If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, you most likely have stumbled upon the dilemma of which airport to set as your destination – Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND). I’ve gotten a few questions on what the differences are and which one you should realistically travel to so I’ll write this post as a simple head-to-head comparison based on a few important factors: distance to the city center, flight options, and lounges.
Distance to Central Tokyo
Haneda Airport is located approximately 10 miles from Tokyo city center whereas Narita International is closer to 40 miles away. As you can imagine, transportation from Narita to the city center is more expensive than that of Haneda.
However, getting to Tokyo from NRT is relatively easy thanks to the Narita Express train. A round trip ticket from Narita to Tokyo is around ~$40. You can also grab a taxi for roughly $200 (!) or bus for as low as $10.
Haneda transportation ranges from $2 for public transportation via train to $65 for taxi.
Winner: Haneda Airport (HND)
Flight Options
If you are traveling from the U.S. you can expect to fly into Narita, which serves as the central command for both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) international flights (Haneda is the actual base for these airlines).
Haneda has a fraction of the U.S. flights that Narita does. For example, United Airlines operates flights to 10 U.S. destinations from Narita, but only one from Haneda. Japan Airlines doesn’t operate any flights from Haneda to U.S. destinations, whereas they have eight from Narita.
You get the point. Haneda better serves as a domestic airport while Narita is the larger international airport in Tokyo.
Winner: Narita International (NRT)
Lounges
As is much of Tokyo, Haneda and Narita are both gorgeous airports and clean, but the disparity between the number of lounge options is gaping, but this is certainly expected. Note that this list is comprised mainly of lounges associated with major carriers and alliances.
Narita International:
- Korean Air Lounge
- Delta SkyClub
- United Club
- Admirals Club
- Emirates Lounge
- Qantas Lounge
- Cathay Pacific Lounge (First/Business)
- ANA Lounge
- JAL Lounge
Haneda Airport:
- JAL Lounge
- ANA Lounge
- Cathay Pacific Lounge
- Sky Lounge
Winner: Narita International (NRT)
Bottom Line
In my opinion, the winner based purely on flight options and amenities is Narita. Given the fact that comfortable train travel to and from NRT exists, the only downfall to flying into the airport is mitigated.
I’m willing to bet I missed a few points here so I’ll open it up to those of you that have more intimate knowledge of these airports to share your thoughts.
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American Airlines will start flying to HND (Haneda) in March 2020 out of DFW and LAX.
ORD (Chicago O’Hare) to NRT (Naruta) service will end in January 2020.
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I often fly out of Japan and prefer Haneda to Narita. Getting from Tokyo Station to the Narita Express platform is a haul. Two flights below ground level and NOT near elevators nor escalators, you are pretty much on your own to find it. Lord help you if you are like me schlepping luggage all that way. The small signs for Narita Express magically disappear the closer you get. Once you reach the wicket, you will see a bank of ticket vending machines… none of which sell tickets for the Narita Express!! You have make your purchase in person with a ticket agent. Your purchase includes the Limited Express fare as well as a train fare. Ironically, the Narita Express is an ALL seats are reserved train, and yet even the locals just sit where ever they please and NOT in their assigned seats. Nothing more disconcerting for me than to have some one parked and sleeping in my assigned seat. I was hoping to be that sleeper!! Arriving at Narita is a long, long hike to immigration processing. at least four people movers that seem endless and filled with people who are not used to walking on the moving beltway. Connecting in Narita can be problematic if you have to transfer to the domestic terminal. That means using the same Narita Express or the local to the next terminal.
Haneda is more useful to me because I can fly in from other Japanese cities and easily transfer within Haneda by free shuttle bus to the next building. What a joy that is! Frequent buses. Wise drivers who know the deal.
Getting to Haneda via train is not fun. Shinkansen service from Shinagawa station is fine, but getting into the Kiekyu train line system is next to impossible. You wicket out of the Shinkansen and try to wicket into the Kiekye line and all the bells and whistles go off. I found the easiest was was to exit the shinkansen into the JR, then exit the JR complete, then buy a ticket to reenter the Keikyu system… SOUNDS confusing… YEA! Despite having Yokotsuka US Navel base on the line, Keikyu trains have little to no English on board. Shocking! If you travel west to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe… the train announcements will be in three or four foreign languages.
luckily, both Haneda and Narita have places where you can rent a private shower room for a quick shower and change before your flight. Narita shower are located inside the security area near the departure gates. Haneda’s are located on the arrivals floor. about ten bucks (1,000 yen) for 30 minutes.
This is interesting and informative. There’s a JAL flight that flies direct from SAN-NRT. I’ve flown it once using my Alaska miles, but that was in transit. Will fly to NRT next time. 🙂
We took a taxi from Haneda to downtown. It was easy and fast, pretty inexpensive, and a lot less trouble than hauling our suitcases on and off a train and taking a long train ride from Narita. I’m perplexed why anyone wouldn’t opt for Haneda if the flight was available.
Thank you Dominic.
I’m planning to travel to Tokyo next year, but it was quite headache to decide landing in Narita or Haneda.
Landing in Narita is cheaper.
So that’s my first option.
But after checking your information above, it relieve me about NARITA airport.
Narita Express is one thing makes me feel relieve.
Thank you so much Dominic.
I’m pretty sure JAL has a SFO-HND flight. I took it last year. I also believe HND is a bigger airport (in terms of passenger traffic and flights) especially to points within Japan and Asia.
You’re correct! I believe Haneda is #1 in Japan in terms of passenger traffic/flights. It’s mission as a domestic commuter hub explains why!