Traveling Via Narita: Navigating Terminals With Ease

can you go between terminals at narita airport

Narita International Airport has three terminals, which are organised around major airline alliances. Terminals 1 and 2 have train stations, but Terminal 3 doesn't. Terminal 3 is the newest terminal, opened in 2015, and is primarily used for low-cost carriers. All terminals are within walking distance of each other, and free shuttle buses connect them all.

Characteristics Values
Number of terminals 3
Terminals with train stations Terminal 1, Terminal 2
Terminals with train stations (division) Terminal 1 (North Wing, South Wing), Terminal 2 (Main, Satellite)
Walking connection between terminals Terminal 2, Terminal 3
Shuttle bus connection between terminals Yes
Shuttle bus travel time between terminals Varies between 3-28 minutes
Shuttle bus frequency Every 5-15 minutes
Shuttle bus gates 28, 59, 70, 80
Walk between Terminal 1 North Wing and South Wing Yes
Walk between Terminal 2 Main and Satellite buildings Yes
Terminal with duty-free shops Terminal 1 (North Wing)
Terminal with a hotel Terminal 2 (Nine Hours capsule hotel)

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Shuttle buses connect all three terminals

Narita International Airport has three terminals, all of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The airport serves three major airline alliances, with Terminal 1 or 2 allocated depending on the alliance. Terminal 1 is divided into a North Wing and a South Wing, while Terminal 2 is divided into Main and Satellite Buildings.

  • Between Terminals 1 & 3: 12-16 minutes
  • Between Terminals 3 & 2: 3 minutes
  • Between Terminals 2 & 1: 10 minutes
  • Between Terminals 1 & 2: 8-12 minutes
  • Between Terminals 2 & 3: 6 minutes

Passengers can also walk between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

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Terminals 1 and 2 have train stations, but Terminal 3 doesn't

Narita International Airport has three terminals, all of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Terminals 1 and 2 have train stations, but Terminal 3 doesn't. If you arrive at Terminal 3 and want to take a train, you will need to take a free shuttle bus or walk to Terminal 1 or 2. The shuttle bus journey to Terminal 1 takes between 12 and 16 minutes, and to Terminal 2, it takes between 8 and 12 minutes. The walk to Terminal 2 takes around 5 to 10 minutes.

Terminal 1 is divided into a North Wing and a South Wing, with a central building connecting the two. The B1 level is where trains arrive and depart (Narita Airport Station), 1F is the arrival lobby, 4F is the departure lobby, and 5F has restaurants, shops, and an observation deck. The North Wing has duty-free shopping, and there are basic services and facilities in both wings.

Terminal 2 is divided into Main and Satellite Buildings. The B1 level is where trains arrive and depart (Narita Airport Terminal 2 Station), and 1F is the arrival lobby. The terminal has a good selection of shops and restaurants on the 4th floor before passport control, including the airport's Pokémon Store. Terminal 2 is the only terminal with an attached hotel, the Nine Hours capsule hotel.

Terminal 3 is a newer terminal, opened in 2015, primarily serving low-cost carriers. It has a prepaid data SIM vending machine that sells 7- or 14-day data-only SIM cards.

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You can walk between Terminals 2 and 3

Yes, it is possible to walk between Terminals 2 and 3 at Narita Airport. The distance between the two terminals is a little over 400-500 meters, and it takes about 5 minutes to walk this route. There is a covered walkway connecting the two terminals.

If you are transferring between terminals after passing through transit security, you can also take a shuttle bus. Terminal shuttle buses operate on three different circular routes, connecting all three terminals. The shuttle buses are free and run every 5-15 minutes between 5 am and 11 pm. They take no longer than 20 minutes to get between terminals. However, there may be delays due to road congestion.

If you are arriving at Terminal 3 and need to catch a train, you can either take the shuttle bus or walk to Terminal 2, as Terminal 3 does not have a train station. The airport train stations are located in the basement (B1F) of Terminals 1 and 2.

It is important to note that Terminal 1 is not within walking distance of Terminals 2 and 3. If you need to travel between Terminal 1 and the other two terminals, it is recommended to take the shuttle bus or train.

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Terminal 1 is divided into North and South Wings

Terminal 1 at Narita Airport is divided into a North Wing and a South Wing, with a central building connecting the two. The B1 level is where trains arrive and depart from Narita Airport Station, while the arrival lobby, bus and taxi pickup/drop-off are located on the 1st floor. The 4th floor is where you'll find the departure lobby, along with various restaurants and shops. The 5th floor features additional dining options, shops, and an observation deck.

The North Wing of Terminal 1 is used by airlines such as Peach and Zipair, which are part of the LCCs (low-cost carriers). It also features duty-free shopping options. The South Wing, on the other hand, is utilised by Star Alliance, which includes airlines like Air Canada, Air China, and Air India. The South Wing is home to Narita Nakamise, the largest airport duty-free brand boutique mall in Japan.

Passengers can walk between the North and South Wings of Terminal 1, although it is recommended to allow ample time to do so. Additionally, a free shuttle bus service is available between Terminals 1, 2, and 3, providing convenient transportation for passengers transferring between different terminals.

Narita Airport is a hub for three major airline alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld. The allocation of terminals depends on the alliance to which each airline is affiliated. While SkyTeam generally operates from the North Wing of Terminal 1, Star Alliance primarily uses the South Wing. Oneworld, on the other hand, is based in Terminal 2.

It's worth noting that all three terminals at Narita Airport cater to both domestic and international flights. The terminals are organised around these airline alliances, so if you're transiting between an international and a domestic flight on the same airline or within the same alliance, you typically won't need to switch terminals. This means that frequent visitors to Narita Airport may only need to familiarise themselves with one terminal if they consistently fly with the same airline.

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Shuttle buses operate on three circular routes

Shuttle buses are a convenient way to get between the three terminals at Narita International Airport. The airport serves three major airline alliances, with Terminal 1 or 2 allocated depending on the alliance. Generally, SkyTeam uses Terminal 1 North Wing, Star Alliance uses Terminal 1 South Wing, and Oneworld uses Terminal 2. All three terminals handle both domestic and international flights.

The shuttle buses are free of charge and can be easily located at ground level outside each terminal building. They are also accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. At Terminal 3, the shuttle bus stop is located outside the ground level floor (1F) of the terminal building. Passengers can take the escalator down to reach the bus stop.

Shuttle bus services are available at specific times, and passengers are advised to check with their airline for any requirements related to immigration procedures. The shuttle buses operate at varying frequencies, with buses to Terminal 2 running more frequently than those to Terminal 1. Depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, passengers may experience some delays in travel time.

Frequently asked questions

You can get between the terminals at Narita Airport by walking or by taking a free shuttle bus.

The time it takes to get between the terminals at Narita Airport depends on the route and mode of transportation. Walking between Terminals 2 and 3 takes around 5-10 minutes, while taking the shuttle bus between these terminals takes 3-6 minutes. The shuttle bus between Terminals 1 and 2 takes about 10 minutes, while the shuttle bus between Terminals 1 and 3 takes 12-16 minutes.

No, walking and taking the free shuttle bus are the only ways to get between the terminals at Narita Airport.

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