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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From NRT
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION40m
TRANSIT70m
EXPLORE1h
RETURN70m
BUFFER30m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~40 min · NRT
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Queues vary; allow buffer.
Transit into the city
70 min
Narita Express/Skyliner are best; distance makes short layovers risky.
Explore Tokyo
~1h of free time
Both HND and NRT are large airports — stay airside and pick one good meal rather than trying to exit.
HND Terminal 3 (international): Tsuru Tontan udon and Ippudo ramen are past security on the departure floor
NRT Terminal 1 Narita Omotesando food court has sushi and tempura sets from ¥1,500 post-security
Get a Suica card from any airport machine if you plan to transit on a longer layover — no need to queue at ticket windows
Flying into HND (Haneda): 3-6 hours works if immigration is fast. Keikyu Line reaches Shibuya in 30 min (¥300) and Shinjuku in 35 min. Leave the city no later than 90 min before your departure. Stay near Shibuya or Daikanyama — they are closest and easiest to exit from.
Keikyu Line from HND to Shibuya: 30 min, ¥300, runs every 10-12 min
IC card (Suica/Pasmo) makes boarding faster — get one from machines in arrivals
Set a hard return alarm: HND security can back up during peak hours
Flying into NRT (Narita): This bracket is very tight from Narita. The airport is 60-70 min from central Tokyo by express train. Staying airside is the lower-risk choice — Narita Omotesando food court (T1) and the Narita town shuttle are your best options.
A genuine Tokyo city visit is possible, but plan airport-by-airport — HND and NRT have very different travel times.
From HND: Keikyu Line to Shibuya in 30 min (¥300) or Tokyo Station in 35 min. Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Asakusa are all realistic
From NRT: Narita Express to Shinjuku in 80 min (¥3,070) or Skyliner to Ueno in 41 min (¥2,570). Stick to Ueno, Asakusa, or Akihabara — all near the Skyliner terminus
Buy a Suica IC card at the airport — works on all trains and many convenience stores
Leave city 90 min before departure from HND, 2 hours before from NRT
10+ hours is proper Tokyo territory. Even from NRT you have enough time for a full neighbourhood visit.
From HND: 30 min to Shibuya gives you the whole city — Harajuku, Shinjuku, Asakusa, or Tokyo Station area are all doable
From NRT: Skyliner to Ueno (41 min, ¥2,570) then subway everywhere — Asakusa is 10 min from Ueno, Akihabara 5 min
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) have excellent, cheap food — no need to plan every meal
Suica card covers all JR trains, Tokyo Metro, and buses — buy at any airport machine for ¥500 deposit
Return to NRT
70 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 100 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~30 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at NRT typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
🍴
Tokyo Food Walking Tour
Taste the best of the city with a local guide. Perfect for a layover.
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Japanese yen (¥). Cards accepted at chains and hotels, but cash is still essential at small shops and ramen counters. 7-Eleven and Japan Post ATMs reliably accept foreign cards.
Language
Japanese. English signage is strong at airports and major stations, limited in restaurants and small shops. Google Translate camera mode is genuinely useful here.
Visa
Most Western passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) get 90 days visa-free on arrival. Landing card is now digital via the Visit Japan Web portal, fill it before you fly. Verify before travel — visa rules change.
Transit
Narita Express (N EX) runs NRT to Tokyo Station in 60 min, every 30 min, ¥3,070. Haneda is closer: the Tokyo Monorail reaches Hamamatsucho in 13 min, ¥500, connecting to the Yamanote Line for the rest of central Tokyo.
Weather
Humid subtropical. Hot sticky summers (30°C+), cold dry winters (2–10°C). April for cherry blossoms, October and November for clear skies are the best layover months.
Tipping
Not expected and can cause confusion. Prices are final, service is already included. Do not leave money on the table.
Emergency
110 for police. 119 for fire and ambulance. English-speaking operators not guaranteed.
Time Zone
JST (UTC+9). No daylight saving time.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
