Shinjuku to Narita Skyliner Guide 2026: How to Ride

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How to Get to Narita Airport from Shinjuku Station, Tokyo

A Guide to Riding the Skyliner

Words & Photos © Hi-Bubu

On the last day of your Tokyo trip, there are several ways

to head back to Narita Airport.

If you stayed around Shinjuku,

you'll likely choose between the NEX (Narita Express) or the Skyliner.

Today, I'm going to show you how to take the Skyliner

all the way to Narita Airport!

First, let's look at some handy things to prepare in advance

when traveling from Shinjuku Station to Narita Airport.

📍 First up is the Tokyo Subway Ticket (Tokyo Metro Pass),

which gives you unlimited rides on all 13 Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines

within your selected time limit.

To board the Skyliner, you need to get from Shinjuku Station

to Ueno Station, making the Metro Pass highly convenient.

(If you don't have one, taking the JR Yamanote Line is perfectly fine too!)

📍 The second essential is your Skyliner ticket.

While you can buy it on the spot, ❗️ booking online in advance is about 10% cheaper.

✅ Pro tip: You can also book a combo ticket for both the Tokyo Metro Pass

and the Keisei Skyliner ticket.

It's about ~$1 cheaper than buying them separately,

so we highly recommend securing yours in advance below!

▼ Book Skyliner + Tokyo Metro Pass Combo Here ▼

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Skyliner One-Way + Tokyo Metro Pass

Now, let's dive into the step-by-step guide on how to get from Shinjuku Station

to Narita Airport.

First, to catch the Skyliner,

you need to head to Nippori Station or Ueno Station.

While the JR Yamanote Line is the most direct way to these stations,

the Metro Pass cannot be used on JR lines.

Therefore, if you're using the Metro Pass like I did,

you will need to board the subway at Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station.

Make sure to head towards Ueno-okachimachi

and board from Platform 2.

It's only eight stops away, taking about 15 minutes.

Although we took the Oedo Line to reach Ueno,

to catch the Skyliner, we need to

transfer to "Keisei Ueno Station."

Simply follow the blue-themed signs

as pictured below.

When you reach the long underground corridor, keep walking straight,

following the signs for "京成" (Keisei).

It takes about a 10-minute walk to get there.

Lastly, look for the blue graphics on the floor

and follow the signs indicating "NRT."

You'll find the Skyliner ticket counter waiting for you.

Next up, let me show you how to get your Skyliner ticket

at the Keisei Ueno Station ticket office or machines!

On the left is the staffed ticket counter,

and on the right, you'll find the ticket machines.

Both options work exactly the same way, so just pick the line

that's shorter to print your ticket.

I decided to use the ticket machine!

The machine displays the earliest available departure times.

Simply switch the language to English to get started.

If you've already booked your ticket online in advance like me,

just scan the QR code on your voucher at the machine,

and it will print your ticket in no time.

Next, select your departure date, time, and destination,

choose the number of tickets you want to print, and tap 'Confirm'.

After that, pick your preferred seat

and tap 'Issue' to print your ticket.

This ticket displays your car and seat number,

and you'll need it to go through the ticket gates and board the train.

✅ So make sure to keep it with you until you reach your destination!

Finally, here is how to board the Skyliner

at Ueno Station.

If you look at the electronic board in the picture, the left side is for regular trains,

and the right side shows the Skyliner schedule.

The 7:00 AM Skyliner I booked

is shown to depart from Platform 1.

Just keep an eye on the boards to find your platform!

Once you pass through the ticket gates and head down to the platform,

the Skyliner will likely already be waiting for you.

Simply check your car and seat number

and sit in your assigned seat.

By the way, the legroom is super generous!

Even with a small-to-medium suitcase placed right in front of you, there's plenty of space,

so travelers with luggage don't have to worry at all.

Once you've boarded, it takes only about 38 to 40 minutes before...

and you'll easily reach Narita Airport!

Today, we looked at how to get from Tokyo Shinjuku Station

all the way to Narita Airport.

To wrap things up, here is a quick recap of the journey.

1. Since the Skyliner departs from Ueno,

you first need to travel from Shinjuku Station to Ueno.

You can take the Yamanote Line to get to Ueno,

or take the Oedo Line like I did.

2. Once there, after exchanging your Skyliner ticket

at Keisei Ueno Station, simply board the train on time and

you'll arrive at the airport in just about 40 minutes!

I hope this guide helps you navigate your way

to the airport smoothly and without getting lost!

▼ Book Your Skyliner & Tokyo Metro Pass ▼

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Skyliner One-Way + Tokyo Metro Pass

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▼ What to Do Once You Reach Narita Airport? ▼

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