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Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
At a Glance
Easiest: Limousine Bus
Cheapest: Narita Express (just)
Quickest: Taxi/Car if the traffic is light, Narita Express if it’s not
With a Late Flight: Limousine Bus, Private Car or Flat Rate Taxi
With an Early Flight: Limousine Bus, Private Car or Flat Rate Taxi
Read on to find out more details on costs and timings.
1. Using the Narita Express (N’EX)
The Narita Express goes directly from Narita Airport to Shinjuku station, and it aims at tourists, so there is plenty of luggage space. It costs ¥3,190 for a basic adult fare and takes about 90 minutes to reach Shinjuku
If you’re on a budget, you can save 33% by purchasing a roundtrip pass, which is valid for 14 days. The JR Pass, if you choose to buy one, also covers using the Narita Express. It’s also included in some other passes, like the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which can take you to Nagano and Kanazawa.
The Narita Express is a reserved-seat train, so you need to book a seat even if you are using passes. You can do this at the airport ticket office.
Top tip – if this is your first time in Japan, it can be a little confusing working out where to go and how to use the machines, so, when you do book your seat make sure it’s for a train at least 10 minutes away so you can allow yourself to get lost/settled time. Don’t worry, the trains go every 30 minutes so take your time.
The downside of the Narita Express is the hours it runs. The first train leaves the airport at 7.37 am and the last one leaves at 9.44pm – it’s not the best choice for night flights. If you are landing after about 8pm, I wouldn’t assume you’re going to get the last train.
2. Catching the Limousine Bus
The limousine bus is one of the cheapest and most convenient ways to travel to Shinjuku from Narita Airport. It costs ¥3,200 for a basic adult fare, children pay half of this. The journey takes about 2 hours.
Unlike the service to some other areas of Tokyo which can be infrequent, the airport bus to Shinjuku is excellent and it starts at 7am and runs until 11pm. The full timetable can be found here.
The big benefit of the Limousine Bus over the Narita Express is that it goes directly to many of the most popular hotels in Shinjuku. This is super convenient if you are staying at one of them as you’ll get dropped at your door – but you don’t have to stay at one of the hotels with a stop to use the Limousine Bus; just find the nearest stop to your actual hotel and walk, or take a taxi from there, but if you’re less mobile, you might want to consider booking one of the serviced hotels for the ultimate convenience.
The hotels where the limousine bus stops are the Hilton Tokyo, Keio Plaza Hotel, Hyatt Regency Tokyo, Shinjuku Washington Hotel, Park Hyatt Tokyo, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku, and Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower. Why not have a look at Shinjuku hotels now while you’ve got the list handy?
The Sunroute Plaza and Keio Plaza are very popular with mid-range travellers – while if you want to push the boat out, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is AMAZING. I had one night there, and the view was breathtaking. You really do feel like Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation.
There are some more suggestions of great hotels in our Shinjuku area guide which you’ll also want to check out if you’re thinking of staying here.
If you have any more questions about the Limousine Bus, then check out our guide to using it here.
3. Book a Private Meet-and-Greet Car
Not the cheapest option, but if you’re a family traveling with luggage or are a bit nervous about taking transportation in Japan when tired from your flight, they will take you door to door.
A private car will start at around ¥16,000 for three people. Bigger cars will cost more. It can take between 1-2 hours to get to a hotel in Shinjuku depending on traffic and your exact hotel location.
Don’t worry. Even if you don’t understand Japanese, using a meet-and-greet car is easy.
Head to the Klook app or website and select the date and time of your arrival, plus the number of passengers. Scroll through the options until you see a package that’s right for you.
Make sure you check how the company decides the pick-up time. Some will wait a set number of minutes after your plane arrives, others will ask you to select a time – make sure you allow enough time for all the thing you need to do at the airport.
Drivers might speak English (and the booking does say so if they do), but it’s always a good idea to print out your hotel address in Japanese just in case. Most hotels will have this on their website, and companies like booking.com actually allow you to print the whole booking reservation in Japanese.
If you’re worried about not being understood in Japan, look at our guide on how to get round Japan when you don’t speak Japanese. You’ll be surprised how much English is used.
4. Taking a Taxi or Uber
The most expensive option. Narita is not in central Tokyo but about 80 kilometres away, so the cost mounts up – but it is convenient. You’ll go from door to door in 60-120 minutes, depending on traffic.
If you want to know upfront how much the journey will cost, use one of the flat-rate taxis at Narita. These have a set price – ¥29,000 or ¥30,000 depending on the route; the only other potential expenses are any tolls—and a surcharge if you’re riding between 10pm and 5am.
See where to find the flat rate taxi ranks at the airport here.
So, there you have it, our guide on the best ways to get from Narita airport to Shinjuku. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments and we’ll answer them for you.
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, Escape, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve traveled to Japan eight times before – solo and with my partner and visited over 25 towns and cities. My last visit was November 2024 so, everything here is pretty up to date.
