Narita International Airport: Updated flight routes, transportation & essential information 2025

Narita International Airport is the first destination for most international travelers arriving in Japan, and serves as a major aviation gateway to Tokyo (Tokyo). With three modern terminals, an extensive flight network, and numerous transportation options to the city center, Narita plays a crucial role in Japan's international transportation system. This article provides updated information on flight routes, connecting transportation, and detailed guides for passengers at Narita in 2025.

1. General information about the airport

• Airport name: Narita International Airport (Sân bay Quốc tế Narita)
• Airport code:

• IATA code: NRT
• ICAO code: RJAA

• Address: 1-1 Furugome, Narita, Chiba 282-0004, Japan (Nhật Bản)
• Distance to city center: The airport is located about 40km from Chiba city center, about 60km from Tokyo capital center
• Time zone: UTC+9 (JST)
• Airport type: Civil and commercial airport

Narita International Airport officially began operations in 1978, serving as one of two main airports serving the Tokyo capital region, while maintaining its role as Japan's most important international aviation gateway. In 2023, it handled 33% of Japan's total international passengers, becoming the country's busiest international passenger airport.

Narita International Airport (Source: Internet)

2. Airport scale

Narita International Airport has a total area of approximately 1,137 hectares. The airport's modern infrastructure allows efficient operation of large volumes of passengers and cargo:

• In 2024, the airport served over 40 million domestic and international passengers while handling approximately 1.95 million tons of international cargo
• In the first 3 months of 2025, international passenger traffic exceeded 22 million

2.1. Runways and apron

Runways and apron: Narita Airport currently has two operational runways:

• Runway A (16R/34L): 4,000m long, 60m wide
• Runway B (16L/34R): 2,500m long, 60m wide

Number of parking positions: Total of 169 parking positions for both domestic and international flights.

Operating hours: The airport only allows aircraft takeoffs and landings from 6:00 to 24:00 daily.

Expansion plans:

From June 25, 2025, Narita Airport officially implements a large-scale upgrade project with a total planned area of 2,297 hectares, including runway components:

• Construction of new Runway C, expected length 3,500m
• Extension of Runway B by an additional 1,000m, bringing total length to approximately 3,500m

After completion (expected by the end of 2028 or early 2029), aviation operational capacity at Narita will increase from 300,000 flights annually to 500,000 flights, helping reduce takeoff and landing times and improve service quality.

Aircraft apron area (Source: Internet)

2.2. Passenger terminals

Narita International Airport currently operates 3 passenger terminals, with a total floor area of 920,000m² and 95 boarding gates.

TERMINAL 1:

This is the largest terminal at Narita with a floor area of 464,000m². Terminal 1 follows a satellite model structure, consisting of three main sections: North Wing, Central Building, and South Wing. The area has 40 boarding gates equipped with jet bridges along with approximately 130 restaurants and retail stores.

Floor functions:

• Basement (B1F): Railway station connecting the airport to the rail system. Features information counters, cafes, convenience stores, clinics, lockers, and currency exchange
• Floor 1: International arrivals hall. Includes baggage claim services, customs, SIM rental, IC card purchase, currency exchange, ATMs, buses, taxis, and inter-terminal transfers
• Floor 2: Immigration area, pathways to parking areas, restrooms, and nursing rooms
• Floor 3: International departure hall and passport control procedures. Features duty-free shopping and check-in counters for some airlines
• Floor 4: Main check-in center. Features check-in counters (A-N), baggage services, self-service machines, restaurants, and cafes
• Floor 5: Dedicated to restaurants, shops, credit card lounges, and prayer areas. High observation deck (currently closed for renovation, expected to reopen 2026)

Satellite areas connected to Terminal 1: This is the waiting and departure area for flights.

• North Wing: Connected to Satellite 1 (gates 11-18) and Satellite 2 (21-24)
• Central Building: Linked to Satellites 3 and 4 (26-38 and 41-47)
• South Wing: Connected to Satellite 5 (51-58)

Terminal 1 (Source: Internet)

Terminal 1 hall (Source: Internet)

A shopping area in Terminal 1 (Source: Internet)

TERMINAL 2:

Terminal 2 has an area of 396,000m² and was completed in 1992. The terminal has 32 boarding gates distributed between main and satellite buildings, serving both international and domestic flights.

Floor functions:

• Basement (B1F): Railway station connecting JR and Keisei lines, along with service counters, currency exchange, ATMs, and convenience stores
• Floor 1: International arrivals hall, domestic procedures area, customs and quarantine. Features cafes, baggage services, car rental, and prayer rooms
• Floor 2: Immigration area and corridor connecting to satellite building. Features shops, ATMs, banks
• Floor 3 satellite building connection: International departure hall, concentrated check-in counters, security screening, duty-free areas, dining, lounges, and Face Express services
• Floor 4: Restaurants, cafes, entertainment areas, and observation deck

Terminal 2 (Source: Internet)

International arrivals hall of Terminal 2 (Source: Internet)

Satellite building area in Terminal 2 (Source: Internet)

TERMINAL 3:

Terminal 3 opened on April 8, 2015, as Japan's first dedicated LCC terminal with an area of 110,000m². This terminal is primarily operated by low-cost carriers (LCC) for both international and domestic flights with a capacity of 15 million passengers annually.

Floor functions:

• Floor 1: International & domestic arrivals hall, including information counters, baggage services, currency exchange, SIM rental, Wi-Fi
• Floor 2: International & domestic departure hall, concentrated check-in counters, security screening, shops, and restaurants
• Floor 3: International departure area after passport control, featuring duty-free shops, cafes, and children's play areas
• Satellite Building (Domestic Departure Lobby): Includes shops and entertainment areas for domestic passengers

Terminal 3 (Source: Internet)

A corner of the interior space in the terminal (Source: Internet)

Transportation between terminals:

Moving between terminals at Narita Airport is quite convenient thanks to multiple flexible options:

• Free shuttle buses: Connecting Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Buses operate continuously from 5:00 to 23:00, with frequency approximately every 5 minutes
• Walking: Passengers can walk between Terminals 2 and 3 through a dedicated pedestrian corridor
• Trains: Both Narita Express (JR) and Keisei Skyliner have stops at Terminals 1 and 2

Layout diagram of three terminals (Source: Internet)

Shuttle bus between terminals (Source: Internet)

3. List of operational flight routes 2025

The network of Narita International Airport includes over 100 cities and more than 40 countries, serving both international and domestic flights. Flight routes to Vietnam include:

Note: Flight information is updated as of July 2025. Travelers should visit airline websites to update the latest list of flight routes.

The flight network of Narita International Airport includes over 100 cities and more than 40 countries (Source: Internet)

4. Transportation guide to and from the airport

4.1. Transportation from central Tokyo to the airport

Below are popular options for convenient travel from central Tokyo to Narita International Airport:

Express train station connecting directly to the airport (Source: Internet)

4.2. Transportation from airport to city locations

After landing at Narita, you have many options to quickly travel to central Tokyo. Below are popular transportation methods:

Note: Consider buying the following cards to optimize costs and convenience when traveling by train, bus, express trains within the city and to/from the airport:

• IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, etc.): The most flexible and popular payment method in Tokyo. Can be used for trains, buses, subways and shopping at convenience stores. Cards available at automatic ticket machines, JR East travel service centers at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the airport.
  
• JR Pass (Japan Rail Pass): Suitable if you plan to travel between prefectures by train routes. Cards should be purchased and reserved in advance.
  

There are many convenient transportation options for you to travel to or from the airport (Source: Internet)

5. Important notes when departing/arriving at the airport

Below are important notes when departing or arriving at Narita International Airport (NRT), Japan, for international travelers, especially Vietnamese travelers.

5.1. Preparation before travel

Register for Visit Japan Web: Passengers should register in advance at Visit Japan Web to shorten immigration and customs procedures.

Prepare necessary documents:

• Passport valid for at least 06 months
• Round-trip flight tickets or onward journey tickets
• Information about accommodation in Japan
• Valid visa (except for transit exemption cases)

5.2. Notes when landing at Narita

Baggage and customs regulations:

• Duty-free limits:
  

• Alcohol: 3 bottles (each 760ml)
• Cigarettes: 400 cigarettes or 500g tobacco
• Perfume: 56ml (2 ounces)
• Gifts and other goods: value under 200,000 JPY

• Prohibited items:
  

• Meat and meat products
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Opium and stimulants
• Weapons and ammunition
• Cash over 1,000,000 JPY must be declared

Special services at Narita:

• Face Express: Facial recognition technology to speed up procedures
• Advance baggage delivery: Service to send baggage directly to hotels
• Currency exchange: Many exchange points and international ATMs
• Free Wi-Fi: "FreeWiFi-NARITA" network requires no registration

Contact information for assistance

• Tourism hotline: 050-3816-2787 (24/7, multilingual)
• Airport information: +81-476-34-8000
• Emergency assistance: 110 (police), 119 (fire, ambulance)

Special notes

• Late night flights: Narita Express stops operating after 21:30, Skyliner after 23:00. Travelers can use night buses or taxis for transportation.
• Transit: Transit area has full amenities like lounges, showers, duty-free shops. Transit passengers under 72 hours may be visa-exempt under the Visa Waiver program.

Use airport lounges for a more comfortable experience (Source: Internet)

6. Frequently asked questions about Narita International Airport

1. How many terminals does Narita have? How do I know which terminal my flight departs from?

Narita Airport has 3 main terminals:

• Terminal 1: Divided into two areas
  

• North Wing primarily serves SkyTeam alliance airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, China Southern Airlines, etc.
• South Wing primarily serves Star Alliance airlines like All Nippon Airways (ANA), Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, etc.

• Terminal 2: Serves Oneworld Alliance airlines like Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Emirates, etc.
  
• Terminal 3: Low-cost carriers like Jetstar, Peach, ZIPAIR, Spring Airlines, etc.
  

To know the exact departure terminal, check the information on your flight ticket or the airline's website before traveling.

2. How early should I arrive at the airport before my flight?

Generally, passengers should be at the airport 2 to 3 hours before departure for international flights. Check-in counter opening and closing times may vary by airline, so passengers should check with the airline beforehand to ensure a smooth journey.

3. My flight departs early morning. Can I stay overnight at the airport?

Narita Airport has 24/7 convenience stores at all terminals. Additionally, passengers can rest at capsule hotels located in parking lot P-2, adjacent to Terminal 2, with 24/24 check-in service. Please refer to the airport's official website for details and advance booking if needed.

4. Why is the flight information on the display board different from airline information?

Flight information is provided directly by airlines and may change depending on actual situations such as schedule adjustments, gate changes, or technical issues. Therefore, there may sometimes be differences between airport information and airline information. Passengers should always check directly with the airline for the most accurate information.

4. Does the airport have dedicated areas for group travelers?

Narita Airport has separate check-in counters for group passengers and tour travelers:

• At Terminal 1: Go to "Travel Agency Reception" on the 4th floor of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2
• At Terminal 2: There are two group check-in counters on the 3rd floor, located in the North and South areas.

Passengers should contact the airline or travel company in advance for detailed guidance on meeting locations.

Thorough preparation of documents, understanding travel times, and necessary amenity services will make your journey at Narita International Airport more comfortable and convenient. Save this article to not miss any important information for your upcoming trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.