Category: Trains & Rail Passes

Grandparents, two families of siblings, and four children. When you decide to visit Japan as a group of ten, your first worry may be, “Can we really travel around by train?”

You can. But with ten people, the usual travel arrangements start to fall short in small ways. You cannot book everyone in one online reservation for the Shinkansen from Tokyo toward Kyoto and Osaka. The space for large luggage on the Shinkansen is not designed to hold ten people’s suitcases. One airport taxi will not fit everyone.

Those are the only three places where the usual arrangements fall short. Deal with those, and the ten of you can watch the same scenery pass by from the train.

The Short Answer — Book the Shinkansen in two groups of up to 6. Send big luggage ahead. Hire a car only for the airport

• Book the Shinkansen in groups of up to six. Online reservations for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen allow up to six people per booking. For ten people, make two bookings. From 10 a.m. one month before travel, use the seat map to choose nearby seats in two consecutive bookings
• Send big suitcases ahead. The luggage space behind the last row on the Shinkansen is one space shared by the five seats in that row. Sending eight suitcases to your hotel is easier for both the travelers and their luggage than bringing them all aboard
• Hire a car only between the airport and your hotel. Book one large vehicle that fits ten people, or two seven-passenger vehicles, in advance

On the other days, take trains and walk. With a large group, it is easy to worry about whether everyone can sit together in the same car. Sending the luggage ahead first makes a bigger difference.

An example: five days for this group of ten

Day	What to do	What to arrange	Read next
Day 1	Haneda Airport to a hotel in Tokyo	One large vehicle or two (book ahead). If you can send luggage from the airport to the hotel (check the counter hours and delivery area at the airport), you could take the train instead	“Airport to hotel” in this article
Day 2	Around Tokyo	Travel on your own (trains and walking)	Where to stay in Tokyo
Day 3	Shinkansen to Kyoto	Send the suitcases from your hotel to your Kyoto hotel the day before. The Shinkansen seats have been booked in two groups of six and four	“Shinkansen seats” in this article
Day 4	Around Kyoto	Travel on your own. With no luggage, it is easier to take city buses too	Luggage forwarding
Day 5	Kyoto to Kansai Airport	Take the train on your own, or hire a large vehicle	Airport to city

This table is just one example. The plan will vary with the number of people, children’s ages, and destinations. The way to decide stays the same: think about where the luggage will be on the days all ten people travel together.

Shinkansen seats — Up to 6 per booking. For 10 people, make two bookings in a row

For the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen from Tokyo toward Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hakata, both smartEX and JR West’s online reservation service allow up to six people per booking.

How to book	People per booking	When booking opens
Online reservations for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen (smartEX; also available from outside Japan)	1–6 people (up to 3 between 11:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.)	From one year before (some products) / from 10 a.m. one month before
JR West online reservations (JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION)	You cannot book more than six people in one application	From 10 a.m. one month before

For ten people, make one booking for six and another for four. For twelve, make two bookings for six each. When making the second booking, choose seats near the first group if any are available.

To sit close together, use the seat map at 10 a.m. one month before travel

Some smartEX products can be booked from one year before the travel date. But if you apply between one year and one month before, the train and seats are assigned from 8 a.m. one month before travel. You do not choose the seats yourself; you are notified by email after they are assigned. If you apply between 11:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., you also cannot choose seats and will be notified by email at 5:30 a.m. the following morning. You can request a window or aisle seat, but smartEX says that for bookings of three or more, seat availability may mean you get different seats from those requested. If your requested seats are full, the booking may not be confirmed unless you select “Seat can be separated.”

By contrast, from 10 a.m. one month before travel, you can use the seat map to choose available seats yourself. If you want to get ten people as close together as possible, use this option. Choose seats for the first six, then immediately book for the other four. If seats are available in the row directly in front of or behind the first six, choose those for the second group.

Even then, there is no guarantee that all ten people will sit next to each other. You can only choose from available seats. We would first arrange for each child to sit next to an adult in the same row, even if the whole group is not together. That is enough.

On busy dates, Nozomi has no non-reserved seats

During Golden Week, Obon, and the New Year holidays, among other busy periods, all seats on Nozomi trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are reserved. For fiscal 2026, the periods are:

• April 24–May 6, 2026 / August 7–16, 2026 / September 18–23, 2026 / October 10–12, 2026 / November 21–23, 2026
• December 25, 2026–January 5, 2027 / January 9–11, 2027 / March 20–22, 2027

Hikari and Kodama still have non-reserved seats during these periods, but JR Central says they can be crowded and you may not be able to sit down. Having ten people search separately for non-reserved seats is a poor fit for those dates.

If we were traveling during a busy period, we would first secure seats for everyone using reservations from one year ahead. We would select “Seat can be separated” and check the email sent from 8 a.m. one month before travel to see whether seats have been assigned. We would choose having all ten seated on the same train, even if their seats were apart.

If you are traveling with a JR Pass

A JAPAN RAIL PASS alone does not let you ride Nozomi or Mizuho, in either reserved or non-reserved seats. Before boarding, you must buy a separate special Nozomi/Mizuho ticket in addition to the pass. People who bought the pass on the official website can reserve seats on the dedicated website; others can reserve them at a station ticket counter or reserved-seat ticket machine. The official JR Pass website also says that during busy periods (May 1–6, August 7–16, September 18–23, and December 29–January 3), you may not be able to get a seat on a particular train.

Shinkansen luggage — The space behind the last row is shared by 5 seats

On the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen, luggage with a combined height, width, and depth over 160 cm (such as a large suitcase) requires a reservation for a “seat with oversized baggage area.”

• The seats in the last row of some cars have this space. You can put luggage behind the seats
• The fare is the same as for a regular reserved seat
• If you bring oversized luggage aboard without a reservation, the fee is ¥1,000 (including tax). Items over 250 cm cannot be brought aboard

For a family of ten, the point to remember is that the space behind the row is shared by the five people who booked those five seats. There is one space for five seats. JR Central does not say that five large suitcases will fit there. Each Nozomi train has 57 of these seats.

There are also general limits on the number and size of items. Each person may bring up to two items onto the Shinkansen (each no more than 30 kg, no more than 250 cm in combined height, width, and depth, and no longer than 200 cm).

So we would send big suitcases from one hotel to the next the day before taking the Shinkansen. We would take only day bags and a stroller aboard. If you must bring a large item, book a “seat with oversized baggage area” for the person carrying it.

On JR East Shinkansen lines such as the Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Joetsu, luggage storage does not require a reservation and is free. Space is limited, though. If you travel on to Nagano or Kanazawa, sending what you can ahead will make transfers easier.

Luggage forwarding — You pay per item, so send only the big ones

Sending luggage ahead is common in Japan. From one hotel to the next, it arrives the following day in many areas. We explain how to send it and what to say at your hotel in “Luggage Forwarding in Japan: Sending Your Luggage from Hotel to Hotel (Hands-Free Travel).”

What a family of ten should consider first is that shipping is charged per item. A difference that seems small for a family of four becomes a substantial sum when there are eight or ten bags. Instead of sending everything, send only the big suitcases and carry small bags about the size of cabin baggage. That reduces both shipping costs and worries about luggage on the Shinkansen.

Send luggage to your hotel on arrival day

Japan Airlines’ (JAL) same-day delivery service sends luggage dropped off at JAL ABC counters in the arrival lobbies of Haneda, Narita, and Kansai airports to hotels that same day. At Kansai Airport, you can use it even if you did not fly with JAL (according to Kyoto City’s hands-free travel guidance).

• The price is ¥4,500 per item. Eight items, for example, cost ¥36,000
• Delivery is to hotels only. Each item must have a combined height, width, and depth of no more than 180 cm and weigh no more than 30 kg
• The number of items accepted is limited, so the service may not be available depending on when you apply. Weather or road congestion can delay delivery, or mean it does not arrive that day

From Kansai Airport, the counter accepts luggage from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for delivery by 10 p.m. that day to hotels in Osaka City, around Sakai Station, and in Kyoto City (according to Kyoto City’s hands-free travel guidance. This notice dates from April 2025, so check the hours on JAL’s booking page before you arrive).

At Narita Airport, same-day delivery cutoff times and delivery areas differ by carrier (some counters accept luggage only in the morning, while others accept it into the early afternoon). Check the airport’s guidance to see whether the counter will still be open when you arrive.

If you send luggage from the airport to your hotel, even a group of ten can take the train there. With only small bags in hand, changing trains is less of a burden.

Airport to hotel — For 10 people, one large vehicle or two seven-passenger vehicles

If you arrive at night, are not sending your luggage ahead, or expect a young child to fall asleep, take a car from the airport to your hotel. Ten people will not fit in one ordinary taxi. Book a large vehicle in advance.

According to Kiwitaxi’s Japan listings, each vehicle type has a stated passenger and luggage capacity.

Vehicle type	Passengers	Luggage items
Minibus 7PAX	7	7
Minibus 10PAX	10	10
Minibus 13PAX	13	13

• Children count as passengers too. Choose the type of child seat and request it when booking (for an additional fee). Kiwitaxi says the driver may refuse the transfer if you have not requested one
• A standard luggage item usually measures up to 158 cm in combined height, width, and depth. Mention larger suitcases and strollers in the booking comments
• Prices are per vehicle. Two seven-passenger vehicles cost the price of two vehicles
• Enter the airport, destination, date, and passenger count to see the vehicles available then, with each vehicle’s passenger and luggage capacity

Book a vehicle for ten or more passengers at least 24 hours before the ride (for ordinary vehicles seating up to seven, at least 16 hours before). As a guide, the same 16-hour and 24-hour cutoffs apply to cancellations with a full refund for ordinary and large vehicles, respectively. Once your arrival date is set, book the vehicle along with your flight.

One vehicle for ten, or two for seven passengers each? In one, everyone can ride together after arrival. With two, you can split into a group with more luggage and a group with children. Check the available vehicles and luggage capacity on the booking screen for your date before deciding.

Child fares — Up to two young children per accompanying person ride free

According to JR Central:

• Elementary school children (ages 6 to under 12) pay child fares and charges (half the adult amount in ordinary cars)
• Children who have not started elementary school ride free. However, each accompanying adult or child can bring up to two young children free. The third and any additional young children pay child fares and charges
• A child who has not started elementary school but occupies a reserved seat alone must pay child fares and charges. A child sitting on someone’s lap rides free

For this family of ten, decide whether the five-year-old and three-year-old will sit on laps on the Shinkansen or have seats of their own. Tokyo to Kyoto is a long time on a lap, for the children and the adults. We would book seats for both children. That means ten seats in total, booked in two groups of six and four.

Group discounts — Available from 8 people, but not the main plan

JR Central offers a group discount when eight or more people travel together on the same itinerary (ordinary group).

• Fares are discounted by 10% or 15%, depending on the travel period (15% from January 11 to the end of February, in June, in September, and from November 1 to December 20; 10% at other times)
• Apply from nine months before departure up to 14 days before. Applications are accepted at JR stations and through travel agencies, among other places
• Your request to travel as a group may not be accommodated on some trains

If you wait until you reach Japan to apply at a station, you will be too late for a Shinkansen trip within the next two weeks. Applying ahead of time would mean going through a travel agency, but we have not checked whether an individual can apply from outside Japan. For a family planning a regular trip, it is enough to know that this is something you can ask a travel agency about.

Places to stay — You will need more than one room

Ten people will not fit in one ordinary hotel room. Other options include a ryokan where a large group sleeps on futons in a Japanese-style room, or renting a whole house. See “Places to Stay in Japan Come in 4 Types” for types of accommodation and “Vacation Rentals (Minpaku)” for renting a whole home.

Staying near a Shinkansen station will make it easier to get ten people moving in the morning.

For families of different sizes

• Up to 7 people → On the Tokaido Shinkansen, dividing the online booking into groups of four and three, for example, rather than six and one, makes it easier to include an adult in each group. For the airport ride, if you have no more than seven luggage items, one seven-passenger vehicle will be enough (check which vehicles are available on your date on the booking screen)
• 11 or 12 people → Book the Tokaido Shinkansen in two groups of six. For the airport ride, a ten-passenger vehicle is too small; choose a 13-passenger vehicle or two seven-passenger vehicles
• 13 or more people → Make three Tokaido Shinkansen bookings. For the airport ride, enter the number of people and luggage items on the booking screen to see how many vehicles you need

Before you go, just these things

• Decide on your groups of up to six for the Tokaido Shinkansen (with an adult in each group)
• If you want nearby seats, make two consecutive bookings on the seat map at 10 a.m. one month before travel (during busy periods, secure seats with reservations from one year ahead)
• Decide whether to book Shinkansen seats for young children (if you do, child fares and charges apply)
• Choose when to send big suitcases (the day before taking the Shinkansen / from the airport on arrival day)
• Book an airport vehicle for ten or more passengers at least 24 hours ahead

More details

• Sending suitcases from hotel to hotel or from airport to hotel → “Luggage Forwarding in Japan: Sending Your Luggage from Hotel to Hotel (Hands-Free Travel)”
• Choosing how to get from the airport to your hotel → “Airport to City by Train in Japan”

A trip with ten people can seem full of decisions, but there are really only three: book the Shinkansen in groups of up to six, send big luggage ahead, and book the airport vehicle in advance. Then the ten of you can look out the same window and talk about what to eat in the next town.

Official sources we checked (18)

Fares, conditions, and dates may change (information as of October 2026). We have not checked how many people can be included in one JR East Shinkansen online reservation (Eki-net), how many can be included in one reservation on the dedicated JR Pass website, JAL’s same-day delivery counter hours at Haneda, or the delivery areas for JAL’s same-day service at Haneda and Narita.

• JR東海「All seats on Nozomi trains … are reserved seats during the major peak periods」 (Railway company: online bookings for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen allow up to six people per booking; bookings from one year ahead; seat selection on the map; 10 a.m. one month ahead; seats for early bookings assigned from 8 a.m. one month ahead; non-reserved seats may be full during busy periods; English)
• JR東海・JR西日本「ピーク期間のぞみ全席指定席のご案内」 (Railway companies: fiscal 2026 periods when all Nozomi seats are reserved; Hikari and Kodama have non-reserved seats; Japanese)
• スマートEX「smartEX Service」 (Railway company’s online booking service: one to six people, or up to three from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.; seats for early bookings assigned from 8 a.m. one month ahead; English)
• スマートEX「Is it possible to specify a group of seats for two or more people?」 (Railway company’s online booking service: for three or more people, available seats may differ from those requested; English)
• JR西日本「JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION 利用規約」 (Railway company: more than six people cannot be included in one application; bookings open at 10 a.m. one month ahead; English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「How to book a reserved seat」 (JR Group: Nozomi and Mizuho cannot be used with the pass alone; dedicated website for those who bought the pass on the official site; seats may not be available during busy periods; English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「東海道・山陽・九州新幹線の「のぞみ」・「みずほ」に乗車する」 (JR Group: pass holders can ride Nozomi and Mizuho by buying a separate dedicated Nozomi/Mizuho ticket before boarding; Japanese)
• JR東海「Oversized baggage」 (Railway company: seats with oversized baggage areas for items over 160 cm; ¥1,000 fee; 250 cm limit; one space shared by five seats in the last row; 57 such seats per Nozomi train; two items per person; English)
• JR東日本「How to Handle Your Luggage on JR East Shinkansen」 (Railway company: luggage storage on the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Yamagata, and Akita Shinkansen requires no reservation and is free, with limited space; English)
• 日本航空「Same-day Luggage Delivery Service」 (Airline: same-day delivery from the arrival lobbies at Haneda, Narita, and Kansai to hotels; ¥4,500 per item; hotels only; 180 cm and 30 kg limits; limited availability; English)
• 京都市「HANDS FREE KYOTO」関西空港からの当日配送 (Kyoto City, April 2025: acceptance from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; delivery by 10 p.m. to hotels in Osaka City, around Sakai Station, and in Kyoto City; available even to passengers who did not fly JAL; English)
• 成田空港「Baggage Delivery」 (Airport: same-day delivery cutoff times and areas vary by counter; English)
• Kiwitaxi「Transfers from an Airport or City in Japan」 (Booking service: passenger and luggage capacities by vehicle type; book vehicles for ten or more passengers at least 24 hours ahead; English)
• Kiwitaxi「Is it necessary to book child seats?」 (Booking service: a driver may refuse a transfer if a child seat was not requested; English)
• Kiwitaxi「What if I am travelling with children?」 (Booking service: children count as passengers; choose child seats when booking, for an additional fee; English)
• Kiwitaxi 成田空港→東京 (Booking service: prices are per vehicle; passenger and luggage capacities appear on the booking screen; 158 cm luggage guide; cancellation timing guide; English)
• JR東海「きっぷのルール おとなとこども」 (Railway company: half fares for children; up to two young children free; fare applies when a child occupies a reserved seat alone; Japanese)
• JR東海「きっぷのルール 団体割引乗車券」 (Railway company: groups of eight or more; 10–15% discount; apply from nine months to 14 days ahead; stations and travel agencies; Japanese)

The prices and conditions here were checked against official information from the JR companies and JAPAN RAIL PASS on October 23, 2026. Prices may change. Check each official website before buying.

From Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. As soon as you start planning a trip by Shinkansen, one question always comes up: “Should I buy the JR Pass (JAPAN RAIL PASS)?” When you hear that it offers unlimited rides, it can feel as though you will lose money without one.

This article is for people who are unsure. Here is the answer first.

The answer first — this is our short answer

If you are only visiting Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, we would not buy the nationwide JR Pass in advance. We would buy Shinkansen tickets for each section we travel.

The nationwide JR Pass costs ¥50,000 for seven days when bought on the official JAPAN RAIL PASS website (adult, Ordinary Car). It costs ¥53,000 when bought through a designated overseas travel agency or similar seller, which is ¥3,000 more. Even a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka by Shinkansen costs ¥29,440. Add a round trip to Narita Airport, and buying tickets for each section is still about ¥14,000 cheaper than the official website price—or about ¥17,000 cheaper than the agency price.

Only when your trip extends farther should you start comparing passes.

• Going beyond Osaka to Hiroshima and Miyajima → Compare the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (¥17,000 for five days) with the nationwide pass
• Going from Tokyo to Nagano, Niigata or Tohoku → Compare the JR EAST PASS (¥35,000 for five days) with the prices of the sections you will travel

The deciding factor is how far you are going. Do not assume that unlimited rides automatically make a pass a good deal. Add up the prices of the sections you will travel and compare the total with the pass price.

Here Is the Reasoning

We compared the price for one adult during the regular season—not a peak or off-peak period—using an ordinary ticket (the basic fare ticket and limited express ticket) for a reserved seat in an Ordinary Car on the Nozomi. We used the “current” prices in material released by JR Central and JR West on October 16, 2026.

Shinkansen section (one way)	Ordinary ticket
Tokyo–Shin-Osaka	¥14,720
Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima	¥10,950

Kyoto is a station between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

Even a Round Trip between Tokyo and Osaka Costs Less Than the Nationwide Pass

Suppose you enter Japan through Narita, visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, then return home through Narita. Here is the total for this very common itinerary.

	Price
Tokyo–Shin-Osaka Shinkansen round trip	¥29,440
Narita Express Narita Airport–Tokyo round trip	¥6,280
Total	¥35,720
Nationwide JR Pass, seven days (bought on the official website)	¥50,000
Nationwide JR Pass, seven days (bought through a designated overseas travel agency or similar seller)	¥53,000

The nationwide pass costs ¥14,280 more even when bought on the official website (or ¥17,280 more through an agency). The Narita Express is a JR limited express, so it is covered as-is by the nationwide pass. That is why we have not added the Narita Express fare to the pass side.

What about travel within Kansai, such as Kyoto, Osaka and Nara? If you take eligible JR lines for three consecutive days on rapid trains (including Special Rapid services) and local trains around Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and nearby areas, the ¥3,000 Kansai Mini Pass provides unlimited rides (it cannot be used on the Shinkansen, and limited express trains such as the Haruka cost extra). If your travel within Kansai fits these conditions, the most you need to add is ¥3,000, which does not close the gap. Private railways, subways and trains outside the pass area cost extra beyond that ¥3,000.

The Narita Express also has a discounted round-trip ticket available to holders of foreign passports. Using it would lower the section-by-section total a little more. For details, see “Airport to City by Train in Japan.”

JR Central and JR West will raise the price of reserved seats in Ordinary Cars on the Nozomi for tickets purchased on or after July 1, 2027. The Tokyo–Shin-Osaka fare will become ¥15,420, or ¥30,840 round trip. If the nationwide pass remains at its current price, our answer will not change.

Add Hiroshima, and the Total Finally Reaches the Nationwide Pass

Now add a day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima to the same itinerary.

	Price
Tokyo–Shin-Osaka Shinkansen round trip	¥29,440
Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima Shinkansen round trip	¥21,900
Narita Express round trip	¥6,280
Total	¥57,620
Nationwide JR Pass, seven days (bought on the official website)	¥50,000
Nationwide JR Pass, seven days (bought through a designated overseas travel agency or similar seller)	¥53,000

Only here does the nationwide pass become cheaper. The difference is ¥7,620 if you buy from the official website, or ¥4,620 even if you buy through an agency. But this assumes that you make all these trips within seven days.

One Important Point When Taking the Nozomi with the Nationwide Pass

The nationwide JR Pass cannot be used as-is on the Nozomi or Mizuho on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Instead, take the Hikari, Kodama, Sakura or Tsubame.

If you want to take the Nozomi, you must buy a special Nozomi/Mizuho ticket in addition to the pass. It costs ¥4,960 between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. You buy one for each train, starting one month before the travel date. The number of seats is limited, so the ticket may be unavailable even when the train appears to have open seats.

For the Hiroshima itinerary above, taking the Nozomi for the Tokyo–Shin-Osaka round trip adds ¥4,960 × 2. The total becomes ¥59,920 with a pass bought on the official website, or ¥62,920 with a pass bought through an agency. Both are more than the ¥57,620 section-by-section total. It is enough to remember: if you want the nationwide pass to save money, take the Hikari on the Shinkansen.

If You Are Going Farther into One Region, Compare Regional Passes

The nationwide pass is expensive because it covers JR trains across Japan. If your destinations lie mainly in one direction, a regional pass may suit you better. Here we look at two directions that are common “next steps” on a trip beginning in Tokyo.

From Osaka to Hiroshima and Miyajima → Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

¥17,000 for five days (adult). It covers reserved seats on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima, reserved seats on the Haruka to Kansai Airport, JR conventional lines within the pass area (Special Rapid, Rapid and local trains), and the JR ferry to Miyajima. The ferry is covered on the day you visit Miyajima, but you pay the ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax separately when boarding.

It cannot be used on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. Buy that section separately.

Here is what the earlier “Hiroshima added” itinerary looks like with this pass.

Airport for your flight home	Combination	Total
Return from Narita	Tokyo–Shin-Osaka round trip ¥29,440 + Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass ¥17,000 + Narita Express round trip ¥6,280	¥52,720
Return from Kansai Airport	Tokyo–Shin-Osaka one way ¥14,720 + Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass ¥17,000 (including the Haruka) + Narita Express one way ¥3,140	¥34,860

If you return from Narita, the answer depends on where you buy the nationwide pass. A nationwide pass bought from the official website (¥50,000) is ¥2,720 cheaper than the ¥52,720 itinerary using the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass. A nationwide pass bought through a designated overseas travel agency or similar seller (¥53,000) differs by only ¥280, so the totals are almost the same. Another difference is that the nationwide pass covers the two Tokyo sections together, while the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass only needs to contain the rides you make during five days in Kansai.

If you return home from Kansai Airport, the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is clearly cheaper. You take the Shinkansen only one way from Tokyo to Osaka, then spend five days in Kansai. The pass also takes you to Kansai Airport on the Haruka for your return flight.

The pass is available to people who hold a foreign passport and entered Japan as a “Temporary Visitor.” The five days must be consecutive.

From Tokyo to Nagano, Niigata and Tohoku → JR EAST PASS

¥35,000 for five days, or ¥50,000 for 10 days (adult). It covers JR East Shinkansen and JR East trains toward Aomori, Sendai, Nagano and Niigata. It also covers the Tokyo Monorail.

In JR East’s example, travel from Narita Airport to Tokyo on the Narita Express, then take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai and onward to Shin-Aomori in reserved seats in an Ordinary Car. The regular-season total is ¥52,000. This pass costs ¥35,000 for five days.

It also covers the Shinkansen to Nagano. Here too, decide whether to use it by adding up the prices of the sections in your itinerary and comparing the total with the pass price. Plan to pay separately for buses from Nagano Station to ski resorts.

It cannot be used on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka. This pass does not suit a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka trip.

It is available to holders of foreign passports (JR East’s information does not list this pass under the “Temporary Visitor” requirement). The five- and 10-day periods must be consecutive.

There are also regional passes for trips limited to Kansai, Kyushu or Hokuriku. When we have articles about those regions, we will link to them here.

The Second-Best Option ― The Nationwide JR Pass Suits This Kind of Traveler

Someone who will make a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka and also travel by Shinkansen to Hiroshima or beyond, all within seven days. Take the Hikari, Kodama or Sakura on the Shinkansen.

The nationwide pass only became cheaper than the section-by-section total when Hiroshima was added. If you travel farther west to Hakata, the Shin-Osaka–Hakata fare alone is ¥16,020 (one way, reserved seat in an Ordinary Car on the Nozomi). The farther west your trip extends, the more value you get from the nationwide pass.

The pass is available to travelers from outside Japan who enter with “Temporary Visitor” status.

What to Know Before Buying

• If you buy the nationwide pass through an overseas travel agency, you cannot reserve seats in advance. JAPAN RAIL PASS states that advance seat reservations are only available when you buy through the official website. People who buy through an agency exchange their order for the pass after arriving in Japan, then reserve seats at a reserved-seat ticket machine or ticket counter at a station
• The Kansai Area Pass is no longer sold. Sales ended on September 30, 2026. Its name may still appear in old articles or lists of where to buy passes
• Children, Green Cars and peak periods require different calculations. This article compares one adult, an Ordinary Car and the regular season. Reserved-seat prices can move slightly up or down depending on the day you travel

Before you go, just these things

• Put your destinations on a map and check whether you are visiting only Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, or going beyond them
• If you are going farther, add up the prices of the Shinkansen sections you will travel and compare the total with the pass price
• If you choose the nationwide pass, plan your Shinkansen trips around the Hikari and Sakura
• If you choose the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, check whether your travel fits within five days in Kansai
• Decide on your airport for the flight home—Narita or Kansai Airport

More details

• Which train to take from the airport to Tokyo or Osaka → “Airport to City by Train in Japan”
• Whether to build your trip around trains or rent a car → “Train or Rental Car in Japan?”

If you are unsure, look at your destinations. For only Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, buy Shinkansen tickets section by section. If your trip extends beyond them, that is when to compare the pass price with your total.

Official sources we checked (14)

Prices may change. Check each official source before buying (all checked on October 23, 2026).

• JR東海・JR西日本「東海道・山陽新幹線における『のぞみ』・『みずほ』号の指定席特急料金及びグリーン料金の見直し等について」2026年10月16日 (railway companies: current sale prices for major sections (regular season・adult one-way reserved seat in an Ordinary Car on the Nozomi) and revised prices for purchases made from July 1, 2027; in Japanese)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「Types and prices」 (official: prices when buying on the official website and through a designated overseas travel agency or similar seller; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「Special ticket」 (official: prices and conditions of special Nozomi/Mizuho tickets; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「Trains you can use」 (official: Nozomi and Mizuho excluded・Hikari, Kodama, Sakura and Tsubame included; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「Eligibility」 (official: travelers from outside Japan who enter with Temporary Visitor status; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS トップ (official: advance seat reservations are only available when buying through the official website; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「Purchase at a travel agency overseas」 (official: people who buy through an agency exchange their order in Japan and then reserve seats at a reserved-seat ticket machine or elsewhere; in English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS「How to book a reserved seat」 (official: seats can be reserved at reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-madoguchi ticket offices at stations; in English)
• JR西日本「Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass」 (railway company: price・included and excluded trains・Miyajima ferry and visitor tax・eligibility; in English)
• JR西日本「Kansai Mini Pass」 (railway company: eligible JR lines around Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and nearby areas・rapid and local trains・three consecutive days for ¥3,000・Shinkansen excluded・limited express trains such as the Haruka cost extra; in English)
• JR西日本「Kansai Area Pass」 (railway company: sales ended on September 30, 2026; in English)
• JR東日本「JR EAST PASS」 (railway company: prices・destinations・participating companies・Tokaido Shinkansen excluded・¥52,000 example from Narita to Shin-Aomori・consecutive-day periods; in English)
• JR東日本「How to Buy a Pass」 (railway company: eligibility・passes outside the Temporary Visitor requirement (JR EAST PASS and N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket); in English)
• JR東日本「N’EX のきっぷ」 (railway company: ¥3,140 between Narita Airport and Tokyo・¥5,200 N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket; in English)

The Relief of Seeing Your Name at the Airport

After a long flight, you come out into the arrivals lobby and find someone waiting with your name on a sign. They take you straight to the place you booked, without you having to search for the taxi stand with your luggage or explain your destination on the spot.

If you are traveling with children, carrying a lot of luggage, visiting Japan for the first time, or arriving at night, that convenience can make a big difference.

Our short answer: book your airport pickup with Kiwitaxi in advance.

When Booking a Pickup Ahead Is Worthwhile

Traveling with children. Count each child as a passenger when you book. Choose the type of child seat you need during booking (for an extra charge). Kiwitaxi says the driver may refuse the transfer if you have not requested one. You can avoid searching for the taxi stand while holding your child’s hand.

Carrying a lot of luggage. When you book, each vehicle type shows how many passengers and pieces of luggage it can take. As a guide, ordinary luggage is usually up to 158 cm when you add its length, width and height.If you have a larger suitcase, skis, a stroller, a wheelchair or something similar, you can ask Kiwitaxi which vehicle to choose.

First time in Japan. Enter your accommodation’s name or address as the destination when you book. The driver receives your destination in advance, so you have less to explain after you arrive. Kiwitaxi says it tries to match the driver’s language to the passenger’s language or English, though this is not guaranteed.

Arriving at night. Book the pickup for your flight’s scheduled arrival time. Even if immigration and baggage claim take time, waiting for up to 1 hour and 30 minutes from the scheduled arrival time is included in the price (you may be asked to pay an extra charge for waiting beyond that).

If you are traveling with few people and little luggage, and have plenty of time to catch the last train, taking the train can work fine.

What to Enter When Booking With Kiwitaxi

The booking screen asks for details such as these:

• Pickup and destination … Enter the airport in the pickup field and your accommodation’s name or address in the destination field
• Date and pickup time … Set the pickup time to your flight’s scheduled arrival time
• Flight number … Entering it makes it easier to meet your driver. If it changes later, tell Kiwitaxi. Once the transport company has been consulted, you will receive a new voucher
• Passengers and vehicle type … Include children in the passenger count. Choose a vehicle with your luggage count in mind
• Passenger’s name and contact details … The first and last name entered here will appear on the sign at the arrivals exit
• Special requests … Request child seats, space for large luggage and the like when booking

The price appears when you enter the airport and destination. It varies with the airport, destination and vehicle type, so we do not list prices here.

This pickup needs to be booked ahead. Book an ordinary vehicle at least 16 hours before the ride, or a premium vehicle or minibus seating 10 or more at least 24 hours before. For a later booking, you can submit an urgent request and receive a reply telling you whether it can be accepted. Kiwitaxi’s official guidance says you receive a full refund if you cancel an ordinary vehicle at least 16 hours before the ride or a premium vehicle at least 24 hours before (check your booking confirmation email for the exact terms of your reservation).

On Arrival, Look for the Sign With Your Name

Once you book, you receive a voucher showing where to meet your driver. The driver’s contact details are usually emailed 24 hours before departure and also appear on the voucher. If you booked at short notice, check your confirmation email and the latest voucher regularly.

On the day, clear immigration and collect your luggage, then look for the sign with your name around the exit into the arrivals lobby. If the airport has a designated meeting place, it will be shown on your voucher. Keep your mobile phone switched on.

• If you learn that your flight is delayed … Tell the driver or Kiwitaxi your booking number and new arrival time
• If you arrive early … Wait at the meeting place shown on your voucher. You can contact the driver by phone or SMS. If you leave in an airport taxi first, you will not receive a refund
• If you cannot find the driver … Check the name on the signs again. If you still cannot meet the driver, contact Kiwitaxi support by email, chat or phone

If a Different Vehicle Arrives

Check that the vehicle and driver match your voucher or the details the driver sent you. If they do not match, especially if a white-license-plate vehicle arrives for a paid transfer without an explanation of the legal basis, do not board; contact Kiwitaxi there and then. Do not get into a vehicle whose driver approaches you at the airport, either.

Book Your Pickup

Leave the last stretch of a long journey to someone else. Once you see your name at the arrivals exit, you can sit back until you reach your accommodation.

Official sources we checked (15)

Terms may change. Before booking, check Kiwitaxi’s official information and the booking screen (as of October 2026).

• Kiwitaxi「Transfers from an Airport or City in Japan」 (booking service: pickup with a name sign; arrivals exit; 90-minute waiting time; booking deadline; what to do if the flight is delayed or arrives early, English)
• Kiwitaxi 成田空港→千代田区の送迎 (booking service: name sign; 1 hour and 30 minutes of airport waiting time; cancellation terms; luggage up to 158 cm as a guide; booking details, English)
• Kiwitaxi「How can I find my driver?」 (booking service: sign with the booked first and last name; arrivals exit; meeting place shown on the voucher, English)
• Kiwitaxi「How are vouchers delivered…」 (booking service: voucher; changes to flight number; driver contact details by email and on the voucher 24 hours before departure; checking email and the latest voucher, English)
• Kiwitaxi「How can I contact my driver?」 (booking service: driver’s phone number emailed the day before the ride, English)
• Kiwitaxi「What should I do if my flight is delayed?」 (booking service: notify the driver or Kiwitaxi of the booking number and new arrival time if delayed, English)
• Kiwitaxi「I cannot find my driver. What should I do?」 (booking service: check the name on the sign again and contact support if needed, English)
• Kiwitaxi「What if I am travelling with children?」 (booking service: children count as passengers; choose child seats when booking; extra charge, English)
• Kiwitaxi「Is it necessary to book child seats?」 (booking service: driver may refuse the transfer if a child seat was not requested, English)
• Kiwitaxi「What if I have non-standard luggage?」 (booking service: ordinary luggage usually up to 158 cm for the sum of three dimensions; ask about larger luggage, English)
• Kiwitaxi「What languages does the driver speak?」 (booking service: tries to match the passenger’s language or English without a guarantee; driver receives the destination in advance, English)
• Kiwitaxi「Transfer Search and Booking Services Offer」 (booking service: Kiwitaxi does not provide transportation itself and accepts bookings as the transport company’s agent, English)
• 国土交通省「白タク・違法ハイヤーの撲滅に向けた啓発動画等」 (government: unlicensed taxis are illegal; green license plates; beware of solicitation at airports; hire cars require advance booking, Japanese)
• 関東運輸局「白タク・ハイヤーの客引き行為の撲滅に向けた取り組み」 (government: unlicensed taxis at airports and tourist sites; hire cars carry only booked passengers; official taxi stands, Japanese and English)
• 国土交通省「道路運送法の許可又は登録を要しない運送に関するガイドライン」について (government: accommodation facilities need no transport permission or registration when they do not charge guests for the transport, Japanese)

You get off the plane, clear immigration and wheel your suitcase out into the arrivals lobby. Head toward the station, and the signs list 3 or even 4 train names. Narita Express, Skyliner, Access Express… Which one should you take? This is where you stop in your tracks.

The answer is simpler than you think. Pick the one train that goes all the way to the area where you’re staying, with no transfers. If there’s no direct train, keep transfers to as few as possible.

Airport trains are clearly split by where they go. Some go to Tokyo Station, some to Ueno, some to Asakusa. Once you know where you’re staying, your train is all but decided.

Just 3 things to check

1. Where you’re staying (by station name)
2. Which train gets you there in 1 ride (see the table below)
3. If you have a JR Pass, whether that train is covered by the pass

Number 3 only matters if you have the nationwide JR Pass (JAPAN RAIL PASS). The trains you can take from the airport are either JR trains or non-JR trains (private railways and subways). The pass covers the JR ones, plus the Tokyo Monorail at Haneda. For trains the pass doesn’t cover, you simply pay the fare as usual.

The 5 airports at a glance

Airport	Destinations	Direct train	Time (fastest, approx.)	Fare (adult, one way)	Nationwide JR Pass
Narita	Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Yokohama	Narita Express (N’EX)	53 min to Tokyo Station	Tokyo ¥3,140 / Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku ¥3,330	Covered
Narita	Nippori, Ueno	Keisei Skyliner	36 min to Nippori	¥2,580	Not covered
Narita	Oshiage, Asakusa	Keisei Access Express	About 45 min to 1 hour to Oshiage	Oshiage about ¥1,200	Not covered
Haneda	Hamamatsucho (change to the JR Yamanote Line here)	Tokyo Monorail	13 min to Hamamatsucho	¥520 (¥720 on a through ticket to Tokyo Station)	Covered
Haneda	Shinagawa, Yokohama, Asakusa	Keikyu	11 min to Shinagawa	Shinagawa ¥330	Not covered
Kansai	Tennoji, Osaka, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto	Limited Express Haruka	About 80 min to Kyoto	Kyoto ¥3,590 reserved seat / ¥3,060 non-reserved seat	Covered
Kansai	Tennoji, Osaka	JR Kansai Airport Rapid	About 1 hour 10 min to Osaka	Osaka ¥1,180	Covered
Kansai	Namba	Nankai Rapi:t	34 min to Namba	About ¥1,670	Not covered
Chubu	Kanayama, Meitetsu Nagoya	Meitetsu μSKY	About 30 min to Nagoya	¥1,430 (¥980 fare + ¥450 μticket)	Not covered
Fukuoka	Hakata, Tenjin	Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line	5 min to Hakata, 11 min to Tenjin	¥260	Not covered

(As of October 2026. Times vary by train.)

For trains the pass doesn’t cover, buy a ticket before you board, or go through the ticket gate with a transit IC card (Suica, ICOCA, etc.).

Limited express trains need a “limited express ticket” on top of the fare

Narita Express, Skyliner, Haruka, Rapi:t, μSKY. Named limited express trains need a limited express ticket (seat ticket) in addition to the fare. A transit IC card only covers the fare part.

You can also ride the Narita Express with a Suica plus a limited express ticket. Buy the limited express ticket before you board, from a ticket machine or a ticket office at the station.

Narita Airport

For Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Yokohama: the Narita Express

The Narita Express (N’EX) is a JR limited express. It takes you from the airport to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama with no transfers. The fastest trains reach Tokyo Station in 53 minutes. The fare is the same all year round: ¥3,140 to Tokyo Station.

N’EX trains run from the 7 a.m. hour to the 9 p.m. hour. During the day, there are 2 an hour.

All seats are reserved, but even when it’s full, you can buy a “Limited Express Unreserved Seat Ticket.” You choose only the train and the date, then sit in any empty seat, and it costs the same as a reserved seat. If there’s no seat free, you stand in the deck area by the doors.

Put your suitcase in the large luggage area on board. No booking is needed; it’s first come, first served.

There are 2 JR stations at the airport. In English, they’re signed Narita Airport Terminal 1 and Narita Airport Terminal 2・3. Look for the one with the number of the terminal you arrived at.

Notice (November 6–8, 2026) From the night of Friday, November 6 to the morning of Sunday, November 8, construction work near Tokyo Station means the Narita Express will run only as far as Tokyo Station. For Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama, change trains at Tokyo Station. On Saturday, November 7, this applies all day.

For Ueno or Nippori: the Skyliner

The Keisei Skyliner is a limited express run by a non-JR company (Keisei). From Keisei’s Terminal 2 station (空港第2ビル), the fastest trains reach Nippori in 36 minutes and Ueno in 41 minutes. The fare and the Liner ticket together come to ¥2,580. All seats are reserved, and every car has a large luggage area.

If you’re staying near Ueno or Nippori, this is the fastest single train. If you’re heading toward Tokyo Station, change at Nippori or Ueno to the JR Yamanote Line or another line.

For Asakusa or Oshiage: the Keisei Access Express

This train needs no limited express charge. There are no reserved seats, either. It goes to Oshiage and Asakusa with no transfers. To Oshiage, it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the train, and the fare is about ¥1,200.

To save money: JR rapid trains

If you don’t have the nationwide JR Pass, JR Narita Line / Sobu Line rapid trains take you to Tokyo Station for about ¥1,400. That’s about half the Narita Express fare, but it takes a little over 1 hour, and some routes involve a transfer along the way. With the nationwide JR Pass, you can ride these too.

Haneda Airport

For Tokyo Station and Yamanote Line stations: start with the Tokyo Monorail

To get from Haneda to central Tokyo, take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, 13 minutes away. At Hamamatsucho, change to the JR Yamanote Line. Both the monorail and the Yamanote Line come every 5 minutes on average.

If you buy a single through ticket for the monorail and JR, it’s ¥720 to Tokyo Station, Kanda, Akihabara, Shinagawa and Ochanomizu, and ¥780 to Shinjuku and Shibuya (paper tickets).

If you have the nationwide JR Pass, you can ride the Tokyo Monorail too. From the airport to any Yamanote Line station, the pass is all you need.

For Shinagawa, Yokohama or Asakusa: Keikyu

Keikyu is a non-JR railway. From Terminal 3, it’s 11 minutes to Shinagawa, and the fare is ¥330. It also goes to Yokohama, and to Asakusa (running through onto the subway), with no transfers. You can also ride by tapping your credit card.

If you’re staying in Shinagawa, a single Keikyu train is the quickest way there.

Kansai Airport

For Kyoto, Shin-Osaka or Osaka: the Limited Express Haruka

The Haruka is a JR limited express. From Kansai Airport, it goes to Tennoji, Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto (the stops differ by train). It takes about 80 minutes to Kyoto, with 2 trains an hour during the day.

To Kyoto, it’s ¥3,590 for a reserved seat and ¥3,060 for a non-reserved seat.

Changing to the shinkansen at Shin-Osaka on the way to Kyoto hardly saves any time (on JR West’s route search, the Haruka alone takes 80 minutes, and changing to the shinkansen takes 77 minutes. The fare is about ¥2,300 higher). For Kyoto, the Haruka on its own is all you need.

For Osaka Station: the JR Kansai Airport Rapid

This is a JR rapid train with no limited express charge. To Osaka Station, it’s ¥1,180 and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. You can ride it with the nationwide JR Pass, too.

For Namba: Nankai

If you’re staying near Namba, a Nankai train takes you there in one ride. The all-reserved limited express Rapi:t takes as little as 34 minutes, for about ¥1,670 in total. The Airport Express, which needs no limited express charge, takes about 45 minutes and costs about ¥970. On the Rapi:t, there’s a large luggage area near each door.

Chubu Centrair International Airport (Centrair)

To get to Nagoya, you take a Meitetsu train. JR doesn’t come to this airport. You’ll use the nationwide JR Pass from Nagoya onward.

The fastest option is the μSKY. It takes about 30 minutes to Meitetsu Nagoya. Every car on the μSKY is a first class car, so on top of the ¥980 fare, you need a ¥450 μticket. It leaves from Platform 1.

If you’d rather ride without a μticket, take a Limited Express from Platforms 2 and 3. On these, only cars 1 and 2 are first class cars, and you can ride the other cars with just the fare.

Fukuoka Airport

Hakata and Tenjin are both 1 ride away on the subway. It’s 5 minutes to Hakata and 11 minutes to Tenjin, ¥260 to either. The subway station is connected to the Domestic Terminal.

If you arrive on an international flight, first take the free shuttle bus to the Domestic Terminal. Buses run every 5–6 minutes during the day, and every 15 minutes after 10 p.m.

From Hakata Station, JR Kyushu trains go all over Kyushu. The nationwide JR Pass can’t be used on the subway. You’ll use it from Hakata onward.

Discount tickets for airport trains

Airport trains have discount tickets. The 2 for the Narita Express and the Haruka are for travelers with a foreign passport. The Haneda monorail discount can be bought by anyone, no passport needed, on weekends and certain other days.

Ticket	Price (adult)	Main conditions
N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Ticket (Narita)	¥5,200 round trip (a regular round trip to Tokyo Station costs ¥6,280)	Foreign passport. One trip each way within 14 days. Pick-up only at Narita Airport Terminal 1 and Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 stations
HARUKA One-way Ticket (Kansai)	Tennoji ¥1,300 / Osaka, Shin-Osaka ¥1,800 / Nara ¥1,800 / Kobe ¥2,000 / Kyoto ¥2,200	For people who entered Japan with “Temporary Visitor” status on a passport issued by a foreign government. Can’t be bought within Japan (buy it online before you leave and pick it up after you arrive). Invalid if you get off partway
Monorail & Yamanote Line Discount Ticket (Haneda)	¥590 (to any station on the Yamanote Line)	No passport needed. Weekends, public holidays and certain set days only. Valid only on the day of purchase. From the ticket machines at the 3 Haneda stations

(As of October 2026)

Even with the HARUKA One-way Ticket, you can get a reserved seat on the Haruka. To Kyoto, a reserved seat that normally costs ¥3,590 comes to ¥2,200. You can’t buy it once you’ve arrived in Japan, so if you’re flying into Kansai Airport, buy it before you leave on JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION (sales open at 10 a.m., 1 month ahead). If your passport has an IC chip, you can pick it up from a ticket machine at the station after you arrive.

If you arrive late at night

Airport trains stop running earlier than you might think.

Airport	Approximate last trains
Narita	Narita Express: the 9 p.m. hour. JR rapid trains and Keisei: until the 10 p.m. hour
Haneda	The hour after midnight (Keikyu, monorail)
Kansai	Haruka to Kyoto: the 10 p.m. hour. Kansai Airport Rapid to Osaka and Nankai to Namba: the 11 p.m. hour
Chubu	The 11 p.m. hour (to Meitetsu Nagoya)
Fukuoka	The hour after midnight (subway)

(As of October 2026. Varies by day of the week and with timetable revisions.)

If you miss the last train, it’s a bus or a taxi.

Narita The last bus to Tokyo Station leaves Terminal 1 in the 11 p.m. hour. On the last bus from Narita Airport, you pay on board in cash or with a transit IC card (credit cards aren’t accepted; as of October 22, 2026). A taxi to central Tokyo costs around ¥30,000.

Haneda Even after the trains stop, buses to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Yokohama Station still leave late at night. Taxis have fixed fares set for each ward.

Kansai A bus to Osaka Station (Umeda) leaves in the hour after midnight. A taxi to central Osaka costs somewhere in the mid-¥20,000s.

If you know you’ll be arriving late, another option is to book a car in advance to take you from the airport to where you’re staying.

For now, just this

• Pick the one train with no transfers, by the name of the station where you’re staying
• Named limited express trains need a limited express ticket on top of the fare
• The nationwide JR Pass covers the Narita Express, JR rapid trains, the Tokyo Monorail, the Haruka and the Kansai Airport Rapid. At Chubu and Fukuoka airports, no train is covered by the pass
• From Kansai Airport to Kyoto, the HARUKA One-way Ticket can’t be bought in Japan. Get it before you leave
• If you’re arriving late at night, check the last trains ahead of time

If you find yourself stuck in front of the signs, look for the name of the train you picked in this article. Narita Express, Skyliner, Haruka, μSKY. That name is your one train.

Official sources we checked (31)

• JR東日本 N’EX (railway company: stations served, 53 min to Tokyo Station at the fastest, Limited Express Unreserved Seat Ticket, luggage areas; English)
• JR東日本 N’EX のきっぷ (railway company: fares by destination, Suica plus a limited express ticket; English)
• JR東日本 N’EX東京往復きっぷ (railway company: ¥5,200, conditions, pick-up; English)
• JR東日本 横須賀線のトンネル工事による運休 (railway company: N’EX suspensions and route changes on November 6–8, 2026; English)
• JR東日本 時刻表 成田空港駅 (railway company: first and last trains and frequency for the N’EX and the Narita Line; English)
• 京成電鉄 スカイライナー (railway company: travel times, luggage areas, Access Express; English)
• 京成電鉄 スカイライナーの買い方 (railway company: fare and Liner ticket; English)
• 東京モノレール (railway company: 13 min to Hamamatsucho, every 5 min on average; English)
• 東京モノレール 割引きっぷ (railway company: Monorail & Yamanote Line Discount Ticket, through fares with JR; English)
• 東京モノレール 運賃表 (railway company: ¥520 to Hamamatsucho, in Japanese)
• 京急 羽田空港アクセスガイド (railway company: travel times by destination, last trains, tapping a credit card to ride; English)
• JAPAN RAIL PASS 使える路線 (JR Group: covers JR limited express and rapid trains and the Tokyo Monorail; English)
• JR西日本 はるかの割引片道 (railway company: prices by destination, conditions, how to buy; English)
• JR西日本 特急はるか (railway company: stations served, in Japanese)
• JR西日本 関西空港駅の時刻表 (railway company: first and last Haruka and Kansai Airport Rapid trains, in Japanese)
• JR西日本 マイ・ダイヤ (railway company: fares and travel times for the Haruka and the Kansai Airport Rapid, in Japanese)
• 南海電鉄 ラピート (railway company: 34 min at the fastest, limited express charge, luggage areas; English)
• 南海電鉄 関西空港から (railway company: Airport Express, ticket machines; English)
• 名鉄 空港アクセス (railway company: fares, μticket, platforms, first class cars; English)
• 中部国際空港 電車 (airport: 28 min to Nagoya at the fastest, station and terminal; English)
• 福岡空港 地下鉄 (airport: the station at the Domestic Terminal; English)
• 福岡空港 連絡バス (airport: free bus from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal; English)
• 福岡市地下鉄 料金表 (city transportation bureau: ¥260 from Fukuoka Airport to Hakata and Tenjin, in Japanese)
• 福岡市地下鉄 路線図 (city transportation bureau: 5 min to Hakata, 11 min to Tenjin; English)
• エアポートバス東京・成田 時刻表 (bus company: timetables, and fares for late-night and early-morning buses; English)
• エアポートバス東京・成田 Riding the Bus (bus company: on the last bus from Narita Airport, pay on board in cash or with a transit IC card; credit cards aren’t accepted; English)
• 成田空港 タクシー (airport: fixed fares, surcharges, taxi stands; English)
• 羽田空港 バス (airport: late-night and early-morning buses; English)
• 東京ハイヤー・タクシー協会 羽田空港からの定額運賃 (industry association: fixed fares by ward, late night and early morning, in Japanese)
• 関西空港 深夜早朝のアクセス (airport: late-night buses to Osaka (Umeda); English)
• 関西空港 タクシー (airport: approximate fares by destination, 20% surcharge; English)