If you have the choice, Haneda is usually more convenient: from there you reach central Tokyo in 15 to 35 minutes, from Narita in 36 to 90 minutes. Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) are two completely separate airports serving Tokyo, and the transfer between them takes around 90 minutes. That makes the airport code on your ticket the first thing to check before booking a hotel, since booking at the wrong airport costs both time and extra money. Haneda sits closer to central Tokyo and has more hotels with direct terminal access, while Narita offers a larger selection of shuttle hotels.
Key takeaways
- Narita and Haneda are about 90 minutes apart. Check the airport code (NRT or HND) on your ticket before booking.
- Haneda has several hotels with direct terminal access and no shuttle, such as The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda and Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu.
- Narita has the larger number of shuttle hotels, such as Hotel Nikko Narita and Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport.
- Both airports have a capsule hotel right in the terminal: 9h nine hours Narita Airport and First Cabin Haneda.
- Ended up at the other airport? The most comfortable way is a pre-booked private transfer from terminal to terminal, with Welcome Pickups* (advertising) from €167 per vehicle for up to four people.
Narita and Haneda are two independent airports
Both airports lie within the greater Tokyo area, but they are not terminals of the same airport, they are two separate facilities with their own IATA code. Anyone who books a hotel at the wrong airport has to budget the roughly 90-minute transfer by Limousine Bus (an intercity coach line running between the airports), train, or taxi, plus the extra cost. The most reliable way to confirm the right airport is to check the airline’s booking confirmation, which shows NRT for Narita or HND for Haneda.
Location shapes the character of each airport
Narita lies considerably further east of central Tokyo than Haneda and has long served as the main hub for intercontinental long-haul flights. Haneda is closer to Tokyo and, alongside domestic traffic, handles a growing share of international connections. For hotel choice this mainly means: travelers with little time between two flights benefit from the shorter distance of Haneda hotels to the city, while Narita hotels are geared more toward a pure overnight stay around the flight itself.
Haneda has more hotels with direct terminal access
Several properties in Haneda are located inside the terminal building itself or connected via a skywalk (a covered pedestrian bridge), with no shuttle at all: The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda (direct access, Terminal 3), Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu (direct access, Terminal 2), Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport and Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport (both via skywalk to Terminal 3), and the capsule hotel First Cabin Haneda (direct access, Terminal 1).
Narita has the larger selection of shuttle hotels
Narita has considerably more hotels connected to the terminal by their own shuttle, including Hotel Nikko Narita, Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport, Marroad International Hotel Narita, Narita Gateway Hotel, and HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Narita, with travel times mostly between 10 and 20 minutes. Direct access without a shuttle at Narita is limited to the capsule hotel 9h nine hours Narita Airport (direct access in Terminal 2).
Booked the wrong airport? How to switch comfortably
If you do end up arriving or departing at the other airport, you have to organise the trip yourself. The operators give 65 to 115 minutes depending on the mode of transport. The most comfortable option is a pre-booked private transfer from terminal to terminal: Welcome Pickups (advertising) states from €167 per vehicle for up to four people between Narita and Haneda (from €200 at night), with a travel time of about 78 minutes (as of 25 Oct 2026), a fixed fare, an English-speaking driver and help with luggage. Alternatives are Kiwitaxi (advertising) (a fixed fare you see before you pay) and GetTransfer* (advertising) (drivers submit offers). The Limousine Bus costs ¥3,600 per person. Our guide Narita to Haneda (and back) compares all options with departure times.
Comparison: choosing a hotel by airport
| Criterion | Narita (NRT) | Haneda (HND) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to central Tokyo | Considerably farther | Closer to Tokyo |
| Hotels with direct terminal access | 9h nine hours Narita Airport | The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda, Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu, Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand/Premier Haneda Airport, First Cabin Haneda |
| Shuttle hotels | Larger selection, incl. Hotel Nikko Narita, Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport | Smaller selection, incl. Hotel JAL City Haneda Tokyo, Henn na Hotel Tokyo Haneda |
| Capsule hotel | 9h nine hours Narita Airport | First Cabin Haneda |
