Haneda vs Narita: Honest Advice On What Tokyo Airport You Should Pick

Planning to fly to Japan and not sure what airport is best to fly to? We’re comparing Tokyo’s airports below: Haneda vs Narita.

When flying to Japan, flying into Tokyo or Osaka is often the easiest and best option (depending on your itinerary!). But since Tokyo has two airports, Haneda and Narita, you may wonder which one is best to fly to. Having flown into and from both airports myself, I thought it’d be a good idea to share my experience with both airports to help you plan your next trip.

While it depends on what flights are available from your home country, it’s still good to know the difference between these airports. Especially since so many guides online urge you to fly to Haneda instead of Narita…

To help you make an informed decision, this guide is going to compare Haneda and Narita airports. We’ll take a look at what each airport has to offer as well as the pros/cons of flying there. This way, you’ll be able to fly into Tokyo without any issues.

Narita vs Haneda Overview

If you don’t have enough time to read the full guide, here is a quick overview of Tokyo’s airports:

Haneda vs Narita

Both Narita and Haneda offer domestic and international flights, so you can use either to fly into Tokyo. Of course, in most cases, you won’t have a choice depending on what flights are available from your home country. But for those who do, it’s worth considering what airport is most convenient for them.

Convenience is hugely important to me when I travel, especially after a 16+ hour flight, and presume that’s why you’re reading this guide too. Luckily, I’ve flown into and from both Haneda and Narita, and both are perfectly fine.

So should you fly to Narita or Haneda? In my opinion, it’s best not to worry about it too much. Instead, compare the flights that are available. How expensive are they, how many layovers do they have and what time do they arrive in Tokyo? These questions are way more important when it comes to picking the right flight.

Either way, I’ll outline the biggest differences between Narita vs Haneda, so you’ll know what to expect from your next time landing in one of Tokyo’s airports.

Location & Getting to Tokyo

Location is the main difference between Haneda and Narita Airport. First of all, Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo as it’s around 18 km (11 miles) away, compared to 60 km (37 miles) from Narita.

For those on public transport, a journey from Haneda will take around 30 minutes, while you can expect a minimum journey time of about 50 minutes from Narita.

In this regard, Haneda is certainly the better option as you’ll be in central Tokyo in no time at all. Of course, you always want to allow extra time just in case of traffic in the city, so keep that in mind.

We have separate guides on how to get to Tokyo from Haneda and from Narita with more information.

Public Transport 

The cheapest way to get from either Haneda or Narita to Tokyo is by public transport. Both the train and bus services run like clockwork in Japan and offer a cheap yet comfortable ride into the city.

As mentioned above, Haneda Airport offers a shorter journey on public transport compared to Narita. Due to this, ticket prices are a lot cheaper (between $3–$10 for Haneda, and between $9–$20 for Narita).

However, considering Narita is much further away, I’d say that these prices are very fair for the service you’re getting.

Another thing to think about is that some bus services from Haneda Airport are currently suspended (as of Sep 2023). It’s best to check on their official timetables to make sure the route to your destination still runs. However, you can always get the train too – it’s very easy and about the same price.

Both Narita and Haneda offer great public transport options for getting into the city, even though it will take a bit longer and cost slightly more to travel from Narita.

Taxis

Personally, I’m not a fan of taking taxis from either Haneda or Narita airport as they are incredibly expensive. Especially when comparing the prices to the cheap public transport options just mentioned.

However, if you’re travelling with a family or larger group of people with tons of bags, they can be a convenient option.

While it depends on where you’re going in Tokyo (it’s a big city!), taxis from Haneda will set you back around $40 – $70. If you split this with a group, it’s definitely something to consider – especially after a long and tiring flight.

From Narita Airport, on the other hand, the average taxi fare to get to central Tokyo is an eye-watering $215. While understandable, considering it’s a 60 km drive, it’s not the best option if you want to do Japan on the cheap.

Typically, both fixed-fare taxis and standard taxis are available from each airport. The prices will vary depending on what area of Tokyo you’re staying in.

Number of Flights

While Haneda is Japan’s largest airport, Narita is considered to be the largest international airport. But as Haneda services more domestic routes, they see more passengers per day.

Narita encounters around 42,000 passengers per day, while records suggest that Haneda has anywhere over 200,000 travellers per day (the majority are often domestic travellers).

As well as domestic locations, Haneda services around 55 international cities, including those in Australia, the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asian countries. 

Compared to this, Narita services 101 international cities within 38 different countries including the United States, Mexico, China, India, New Zealand, France and Germany.

When booking your flights, it’s important to consider the time you’ll be landing. Of course, jet lag can be an issue due to the time difference and the lengthy flight, but you’ll also want to think about how late public transport services run into Tokyo. After having seen the taxi prices, you may want to make sure the trains still run after you land.

Number of Terminals

Both Haneda and Narita have three terminals. 

At Narita Airport, T1 is the largest terminal and it services only international flights. T2 services both domestic and international flights, while T3 is a terminal for low-cost airlines. To get between the terminals, there’s a free shuttle bus which consists of three lines; the Blue Line, Green Line, and Orange Line.

T1 of Haneda Airport services domestic flights only, while T2 services both domestic and international flights. T3 is solely for international flights. To get between the different terminals here, there’s a free shuttle bus, the Tokyo Monorail, an underground passageway connecting T1 and T2, and the Transit Ramp Bus.

Shops and Restaurants

As Narita is considered to be Japan’s largest international airport, you’ll find slightly more restaurants and shops here compared to Haneda.

There are several restaurants serving both Japanese and Western cuisine. You’ll also find a variety of shops selling everything from electrical products to Japanese goods.

Although Haneda is considered to have fewer shops and restaurants, there are still more than enough options. Like with Narita, you’ll have the choice of both local and Western foods, as well as some fast food options.

There are lots of shops at Haneda too, and these offer everything from stationery to toys. Both airports have plenty of facilities.

Pros and Cons of Using Haneda Airport

Here are the main pros and cons of flying into Haneda Airport instead of Narita:

Pros of Flying into/from Haneda Airport

1. Haneda Airport is much closer to the centre of Tokyo compared to Narita. It’ll only take about half an hour to get to Tokyo from Haneda, compared to nearly an hour from Narita.
2. Taxis from Haneda Airport to Tokyo’s centre are much more affordable compared to those from Narita. At around $40 – $70, it’s a good option for families or larger groups.
3. Public transport tickets from Haneda Airport to Tokyo are less than half the price of transport tickets from Narita Airport. They only cost a few dollars.

Cons of Flying into/from Haneda Airport

1. Haneda Airport is the busiest airport in Japan with hundreds of flights arriving daily. As such, you’ll want to prepare for queues at security and immigration.
2. Some of the bus services from Haneda Airport are currently suspended, so you’ll need to either take the train or research another way.
3. Narita is considered to have more restaurants and shops than Haneda, as it’s considered to be the largest international airport in Japan.

Pros and Cons of Using Narita Airport

Here are the main pros and cons of flying into Narita Airport instead of Haneda:

Pros of Flying into/from Narita Airport

1. Although still busy, Narita isn’t as busy as Haneda Airport. Fewer flights arrive at the airport daily, so you may find that it’s quicker to get through security.
2. For those arriving late, it may be wise to just book a hotel in Narita. Hotels here can be half the price of those in Tokyo, and then you can head into the city first thing.
3. You’ll find that flights to Narita are often cheaper than Haneda. Although this is a huge bonus, make sure you consider the price of public transport to Tokyo as well.

Cons of flying into/from Narita Airport

1. Compared to Haneda, Narita is located far from the city. You’re looking at a journey of around 50–70 minutes to reach the centre of Tokyo.
2. The average price of a taxi to Tokyo is a costly $215 which is a lot more expensive than catching a taxi from Haneda Airport.
3. Public transport is also more expensive as you’ll have to travel for longer.

We have another guide explaining how to transfer from Narita Airport to Haneda in case you have a connecting flight.

Fly to/from Kansai Airport Instead

There’s a lot to think about when looking at Narita vs. Haneda. However, I’m going to throw a spanner in the works…

For those who aren’t just planning to explore Tokyo, it may be wise to consider Kansai Airport in Osaka too. Not only is Osaka an amazing city to visit, but it’s also near Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Hiroshima. Depending on your full Japan itinerary, it’s worth checking flights to or from Osaka International Airport too.

If you’re planning to visit Osaka during your trip anyway, it may be wise to fly there first. Then after exploring the ‘Kitchen of the Nation’, you can catch the bullet train to Tokyo. Again, you’ve then got the option of Narita or Haneda. 

Likewise, many people choose to fly into Tokyo and then leave from Osaka. Not only will you get to explore two cities, but you can save yourself the Shinkansen trip back to Japan’s capital. A single Shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Osaka will easily set you back around $100. And with the prices of the Japan Rail Pass having increased in October 2023, this could save you quite a lot of money.

Either way, you can find some very affordable international flights to and from Osaka! 

Haneda vs Narita – Conclusion

Deciding between Haneda vs Narita can often seem overwhelming as there’s a lot to think about. Both airports offer international flights to and from a variety of destinations and have fantastic facilities, including shops and restaurants.

So will it be Narita or Haneda? In my opinion, go with whatever flights suit you. Whether they’re flying to Narita or Haneda, the price and arrival times of your flights are way more important. If you can save a few hundred dollars by booking flights to Narita, go for it!

Even though Haneda offers more convenience as it’s much closer to central Tokyo (allowing for more affordable transport), travelling from Narita really isn’t as bad as people online make it out to be. Public transport is efficient in Japan, and if you know what to expect, it won’t cause any issues.

When booking flights, make sure you check the arrival time in Japan and make sure public transport still runs. It’s also worth checking whether any shops are open that you need at the airport, to pick up your pocket WiFi, for example. These things are more important than deciding what airport you should fly to.

Happy travelling!