I’ve by no means been as opinionated about Tokyo’s airports as many different vacationers I do know. Each are effectively linked to town middle, and whereas Haneda’s worldwide amenities are a bit nicer, I’m not one to reach far upfront of departure, nor to linger after arrival.
After all, some variations between Tokyo’s airports are important. And relying in your circumstances, the airport you select can have a huge impact on the remainder of your journey, whether or not that’s due to a good onward connection or the should be in Tokyo rapidly for a enterprise assembly.
On this publish, which I’ve been updating periodically for nearly a decade at this level, I’ll speak you thru all of the intricacies of the NRT vs HND debate. By the point you end, you’ll have a transparent thought of which Tokyo airport to decide on—on your subsequent journey, and for all of your journeys to Japan.
Why Vacationers Love Haneda Airport
One main distinction between HND and NRT airports (which I’ll clarify extra about in a minute) is the truth that Haneda is far nearer to Tokyo’s monetary district that Narita. For enterprise vacationers, who usually use taxis or different automobile providers to entry town, that is the key issue that makes Haneda extra interesting. It’s not the one one, nevertheless—and it’s probably not related to vacationers, who largely go by prepare.
Certainly, a complete vary of different components contribute. A few of these are superficial, like the truth that Haneda’s devoted worldwide terminal opened in 2010, a long time after both of Narita’s. There are additionally extra sensible causes, resembling the truth that an growing variety of airways (particularly ones from Europe and the US) are shifting flights from Narita to Haneda, and esoteric ones just like the presence (or, in Narita’s case, absence) of Mt. Fuji views.
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Narita
Key Variations Between Narita and Haneda
Distance from Tokyo
Haneda is far nearer to most of Tokyo—notably, enterprise districts like Marunouchi, Shinagawa and Shinjuku—than Narita, it’s true. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re planning to be in Asakusa, Ueno or elsewhere in northeastern Tokyo, this benefit disappears. Likewise, the space is usually related when touring by automobile or bus: The Narita Categorical and Keisei Skyliner join Narita to Tokyo straight in 36-70 minutes, whereas many trains from Haneda (although they’re usually shorter in size) require a connection—by way of Hamamatsucho for the Tokyo Monorail, or Shinagawa for the Keikyu Line.
Ease of connections
One other vital NRT vs HND distinction is for folks whose ultimate vacation spot isn’t Tokyo. Domestically, there are lots of extra flights from Haneda, though the airport’s home Terminals 1 and a pair of are bodily indifferent from worldwide Terminal 3—you’ll have to experience the Keikyu Line, Tokyo Monorail or a shuttle bus between them. Whereas there are some home connections from Narita, this airport is greatest suited to international-to-international connections, normally between North America and Southeast Asia.
Variety of flights
For a few years since Narita Airport’s controversial opening within the Nineteen Seventies, it was by design Japan’s main worldwide hub. That modified in 2010 when Haneda’s new worldwide terminal opened, and accelerated within the years main as much as the doomed Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Some worldwide carriers moved most or all of their flights to Haneda! With this being stated, a big majority of worldwide flights nonetheless arrive at Narita—over 300 on most days, in comparison with round 100 at Haneda—together with just about all flights on low-cost carriers, resembling JAL-owned Zipair.
High quality of facility
Most individuals don’t spend a ton of time on the airport itself, so the standard of the buildings at HND or NRT shouldn’t actually be a significant factor. Nevertheless, whether or not you like to arrive on the airport early or get stranded on an extended connection than you anticipated, there are conditions the place this may be related. Haneda’s worldwide Terminal 3 opened in 2010, and is a world-class facility by any measure. Narita Airport, however, ranges from serviceable (the older Terminal 2) to Terminal 1’s very good south wing, which opened in 2006.
Buying and facilities
In comparison with airports in Southeast Asia and even Korea, neither Haneda nor Narita are nice duty-free purchasing hubs. Neither are they culinary locations, even when the landside Edo Market eating space at Haneda or the brand new airside meals courtroom in Haneda’s Terminal 2 aren’t unhealthy locations to seek out your self if you happen to arrive on the airport early. By way of lounges, Haneda’s are extra quite a few and likewise newer, significantly the Delta Sky Membership and Amex Centurion Lounge. Nevertheless, given the truth that flights board so close-in in Japan (30-45 minutes earlier than departure for worldwide, and simply 15-20 minutes for home), you merely don’t have to get to the airport very early generally.
Haneda
How Far is Haneda vs Narita?
As I’ve talked about a few occasions to this point, Haneda is technically a lot nearer to Tokyo than Narita. Mapped from Tokyo Station, Haneda Airport is simply 18 km/11 mi, whereas Narita is 69 km/43 mi. By way of automobile or bus journey time, that is important: a minimal of 17 minutes vs 53 minutes, which generally is a large deal when you have a enterprise assembly or another vital engagement.
Nevertheless, the space ingredient of the NRT or HND debate doesn’t finish there—Tokyo Station isn’t the one place vacationers are headed to. If you happen to plan to remain or do enterprise in jap components of Tokyo resembling Asakusa, Ryogoku, Ueno and Nippori, Narita is definitely way more handy, significantly if you happen to experience the Keisei Skyliner. In the identical vein, vacationers certain for Shibuya or Shinjuku will certainly need to fly to Haneda.
Different FAQ About Narita and Haneda
Is it higher to go to Haneda or Narita?
Each of Tokyo’s airports will get you to your vacation spot, however some vacationers might discover one advantageous over the opposite. If you happen to’re certain for Asakusa, Ueno or some other place in northeastern Tokyo, Narita may very well be extra handy. Haneda, however, is far nearer to central and western Tokyo (together with Shinjuku and Shibuya), and likewise has a a lot bigger variety of home connecting flights.
What’s the distinction between Haneda and Narita?
Most vacationers concentrate on the comparatively closeness of Haneda to Tokyo, as in comparison with Narita. Nevertheless, there are different vital variations as effectively, specifically the truth that there are lots of extra home connections accessible from Haneda, Narita, however, stays a extra prolific worldwide connecting hub, and can be the place most low-cost worldwide flights to Japan arrive.
Which airport ought to I land in Japan?
Japan has over a dozen worldwide airports, though solely a handful are related to most vacationers. If you happen to’re coming from the US and also you aren’t on one of many two every day flights to Osaka-Kansai (KIX), you’ll want to decide on between Tokyo’s Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) airports. Whereas most flights landed at Narita till the late 2010s, this has just lately began to shift in favor of Haneda. To place it one other approach, you’re barely extra prone to land at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, though Narita will get the job achieved as effectively.
The Backside Line
Strive to not overthink the HND vs NRT debate. Whereas Haneda Airport is nearer to Tokyo’s metropolis middle (and, at the very least on the worldwide aspect, boasts a nicer facility), Narita is a superbly acceptable entry level to Japan, significantly if you happen to’re touring by prepare. However, it’s vital to notice that costs for journey to Haneda and Narita is perhaps completely different; you’ll have a a lot wider choice of onward home connections on the former than you do the latter. Need assistance sussing out different vital particulars of your subsequent journey to Japan? Contemplate hiring me to plan it for you.