Narita International Airport

Use Keisei Skyliner over N'EX if heading to Ueno/Asakusa area

The Keisei Skyliner (JPY 2,465 with IC card) reaches Ueno in just 36 minutes and runs every 20 minutes — it's faster and cheaper than the N'EX to Tokyo Station (JPY 3,070, 53+ min) for passengers staying in the east/north of central Tokyo. Use N'EX for Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Yokohama.

Register Visit Japan Web before departure — every trip

Pre-registration at vjw.digital.go.jp takes 10–15 minutes and replaces the paper immigration card. Combined immigration + customs QR code significantly speeds customs clearance. Do this 1–7 days before travel after confirming flight and hotel details. The biometric fingerprint step at the immigration counter is still unavoidable.

IASS Executive Lounge for Priority Pass holders — use it landside on arrival too

The IASS Executive Lounge 1 in T1 (5F Central Building) and IASS Executive Lounge 2 in T2 are both landside, meaning they're accessible on arrival as well as departure — unusual among airport lounges. Priority Pass members on early-morning arrivals or with long connections can use these even before clearing immigration [VERIFY arrival access hours with IASS directly].

Avoid the taxi unless on full corporate expenses

A taxi from NRT to central Tokyo easily costs JPY 20,000–30,000+ and takes 60–90 minutes in traffic. This is roughly 10–12x the cost of the Skyliner. Even for business travellers, the train options are faster and reliable. The only scenario where a taxi makes sense: late-night arrivals after the last N'EX (21:44) or Skyliner (~23:00), when limousine buses may also be limited.

T2 departures: arrive early for JAL flights — T2 satellite walk is significant

Terminal 2's satellite building (where many JAL departure gates are) is a considerable walk from the main building — historically served by a shuttle system, now connected by a walkway. Add 10–15 minutes to your gate transit time after clearing security. The JAL Sakura Lounge is near Gate 61, which helps for oneworld flyers, but the walk to far satellite gates adds up. NRT officially recommends arriving 2+ hours before departure; for T2 business travellers, earlier is safer.