If you know nothing else about the journey from Haneda Airport to central Tokyo, you probably know it’s short. After all, when comparing Narita and Haneda, the closer distance of the latter to central Tokyo is typically a main reason travelers prefer it.
Over the next few paragraphs, however, I’ll go into everything you need to know about traveling between Haneda and Tokyo—all the details! Whether you’re landing at the Haneda Airport International Terminal after a long flight from overseas, or at domestic Terminals 1 or 2 inbound from Kyushu or Shikoku, this page is where you need to be.
Likewise, I’ll explain not only how to reach Tokyo, generally, but how to get to specific places in the city, including popular journeys like Haneda Airport to Shinjuku or Shibuya. Let’s get started!
The Haneda Renaissance
Learning how to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo is more important than ever in the post-pandemic era. That’s because in the years leading up to the doomed Tokyo Olympics, more and more airlines moved international services from Narita (which used to be Japan’s main global gateway) to Haneda, which is closer to Tokyo’s center but has historically been subject to slot-restriction. Although the delayed games ended up being a dumpster fire, the Japanese government has maintained it easing of restrictions on flights into Haneda.
For flights from Europe and the US in particular, many Narita services became international flights to Haneda, although some flights to Narita still exist. If you’re unsure about which Tokyo Airport you’ll be arriving at, verify it by logging into your reservation using the “Manage Booking” function and see where the “HND” or “NRT” airport code is contained within the record!
All the Ways from Haneda Airport to Central Tokyo
Tokyo Monorail and JR Lines
If you want to get from Haneda to Tokyo Station, you’ll need to first ride the Tokyo Monorail (ideally, a super-fast “Rapid” service) from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho, where you can connect to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku line; these can take you anywhere in Tokyo, including Shinjuku and Shibuya. Note that if you want to activate your Japan Rail Pass (with which you can ride the Monorail for free), you can do this at the office just before the entrance to the Monorail within the airport.
Keikyu Kuko Line
The private Keikyu Line is another way to travel into Tokyo from Haneda Airport. Located on your right side when you’re exiting the airport, the Keikyu Kuko (“airport” in Japanese) Line takes you most immediately to Shinagawa. However, it continues northward and eastward as the Toei Subway’s Asakusa Line (NOTE: You don’t need to purchase an additional ticket for this, presuming you correctly chose your destination station) to Shimbashi, Nihombashi and, of course, Asakusa.
Haneda Airport Limousine Bus
If you didn’t order a JR Pass, and aren’t fussed about riding a train, there’s another direct way from Haneda Airport to Tokyo: A limousine bus. While it’s arguable that this mode of transport is not as luxurious as an actual limousine (OK, it’s definitely not), this is an affordable and easy way to many destinations within Tokyo, with frequent departures and convenient drop-off points, which you can explore on the official Limousine Bus website.
Haneda Airport Taxis
Want to take a taxi from Haneda to Shinjuku (or anywhere else in central Tokyo)? The good news is that unlike from Narita, this won’t take you two hours—it probably won’t even take you one! On the other hand, since this is Japan we’re talking about, it will be expensive. Even if there’s no traffic and you don’t have to pay the early-morning or late-night tariff, you’ll pay a minimum of ¥5,000 from Haneda Airport to most anywhere in central Tokyo ( though this might be acceptable if you’re traveling in a group).
Uber and Ridesharing Apps
Another car-bound way from Haneda to city center is to use a ridesharing app, such as international Uber or Japan Taxi which, as its name suggests, operates only within Japan. Although doing so is ostensibly more convenient than a taxi, since it removes the necessity of having to speak Japanese or pay with cash, it’s not necessarily cheap. In fact, I’ve sometimes found ridesharing in Japan to be even more expensive than an ordinary cab!
How to Travel Between Haneda Terminals
If you’re reading this article in English, chances are that you are arriving at the Haneda International Terminal, which handles both long-haul flights as well as flights from Tokyo to airports within Asia, including Seoul-Gimpo and Taipei-Songshan. Rather than being bound for central Tokyo, however, it’s possible that you need to transfer to a domestic flight. Somewhat inconveniently, these depart from two domestic terminal, which are actually on the other side of Haneda’s runways.
Assuming you have your boarding pass handy, you can travel between terminals free of charge on the Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Kuko Line, plus the shuttle bus located just outside. Note that if you board either train using this method, but decide later to continue from Haneda Airport to Tokyo, you will need to pay the full fare for your trip when you arrive at the other end. In other words, don’t try to cheat the system!
How to Get from Narita Airport to Tokyo
I’ve written a complete article about the Narita Express vs Skyliner (which I’d advise you to read if you’re arriving in Japan via Tokyo’s “other” international airport. Another popular article on Japan Starts Here is the one I create that compares Haneda to Narita more generally. However, if you’ve ended up here and want to know how to travel between Narita Airport and Tokyo, don’t worry: I will tell you below!
If you want to take a train to Narita, you can either choose the JR-operated Narita Express (which connects the airport directly to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shibuya) or the private Keisei Skyliner, which terminates in Ueno, passes through Nippori and is also convenient to Asakusa. Apart from this, the only other realistic way to reach Narita from Tokyo for most travelers is a limousine bus; travelers with tons of cash might decide to take a taxi, although I generally don’t advise this.
Other FAQ About Getting from Haneda to Tokyo
How do I get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo?
You have four basic options to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo: Riding the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho and connecting to the JR Lines; riding the Keikyu Line to Sengakuji and connecting to the Toei Subway; riding a Limousine Bus to Tokyo, Shinkuku or Shibuya; or taking a taxi or Uber.
How much is the train from Haneda Airport to Tokyo?
Depending on your final destination in central Tokyo and which train(s) you take, you can expect to pay about ¥800-900 one-way between Haneda Airport and Tokyo. Note that if you have the Japan Rail Pass, it is free to travel from Haneda Airport to Tokyo via the Tokyo Monorail and JR Lines, although you will need to pay to use the Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway.
Can I use JR Pass from Haneda to Tokyo?
You can use the JR Pass on the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda to Hamamatsucho and from there, ride the JR Lines (Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku) to destinations in central Tokyo. Keep in mind that if you need to connect to the Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway or non-JR rail lines to reach your final destination, you will need to pay for those tickets in cash or using PASMO/Suica.
The Bottom Line
Traveling from Haneda Airport to central Tokyo is a quick journey, but like most things in Japan isn’t necessarily simple. Travelers who have JR passes will want to take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho station, then catch the JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Lines to destinations in central Tokyo. In other situations, however, the private Keikyu Kuko Line makes more sense, while still other travelers will find a so-called “Limousine” Bus more convenient. No matter how you travel between Haneda and Tokyo (in some situations, a simple taxi might be the easiest option, even though it’s also expensive), Tokyo starts here. When you commission a custom Japan itinerary, your entire trip to Japan begins with the sending of a simple email message.
