After arriving in Japan, one of the first questions many travelers face is
how to get from the airport into Tokyo.
Tokyo has two main international airports: Narita and Haneda.
You’ll often see guides comparing which one is “better” or “more convenient,”
but in reality, the answer isn’t that simple.
For international arrivals, many visitors end up flying into Narita.
This usually comes down to flight availability, price, or schedules,
and choosing Narita is not a mistake or a disadvantage by itself.
That said, factors like arriving late at night,
traveling with large suitcases,
or staying in areas such as Asakusa or Shinjuku
can make the choice of airport affect how easy your first day feels.
Your plans within Japan also matter.
If you expect to fly domestically to other cities,
the way you think about airport choice can change entirely.
In this guide, Narita and Haneda are not compared as “good” or “bad.”
Instead, they are explained based on conditions such as
arrival time, luggage, where you’re staying, and whether you plan to travel within Japan.
By the end, you should have a clear idea of
which airport setup makes the most sense for your trip,
without overthinking the decision.
Narita or Haneda: Which One Do Most Visitors Actually Use?
Before comparing which airport is more convenient, it helps to look at a simpler question:
which airport do most international visitors actually arrive at?
For international flights to Japan, many travelers end up flying into Narita Airport.
This is often due to flight availability, pricing, or schedules, rather than a deliberate choice.
In other words, arriving at Narita is usually a result of airline routes and timing,
not because travelers actively decided it was the better option.
For that reason, there’s no need to see Narita as a problem or a disadvantage.
There are several reliable ways to get from Narita into Tokyo,
and with the right choice, your trip can start smoothly.
If you arrive at Haneda, the experience often feels easier.
Being closer to the city means less travel time after landing,
and fewer decisions to make once you arrive.
The key point is not to judge Narita and Haneda by which one is “better.”
Instead, it’s more helpful to accept that many visitors arrive at Narita,
and then choose transportation options that fit your own conditions and plans.
Your First-Day Experience Matters More Than Distance
When comparing Narita and Haneda, it’s easy to focus on distance alone.
But in real travel situations, how the journey feels matters more than the numbers on a map.
After a long international flight, many travelers are already tired
from immigration procedures and baggage claim.
Adding a long or complicated transfer into the city can make the first day feel exhausting.
Traveling from Narita often takes more time,
which can turn arrival day into little more than a long transfer.
For some visitors, the journey itself becomes the main event of the day.
Arriving at Haneda usually feels different.
Because the airport is closer to central Tokyo,
the trip to your hotel tends to be shorter and simpler.
This often leaves travelers with a bit more mental and physical energy.
The goal here isn’t to decide which airport is better.
Instead, it’s about thinking how much strain you want to put on yourself on day one.
Your arrival day isn’t meant for heavy sightseeing.
It’s about arriving safely and being able to rest.
From that perspective, airport choice can shape how your trip begins.
Trains or Buses: Choosing What Makes Sense for You
When traveling from the airport into Tokyo, the two main options are trains and buses.
There isn’t a single “correct” choice—what works best depends on your arrival time, luggage, and destination.
One of the biggest advantages of trains is reliability.
They are not affected by traffic, which makes arrival times easier to predict.
If you use an IC card, you can also avoid buying tickets and move through stations more smoothly.
However, train travel often involves transfers, stairs, and crowded platforms.
If you’re carrying large suitcases or feeling tired after a long flight,
this can be more physically demanding than expected.
Buses are a good option if you want to reduce physical strain.
Many airport buses offer direct routes to major areas or near hotels,
allowing you to stay seated for most of the journey.
The downside of buses is that they depend on road conditions.
During busy hours, traffic congestion can delay arrival.
If reaching your destination by a specific time is important, this is something to keep in mind.
The goal is not to choose the fastest route.
On arrival day, it’s often better to choose the option that feels least stressful.
Rather than thinking in terms of trains versus buses,
it’s more helpful to see them as tools to be used based on the situation you’re in.
Late-Night and Early-Morning Arrivals: Plan for the “No-Train” Scenario
Arrival time becomes especially important if you land late at night or early in the morning.
During these hours, transportation options are not the same as during the day.
At Narita Airport, late-night arrivals often come with limited choices.
Depending on the time, trains and buses into central Tokyo may no longer be running.
In some cases, staying near the airport for the first night becomes a realistic option.
This is not necessarily inconvenient.
After a long flight, forcing a late-night transfer can be more exhausting than expected.
Choosing to rest first and continue the next day can actually make the trip easier.
Haneda Airport tends to be more flexible at night.
Even during late-night or early-morning hours,
it is usually easier to reach central Tokyo on the day you arrive.
Because of this, travelers arriving late often find Haneda simpler to plan around.
It reduces uncertainty about whether you can reach your hotel immediately.
For first-time visitors, late-night travel itself can be stressful.
If you already know your arrival will be very late,
it helps to think less about speed and more about what feels safe and manageable.
In these situations, choosing a route that avoids unnecessary strain
can prevent small problems from turning into a difficult first day.
If You Have Large Luggage, Don’t Choose the “Fastest” Route Automatically
The amount and size of your luggage can make a bigger difference than you might expect.
Even a route that looks quick on paper can feel exhausting once you’re actually moving.
Trains are reliable and efficient, especially if you’re familiar with the system.
However, they often involve transfers, stairs, and crowded platforms.
With large suitcases, this can quickly become physically demanding.
This is especially true when traveling from Narita Airport.
The longer distance into the city and possible transfers can turn the journey
into a tiring experience if you’re carrying heavy luggage.
In these situations, buses or taxis can be practical alternatives.
Buses allow you to stay seated and usually offer direct routes
to major areas or near hotels.
Taxis are more expensive, but they can make sense
if comfort and simplicity are your top priorities.
The key point is that the fastest route isn’t always the best one.
Especially on arrival day, choosing a less demanding option
can make the start of your trip much smoother.
Where You Stay Matters: Airport Choice Depends on Your Neighborhood
When deciding how to get into Tokyo, where you plan to stay makes a real difference.
Even within the city, ease of access can vary greatly by area.
Narita Airport tends to work more smoothly for certain locations.
Areas around Tokyo Station and Ueno are relatively straightforward to reach,
and some routes allow you to travel with fewer transfers.
For travelers staying in these neighborhoods, Narita can be a reasonable option.
Haneda Airport, on the other hand, covers a wider range of areas more easily.
Major neighborhoods such as Shinagawa, Shinjuku, and Asakusa
can be reached through multiple routes, offering greater flexibility.
This flexibility becomes especially noticeable if you plan to combine subways and private railways.
Travel from Haneda often feels more intuitive,
particularly if you are using an IC card for everyday transportation.
If your accommodation is not fixed yet,
or if you expect to move around Tokyo frequently,
thinking in terms of Haneda can make planning simpler.
As with every other factor, the goal is not to decide which airport is better.
What matters is whether you can reach your accommodation comfortably,
using routes that match your travel style.
If You Plan to Fly Within Japan, Haneda Is the Clear Choice
If your trip includes domestic flights within Japan,
the way you think about airport choice changes significantly.
In this case, it makes sense to use Haneda Airport as your main reference point.
Haneda is the central hub for domestic air travel in Japan.
It offers a high number of flights to major cities such as Sapporo, Fukuoka, Osaka, and Okinawa,
with frequent departures throughout the day.
This flexibility makes it much easier to fit domestic flights into your schedule.
You can choose flights based on timing rather than adjusting your plans around limited options.
Narita Airport does have some domestic routes,
but the number of destinations and flight frequencies are much more limited.
Compared to Haneda, the overall freedom to plan is noticeably smaller.
For travelers who expect to move beyond Tokyo during their trip,
thinking in terms of Haneda can simplify the entire itinerary.
This does not mean that arriving at Narita is a mistake.
Many international flights naturally arrive there.
However, if domestic flights are part of your journey,
airport choice should be considered as part of the overall travel flow.
From that perspective, Haneda is clearly easier to work with.
A Simple Way to Decide Without Overthinking
Narita and Haneda are not airports to be judged as better or worse.
What matters is how well each one matches the conditions of your trip.
For international arrivals, it’s completely normal for many travelers to land at Narita.
This usually depends on flight availability and schedules, not on making a wrong choice.
Arriving at Narita does not put you at a disadvantage.
At the same time, certain conditions can make Haneda feel easier on arrival.
Late-night landings, traveling with large suitcases, or staying across different parts of Tokyo
can all reduce first-day stress when using Haneda.
If your plans include domestic flights within Japan, the 기준 changes.
In that case, thinking in terms of Haneda makes planning much simpler,
because it works better as part of your overall travel flow.
The goal isn’t to find a single “best” airport.
It’s to line up factors like arrival time, luggage, where you’re staying,
and whether you’ll travel beyond Tokyo, and choose what feels realistic.
Getting from the airport into the city is one of the first major decisions of your trip.
Making a choice that avoids unnecessary strain can set a comfortable tone
for the rest of your time in Japan.
