Narita Airport and Haneda Airport are both major airports in Japan, and since they are located close to each other, many people may wonder what the difference is and which one they should use.
In this issue, we will compare the differences between Narita Airport and Haneda Airport from various perspectives.
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (1): Ratio of International and Domestic Flights
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (2): Types of Airlines
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (3) Facility Charges
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (4): Location and Access to Central Tokyo
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (5): Transportation Within the Airport
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (6): Operating Hours
- Difference Between Narita and Haneda (7): Stores in the Airport
- In Conclusion
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (1): Ratio of International and Domestic Flights
Originally, Narita Airport was positioned as an airport for international flights and Haneda Airport as an airport for domestic flights, with Narita Airport serving mainly international flights and Haneda Airport serving mainly domestic flights.
Haneda Airport has a longer history, and as Japan's representative international airport, it served a large number of domestic and international flights.
However, as the number of arrivals and departures increased to the limit of its capacity, Narita Airport was established as a new international airport, and most international flights to and from Haneda were transferred to Narita Airport, thus creating the segregation of “Narita = international flights” and “Haneda = domestic flights”.
Later, in 2010, Haneda Airport was expanded and a fourth runway was built to accommodate more international flights, and a terminal for international flights was constructed to provide 24-hour service.
Due to the increase in runways, the 24-hour availability of flights, and Haneda Airport's closer proximity to central Tokyo, international flights to and from Haneda have grown significantly, and the former segregation has disappeared.
As of 2024, the situation is “Narita Airport = many international flights + few domestic flights” and “Haneda Airport = full of both international and domestic flights”, and both airports are moving to further increase international flights.
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (2): Types of Airlines
Generally, airlines are divided into the following three types.
| Type | Characteristics | Example |
| Full Service Carrier (FSC) | Large traditional airlines with a wide variety of seats and in-flight services Also called legacy carriers | Japan Airlines (JAL) All Nippon Airways (ANA) China Airlines (CI) American Airlines (AA) Air France (AF) Lufthansa German Airlines (LH) Ethiopian Airlines (ET) Qatar Airways (QR) One to several other airlines in each country |
| Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) | Airlines with low fares | Main LCCs in Japan are Peach Aviation (APJ) and Jetstar Japan (JJP), among others There are many LCC airlines in each country. |
| Middle Cost Carrier (MCC) | Service and rates are between FSC and LCC. Also called mid-market carriers. Often classified as FSC or LCC. | The following four are the domestic MCCs in Japan Skymark (SKY) Solaseed Air (SNJ) Air Do (ADO) Star Flyer (SFJ) |
Narita Airport is well served by both full-service carriers and low-cost carriers for international flights, with a particularly large number of low-cost carriers.
On the other hand, domestic flights are served by full-service carriers Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, and low-cost carriers Peach and Jetstar Japan. The number of routes and destinations is limited.
International flights at Haneda Airport are mainly operated by full-service carriers, and low-cost carriers are currently fewer in number than at Narita Airport.
Domestic flights are well served by full-service carriers Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways and four mid-cost carriers.
To summarize roughly regarding airfare, many international flights are available at Narita Airport at a lower cost, and domestic flights are also cheaper at Narita Airport if you can use a low-cost carrier.
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (3) Facility Charges
When flying, in addition to the airfare paid to the airline, there are facility and service fees to be paid to the airport.
The facility and service fees for each airport are as follows. At Narita Airport, the fees vary between Terminals 1 and 2 (T1 and T2) and Terminal 3 (T3).
| PSFC (Passenger Service Facilities Charge) | PSSC (Passenger Security Service Charge) | Total | |||
| Narita | International Flights and Departures | T1/T2 | 2,460 yen (1,240 yen for children) | 700 yen | 3,160 yen (1,940 yen for children) |
| T3 | 1,370 yen (690 yen for children) | 700 yen | 2,070 yen (1,390 yen for children) | ||
| Domestic Flights, Departure Arrival | T1/T2 | 450 yen (220 yen for children) | None | 450 yen (220 yen for children) | |
| T3 | 390 yen (190 yen for children) | None | 390 yen (190 yen for children) | ||
| Haneda | International Flights and Departures | 2,950 yen (1,470 yen for children) | None | 2,950 yen (1,470 yen for children) | |
| Domestic Flights, Departure Arrival | 370 yen (180 yen for children) | None | 370 yen (180 yen for children) | ||
Narita Airport's Terminal 3 (T3) is very inexpensive.
Narita Airport's Terminal 3 is exclusively for low-cost airlines and is a short distance from the airport station.
Therefore, it is assumed that the facility usage fees are set at a discount.
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (4): Location and Access to Central Tokyo
Narita Airport is located in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, while Haneda Airport is located in Ota Ward, Tokyo.
Therefore, access to central Tokyo is more convenient at Haneda Airport.
At Narita Airport, train stations are located only at Terminals 1 and 2, and it is necessary to use inter-terminal buses to get from Terminal 3 to the station.
Buses stop at all terminals.
Haneda Airport has train stations and bus stops at all terminals.
The following is a comparison of the time and fare required to get to central Tokyo from both airports by train or bus.
| Departure | Line | Arrival | Travel Time | Fare |
| Narita Airport | JR Narita Express (paid express train) | Tokyo Station | 57 - 61 min. | 3070 yen |
| Keisei Electric Railway Skyliner (paid express train) | Ueno Station (Keisei Ueno) | 44 to 48 minutes | 2580 yen | |
| JR Keisei Electric Railway - JR (transfer) | Tokyo Station | About 1 hour and 30 minutes | About 1170 yen to 1450 yen | |
| Limousine Bus | Tokyo Station | 1 hr. 25 min. to 1 hr. 50 min. | 3100 yen | |
| Haneda Airport | Tokyo Monorail | Hamamatsucho Station (3 stops to Tokyo Station on the JR Yamanote Line) | 14-25 min. | 520 yen |
| Keikyu Electric Railway | Shinagawa Station | About 14 to 21 minutes | 330 yen | |
| Limousine Bus | Tokyo Station | 40 to 55 minutes | 1,200 yen |
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (5): Transportation Within the Airport
Both airports have three terminals, and you can move between terminals on foot, by free shuttle bus, or by train (walking is only possible between some terminals).
Travel time between terminals is not much different between the two airports, but it tends to take slightly longer at Narita.
Getting Around Narita Airport
It is possible to walk between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. For example, it takes about 13 minutes to walk from the information counter in the first floor arrival lobby of Terminal 3 to the “Airport Terminal 2 Station” ticket gate of Terminal 2.
Free connecting buses operate between the terminals.
It takes 10 minutes between Terminals 1 and 2, 3 to 6 minutes between Terminals 2 and 3, and about 14 minutes between Terminals 1 and 3.
You can also take a train between Terminals 1 and 2.
Getting Around Haneda Airport
There is an underground walkway between Terminals 1 and 2.
It is 400 meters long and takes about 5 minutes.
There is a free shuttle bus connecting the terminals, which takes 3 minutes between Terminals 1 and 2, 5 to 7 minutes between Terminals 1 and 3, and 8 to 10 minutes between Terminals 2 and 3.
It is also possible to travel between each terminal by train.
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (6): Operating Hours
At Narita Airport, both domestic and international flights operate from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, and most facilities are not open late at night.
Facilities available late at night are limited to a portion of the arrival and departure lobbies, convenience stores in each terminal, two fast food restaurants, and one capsule hotel.
On the other hand, Haneda Airport has international flights arriving and departing late at night and early in the morning, and Terminal 3, where most international flights arrive and depart, is open 24 hours (Terminals 1 and 2 are open from 5:00 to 24:00 in principle).
However, not all restaurants and stores in Terminal 3 are open 24 hours.
Difference Between Narita and Haneda (7): Stores in the Airport
Each airport has numerous restaurants, stores, and duty free stores (open 24H = 24 hours).
| Restaurant | Stores (Excl. Duty-Free) | Duty-Free Store | |
| Narita | 91 (2 open 24 hrs) | 163 (4 open 24 hrs) | 30 (none open 24 hrs) |
| Haneda | 166 (11 open 24 hrs) | 119 (3 open 24 hrs) | Duty-Free: 38 (2 open 24 hrs) Tax Free: 55 (none open 24 hrs) |
Haneda Airport has more restaurants, and Terminal 3 has quite a few restaurants that are open 24 hours a day.
Duty free stores are also more common at Haneda.
In Conclusion
The main differences between Narita and Haneda airports can be summarized as follows.
| Narita | Haneda | |
| Flight | Large number of international flights, especially low-cost airlines. Domestic flights are limited in destination and number, but low-cost airlines are available. | Good variety of both domestic and international flights More full-service carriers and mid-sized airlines, no low-cost carriers on domestic flights |
| Facility Fees | Terminal 3, which is exclusively for low-cost airlines, is less expensive. | Similar to Narita Airport Terminals 1 and 2 |
| Terminal Transfers | 3-14 minutes by bus | 3-10 minutes by bus |
| Access | Located in Chiba Prefecture, access to central Tokyo is somewhat inconvenient (44 minutes by train, 85 minutes by bus) | Located in Tokyo, accessible to central Tokyo in as little as 14 minutes by train or 40 minutes by bus |
| Hours of Operation / Number of Stores | Only a portion of the terminal is open late at night and early in the morning. Restaurants, stores, and duty free stores are plentiful, but somewhat less so than at Haneda. | Terminal 3, where most international flights arrive and depart, is open 24 hours a day. Has more restaurants than Narita Airport, and many of them are open 24 hours a day. |
Narita Airport is recommended for price-conscious travelers because of the large number of low-cost airlines and the low facility fees at Terminal 3.
However, access to central Tokyo is somewhat inconvenient.
In addition, there is no train station at Terminal 3, and train users must walk or take a bus to Terminal 2.
Those with a lot of luggage may want to book a limousine bus or cab.
Haneda Airport is well served by both domestic and international flights, and can be recommended for those who transfer to domestic flights at Haneda and head to tourist destinations around Japan.
It also offers easy access to central Tokyo and is convenient for those whose goal is to sightsee in Tokyo.
However, there are only a few low-cost carriers, especially mid-cost carriers for domestic flights, so airfare will often be higher than at Narita Airport.
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