a Rail Pass can purchase a special [https://www.jreast.co.jp/emulti/en/pass/nex_roundnex.html '''round trip''' ticket] for '''¥45,070000'''. The round trip must be completed within 14 days. The '''regular fare''' starts at '''¥3,070''' for trips from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station in standard class, with higher fares for green car (first class) seats.

After the Tokyo stop, some trains split in two with the front half heading south to Shinagawa, Musashi-Kosugi, [[Yokohama]] and Ofuna, while the rear cars go west to Shibuya and Shinjuku (some trains go to and from [[Hachioji]] during commuter hours). Other trains that only go to Shinjuku will add a stop at Shinagawa. If you're immediately heading south on the Shinkansen, you might want to change at Shinagawa rather than Tokyo, as the Tokyo stop is four levels underground and on the other side of the station to Shinkansen platforms, compared to Shinagawa where it is only 2 or 3 platforms across. In the unlikely event that all seats are full, JR will sell standing tickets for ¥500 less.

[[Image:Keisei-Type-AE.jpg|thumb|300px|Keisei Electric Railway's '''Skyliner'''.]]

Keisei's premier service is the '''[https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/skyliner/index.php Skyliner]''', which operates on the Sky Access Line 2-32–3 times peran hour. The '''Skyliner'''It is the fastest train connecting Naritathe Airportairport to Tokyo, with trains running into and out of Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations. The new Skyliner trains offer comfortable seating and a maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph). The full run from Terminal 1 to Ueno takes 44 minutes, with the train traveling nonstop between Nippori and Terminal 2·3 in 36 minutes (Aa few trains stop at Aoto along the way). All seats are reserved and the regular fare is ¥2,570 each way, though foreign tourists can take advantage of a discount using the '''[https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/e-ticket/en/ Skyliner eTicket]'''. Using this service you can purchase Skyliner ticket vouchers in advance for only ¥2,300, and print your vouchers to be exchanged for tickets in Japan at a manned Keisei or Skyliner ticket counter. When exchanging your voucher you must present your passport and will be asked for your desired departure time.

From the Access Tokkyu trains you can transfer at Imba-Nihon-Idai station -– two stations after Terminal 2 -– to local '''Hokuso Railway''' services. One place of interest is Chiba New Town Chuo (Central Chiba New Town, 22 min, ¥830), where malls and shopping venues are on the plenty. At Shin-Kamagaya station you can change to the '''Shin-Keisei Railway''' and '''Tobu Urban Park Line'''. At Higashi-Matsudo station you can change to the '''JR Musashino Line''' for [[Saitama]]'s Minami Ward (Musashi-Urawa Station).

The Airport Limousine's flagship service is to/from the '''[httphttps://www.tcat-hakozaki.co.jp/engen/ Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT)]{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}''' in Hakozaki section of Tokyo's Chuo Ward. Travel times are usually (but not always) one hour since the buses can access T-CAT from several highways. The regular fare is ¥2800. T-CAT is directly connected to the Hanzomon Line of the Tokyo Metro subway, which runs to Shibuya and to Tokyo SkyTree with plenty of other connections in between. A taxi can bring you from T-CAT to Tokyo Station for about ¥1000.

In nearby Yokohama there is, appropriately, the '''Yokohama City Air Terminal (Y-CAT)''', which is only a few minutes' walk from the Yokohama train station. Buses cost ¥3700, with travel timestime estimated at 85 minutes.

'''[https://en.tokyomk.com/airport Tokyo MK Taxi]''' and '''[http://www.charterbus-limousine.com/ Cab Station Ltd]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}''' offeroffers advanced bookings for taxis in English. TheirIts prices are more or less equivalent to the flat-fare prices noted above, once additional fees are figured in. '''UberBlack''' offers flat-rate service from Narita to any of Tokyo's 23 wards for ¥27,720 through their smartphone app.

Narita has a reasonable range of eating options before security, but only a few token restaurants on the other side. Ordering takeaway and bringing it through is a reasonable alternative. Terminal 1 airside has a few restuarentrestaurant options (McDonoldsMcDonalds, Ippudo, etc) but at peak times there can be very long queues. Starbucks appears to be the only cafe option.

For that last-minute sushi fix, [https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/shops/detail/t1cb04_t000fw Tsukiji Sushi Iwa] (T1) and [http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/shops/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/detail/t2mn04_t0004h.html Ganso] (T2), both before security, are quite respectable.