The most common way to get to the Asakusa area from Narita Airport is by train or bus, which we'll discuss later. There's also the option of hailing a taxi.

You can take a combination of Keisei Skyliner and conventional trains to get to Asakusa Station. The Keisei Skyliner is an express train service with reserved seating that takes you directly from the airport to Ueno Station on the Keisei Electric Railway. The convenience it offers for this leg of the journey is unparalleled.

That said, you will have to walk for about 5 minutes from Keisei Ueno Station to Ueno Station on the JR Lines to change to a conventional train bound for Asakusa.

Alternatively, you can also take a combination of just conventional trains to Asakusa. This choice is most suited for those wishing to keep transport costs at an absolute minimum.

As for buses, there's a limousine bus service that goes from Narita Airport to Asakusa View Hotel. You won't need to get off halfway to transfer to another vehicle, so it's a very convenient way to get to Asakusa. Depending on road conditions, the bus may not always reach its destination precisely on time, but if you plan enough leeway into your schedule, then the journey will be quite relaxing no matter the traffic.

The basic way to get to Asakusa with a combination of Keisei Skyliner and conventional trains is:

Narita Airport Station on the Keisei Electric Railway → (Board the Keisei Skyliner) → Keisei Ueno Station → (Walk for 5 minutes) → Ueno Station on the Ginza Line → Asakusa Station

The trip should take about one hour, and the tickets will set you back 2,690 yen (tax included) combined. Since this makes use of a paid express train, it will get you to your destination in the shortest time possible - the main advantage of this method. The disadvantages are that you'll need to transfer trains, and the transport fare is on the pricier side.

Since the Keisei Skyliner is reserved seating-only, you're guaranteed a seat as long as you have a ticket. Not needing to look out for blocks of seats that can accommodate your whole travel group along the way will make the journey that much more enjoyable for sure. Depending on your preference, this peace of mind may be well worth the higher ticket price. (Note that the Keisei Skyliner is not covered under the Japan Rail Pass.)

Tickets for the Keisei Skyliner can be bought or reserved online, over ticket counters, or via the phone. Here's a ticketing site with English language support that will make the purchasing process even easier!

If you opt for the conventional trains-only method, there are two main routes you can take:

1) Narita Airport Station on the Keisei Electric Railway → (Keisei Narita Skyaccess Line) → Asakusa Station on the Asakusa Line
2) Narita Airport Station on the Keisei Electric Railway → (Keisei Main Line directly to Asakusa Line) → Asakusa Station on the Asakusa Line

These should take about 1 to 1.5 hours and cost 1,310 yen (tax included) and 1,110 yen (tax included), respectively. As you can see, the second route is cheaper, but it will take a longer time to reach your destination.

The advantages of this method are:
1) No need to transfer trains
2) Cheaper fares

There aren't too many disadvantages to these routes, although you could say the slightly longer traveling time is something to take into consideration when deciding which method to use.

Saving cost on transport is something many travelers are keen to do, because why spend more on getting around when you can use that extra money to visit more sightseeing spots or eat more delicious food instead, right? It's a perfectly valid style of traveling, and if keeping transport costs low is high on your list of priorities, then definitely consider taking conventional trains from the airport to Asakusa. This method strikes a reasonable balance between fare prices and travel time.

There's a limousine bus service that goes from Narita Airport to Asakusa View Hotel with a very simple itinerary:

Narita Airport → (Board the limousine bus) → Asakusa View Hotel

Since Asakusa View Hotel is located very near Asakusa Station, this is a feasible method of transportation for not just those who will be checking into the hotel, but those who simply wish to get to the Asakusa area as well.

The limousine bus has embarkment points at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 of Narita Airport, and will take about 2 hours to reach its destination for 2,900 yen (tax included) per adult or 1,450 yen (tax included) per child.

The main advantage of taking the limousine bus is relaxation. Japan's conventional trains are packed most of the time, so if you're hoping to catch a bit of window sightseeing while making your way to your next destination, a bus is definitely the way to go!

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages as well, namely:
1) Higher price
2) Longer travel time
3) May not arrive exactly on time due to traffic conditions

As mentioned, the trip will take about 2 hours on a typical day, which is quite a bit longer than taking the train. Depending on your plans, this may not be the most feasible option.

Another thing to note that a seat on the bus (2,900 yen, tax included) costs almost twice as much as a conventional train ticket, and this will add up to quite a big difference, especially if you're traveling in a large family group. There are also public road traffic conditions to consider, which means you may not arrive exactly on time, a far cry from the trains that run on their own separate railway tracks and are internationally famous for their punctuality.

This is especially since accidents may happen on the highway that inevitably leads to massive traffic jams. It can be frustrating to lose precious time on your well-planned trip itinerary because of something beyond your control. If you do intend to utilize the limousine bus, be sure to include plenty of extra padding in its journey time.

Besides Asakusa, the bus also stops at Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Yokohama Station, and other places.

Taking a taxi is another option, although this will cost you a hefty chunk of change! Even flat rate taxis will cost at least 20,000 yen (tax included), excluding highway tolls, and it should take about an hour to reach Asakusa using this method.

Flat rate taxis can be reserved over the phone up till 1 hour before your desired time of usage.

Nihon Kotsu Narita Airport Flat Rate Taxi
Phone: 03-6265-6389
English language operators: 03-5755-2336
Reception: 24 hours daily

Airport transfers are an economical way of getting from the airport to Asakusa. These are especially convenient for family trips or for larger traveling parties with plenty of luggage.

Here's a brief recap of all the routes we've covered in this article. All fares in this chart are inclusive of tax.

While first-time visitors are spoiled for choice with so many different ways of getting from Narita Airport to Asakusa, one can definitely also see why many of them are stumped about which route to choose!

Tokyo's rail system is every bit as complicated as the rumors claim. Even local residents find this puzzle hard to decipher sometimes! Therefore, be sure to give careful consideration to the pros and cons of each transportation method, so that you can find the one that will suit your preferences the most.

Written by Hiroto.K, Dali Corporation
Actively wrote online while still in college. Currently writing for multiple media publications while also doing his day job. A fan of soccer, music (especially classical and rock), reading (foreign literature), traveling, and video games.

English translation by Huimin Pan

*The above article is based on information from June 2020

Narita International Airport (more commonly known as just Narita Airport) is one of Japan's most recognizable airports, as it's something like an aerial gateway to the country. The airport serves about 100 airlines and is connected to about 150 cities worldwide. Plenty of international passengers pass through the airport every day, giving it a global vibe that befits its title of international airport. As fun as Tokyo may be, you could definitely spend an entire day shopping and strolling around at the airport if you liked!

As one of Tokyo's foremost tourist attractions, Asakusa is always teeming with visitors from around the world and even other regions of Japan! The place is well-known for its old Japanese town vibe, so you'll find a lot of shops selling traditional handicraft and street food.