Narita to Haneda

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated October 2026 · 7 min read

Narita and Haneda sit on opposite sides of Tokyo, roughly 70 km apart by road, and there is no single quick hop between them — whichever way you go, you are effectively crossing the whole city. A direct bus, a couple of rail combinations, and taxis all work; none of them is fast, and traffic makes the difference between a comfortable transfer and a stressful one. Here is what each option really involves, and how much time to build in.

The most straightforward option: the direct Airport Limousine Bus

The Airport Limousine Bus runs direct coaches between Narita and Haneda with no intermediate stops — you board at one airport's arrivals level and get off at the other, luggage stowed underneath the whole way. It is the only genuinely single-seat option between the two airports; every rail route involves at least one change.

In light traffic the journey takes around 75–90 minutes. In practice, allow closer to two hours: the route uses Tokyo's expressway network, which slows markedly during the morning and evening rush and on Friday afternoons and evenings, when it can take considerably longer than the timetable suggests. Buses run roughly every 30–60 minutes from early morning until around midnight, and the fare is a fixed, moderate amount — you can buy a ticket at the counter on arrival or book online in advance, which is worth doing if you are travelling at a busy time and want certainty over a seat.

The rail route: Keisei, the Asakusa Line and Keikyu

Tokyo's rail network does connect Narita and Haneda, but not with a single dedicated train — you are relying on a set of separately operated lines that happen to run through to each other.

A limited number of Keisei "Access Express" services on the Narita Sky Access line run through Tokyo's Toei Asakusa subway line and continue onto the Keikyu Airport Line without requiring you to change trains, provided you board one specifically bound for Haneda Airport (check the destination board carefully, since most Keisei departures are not through-services). These through trains take roughly 100–110 minutes end to end and cost meaningfully less than the bus.

If you cannot get a through-service, or you are already holding a Narita Express or Skyliner ticket, the fallback is to ride into central Tokyo — Tokyo Station or Shinagawa are the useful interchange points — and change onto the Keikyu Line or Tokyo Monorail for the final leg to Haneda. This adds a change with your luggage but the individual trains run far more frequently than the through-services, so it can actually be the more predictable option if you would rather not wait for a specific direct departure. Total time is broadly similar to the through-train, at around 100–120 minutes including the change.

Either rail route needs you to navigate at least one Tokyo station with bags — manageable, but not effortless during rush hour when platforms and connecting corridors are busy. See our guide to Tokyo Station if your route takes you through it.

Taxi: fast in theory, expensive and traffic-exposed

A taxi covers the same road route as the Limousine Bus and, with no scheduled stops or waiting for a departure, can occasionally be quicker door to door in very light traffic — figure on 60–90 minutes under ideal conditions. The catch is cost: fares for a journey of this length run into the tens of thousands of yen, several times the price of the bus, and you are just as exposed to expressway congestion as the coach is. A taxi mostly makes sense late at night when trains have stopped running, if you are travelling as a group splitting the fare, or if you have an early-morning flight and want a fixed pickup rather than relying on the first bus or train of the day.

How long to allow for a same-day connection

Because every option crosses the whole of Tokyo and depends on traffic or a rail interchange, build in a generous buffer rather than cutting it fine. As a rough guide:

• Direct bus: allow the scheduled 75–90 minutes plus at least an hour of contingency for traffic, plus time to find the bus stop and board.
• Rail via a through-service or a change in the city: allow around two hours in total, including walking time at the interchange station and a margin for a delayed or cancelled connection.
• Taxi: allow 90 minutes to two hours, since you are subject to the same traffic as the bus with no fallback if the road is jammed.

If you are clearing immigration and collecting checked bags at Narita on an international arrival before heading to Haneda for a domestic or onward international flight, add that processing time on top of the transfer itself — it is easy to underestimate how long a busy arrivals hall takes on a first visit. If you have several hours to spare rather than a tight connection, it may be worth checking whether an airport transit hotel or sleep pod at either end is worth the cost for a proper rest before your next flight.

If you are on two separate tickets, know the risk

Narita and Haneda are entirely separate airports run by different operators, so a same-day switch between them is a genuine self-transfer, not a connecting itinerary handled by an airline. If your two flights are on one combined booking through a single airline or alliance, the carrier is generally responsible for getting you and your bags to the second flight. If you booked the two legs separately — a common way to combine a long-haul arrival with a cheap domestic onward flight — a delay on the first flight is entirely your problem to solve, with no rebooking or compensation from either airline. Our guide to self-transfer flights and the risks involved covers this in more detail, and minimum connection times explained is worth reading before you commit to a tight same-day plan.

Which should you choose?

For most travellers, the direct Airport Limousine Bus is the simplest choice: one seat, no changes, and predictable enough once you build in a traffic buffer. Choose the rail route if you want the lowest fare and do not mind a change with your luggage, or if you already hold a Skyliner or Narita Express ticket and are continuing on to Haneda from central Tokyo anyway. A taxi is worth the expense for late-night arrivals, an early first departure, or a small group splitting the cost. For more on Tokyo's wider airport transport, see our guide to Narita and Haneda into central Tokyo.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train between Narita and Haneda?

Not a dedicated one. A limited number of Keisei Access Express services run through the Toei Asakusa Line and onto the Keikyu Airport Line without a change, provided you board one specifically bound for Haneda Airport. Otherwise, you change trains in central Tokyo, typically at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa.

How long does the Airport Limousine Bus take between Narita and Haneda?

Around 75–90 minutes in light traffic, but realistically closer to two hours once you account for Tokyo's expressway congestion, especially during rush hour or on Friday evenings.

Is a taxi between Narita and Haneda worth the cost?

It can save time compared with the bus in very light traffic, but the fare runs to several times the bus price and you face the same congestion risk. It suits late-night transfers, early departures, or groups sharing the fare.

How much time should I allow if my flights are on separate tickets?

At least four hours between landing at one airport and departing from the other, more if you are clearing immigration and collecting checked bags first. Since the two airports are run independently, a missed connection on separate tickets is not the airline's responsibility to fix.