Narita or Haneda: which airport suits you
Your flight options show two Tokyo airports, and you want the one that makes the first night easy.
Preparing from Malaysia
Haneda or Narita for a Malaysian arrival
You have seen both airports on your flight options and want the one that makes day one easiest.
Choose Haneda if you want the shortest ride into central Tokyo, especially for a late landing. Choose Narita if the flight is better or the hotel is on the east side, and plan the ride knowing it is longer.
How far is each airport from the city?
Tokyo is served by two international airports, Haneda and Narita. The Narita Express and Keisei Skyliner link Narita with the city, and a monorail runs from Haneda 1.
Haneda is closer. Shinagawa Station is about 15 minutes from Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho about 20 minutes 2. The Skyliner reaches Keisei Ueno from Narita in as little as 41 minutes 3.
Which airport matches your hotel area?
The shorter ride depends on your hotel district. Oshiage (Skytree-mae) Station is about 39 minutes from Haneda and about 49 minutes from Narita 4.
For the south and Shinagawa, Haneda wins. For the east near Ueno, Narita’s Skyliner is competitive. See Haneda airport to Shinjuku, Asakusa and Shinagawa and Narita to Tokyo by Skyliner, NEX or bus.
What about luggage and tired travellers?
Both airports let you send bags ahead to your hotel by courier. That helps with children and elders. Read airport luggage forwarding to your hotel.
A shorter ride is kinder after a long flight. Choose the airport that gives a simple, step-free route to your hotel.
Which airport is better for a late landing?
Haneda is easier because the city is close. Narita is farther, so the last train and bus matter more, though its international arrival area is open 24 hours and has 24-hour convenience stores 5.
Check last trains for your date, and read landing late in Tokyo.
Can you choose the airport from Malaysia?
Sometimes. It depends on the airline and the date. Look at both airports on the ticket before you book, and see which Japan airport from Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Kota Kinabalu and Narita or Haneda for Malaysian flights.
How do you decide?
Answer three questions.
- Which district is your hotel in?
- What time do you land, and how tired will the group be?
- Is the flight price difference larger than the cost of a longer ride?
Send us your hotel area and flight options, and we pick the airport for Tokyo.
Tell us your hotel area and the flight options you have, and we will tell you which airport gives the shorter, easier first ride.
Keep planning
Tokyo, planned around your family
Tokyo is big, fast and a little overwhelming, and you want it to feel easy.
Landing late in Tokyo: first-night hotel
Your flight from Malaysia lands in the evening, and you want a nearby bed and calm morning.
Haneda to Shinjuku, Asakusa and Shinagawa
You land tired with bags, and you want the easiest way to your hotel.
Narita to Tokyo: Skyliner, N'EX or bus
You land at Narita after a long flight and want the simplest ride to your hotel.
Which Japan airport from KUL, PEN or BKI
You are leaving from Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Kota Kinabalu and the choice of airport feels huge.
Questions travellers ask
Which airport is closer to central Tokyo?
Haneda. Shinagawa is about 15 minutes away and Hamamatsucho about 20 minutes. Narita is farther, though the Skyliner reaches Keisei Ueno in as little as 41 minutes. Your hotel district decides which ride is shorter.
Can we choose the airport when flying from Malaysia?
Sometimes. It depends on the airline and the date, and flights from Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Kota Kinabalu may use either airport. Check both on the ticket before you book, and tell us your hotel area, so we can tell you which airport suits.
Which airport is better for a late landing?
Haneda is easier because the city is close, so a taxi or train ride is short. Narita is farther, so the last train and bus matter more, though its international arrival area is open 24 hours. Check last trains for your date either way.
Is luggage easier at one airport?
Both let you send bags ahead to a hotel by courier. That is useful with children and elders. Pick the airport that gives a short, step-free ride to your hotel, and ask us about luggage forwarding.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Tokyoaccessed 2026-10-20
- Tokyo International Air Terminal (Haneda Airport), Train accessaccessed 2026-10-20
- Keisei Electric Railway, Skylineraccessed 2026-10-20
- Tokyo Skytree official site, Getting hereaccessed 2026-10-20
- Narita International Airport, Terminal Use at Night and Early Morningsaccessed 2026-10-20
Ready to shape your Japan trip?
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what you hope to see. We will reply with ideas and a tailored quote.