Is Narita Express part of JR?

Yes. The JR Pass is valid on the JR lines that connects the main airports to the main cities. If you land in Narita Airport, you can take the Narita Express to connect to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations.



Yes, the Narita Express (N'EX) is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and is fully integrated into the Japan Rail (JR) network. This is excellent news for travelers in 2026, as the service is 100% covered by the Japan Rail Pass. If you have an active JR Pass, you can ride the N'EX from Narita Airport to major Tokyo hubs like Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, and Shibuya for free. However, it is important to note that the N'EX is an "all-reserved" train; even with a JR Pass, you must obtain a seat reservation ticket from a JR ticket office or a "Reserved Seat" vending machine before boarding. The train provides a premium, high-speed connection featuring large luggage racks, complimentary Wi-Fi, and spacious seating, making it the most popular "JR-friendly" way to begin a trip in Japan.

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Yes. The JR Pass is valid on the JR lines that connects the main airports to the main cities. If you land in Narita Airport, you can take the Narita Express to connect to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations.

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The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. Please use HIKARI, SAKURA, KODAMA and TSUBAME trains.

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  • Yamanote Line - a loop line and is the most prominent JR Line connecting major city centers.
  • Keihin-Tohoku Line - goes from north to south in Tokyo.
  • Chuo Line (Rapid) - goes from east to west in Tokyo.
  • Chuo/Sobu Line (Local)
  • Saikyo Line.


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JR East operates the most convenient train lines for moving around central Tokyo, and you can use your JR Pass on all of these metro services. The rest of the 13 Tokyo subway lines that run in and around the Yamanote line are operated by companies other than JR East.

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While the metro lines do no accept the JR Pass, other IC Cards, such as the Pasmo and Suica, may be used. These cards give you access to almost any train or bus in Tokyo, and are a perfect complement to the JR Pass.

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You may bring up to 2 baggage items with a total length, width, and height of up to 250 cm (up to 2 meters in length) and a weight of up to 30 kg. However, please reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area or oversized baggage compartment when carrying on oversized baggage.

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Essentially the JR Pass is a travel pass that let's you (foreign visitors) travel unlimited with JR Trains through out Japan. The only major exceptions are three super high speed commuter trains (Nozomi, Mizuho, Hayabusa), which the pass is not valid for.

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Easy: Use a prepaid transport card (like a Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport) instead of a train ticket. From Narita, the card will cover your basic fare on the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner into town and you can buy a reserved seat/express ticket with cash on the platform.

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Both operate local, semi-express and limited express lines. The Kesiei Skyliner and JR East's Narita Express, the two fastest options, run in fierce competition against each other. The Narita Express runs to Tokyo Station via the Narita and Sobu Lines, and takes 50 minutes to an hour.

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Once you arrive at the station floor of Narita Airport, look for the JR East Travel Service center. This is the point of exchange for the JR Pass. You'll need both your passport and exchange voucher in order to activate the JR Pass, be sure to keep them ready. The JR Pass can be exchanged between 6:30 and 21:45.

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If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

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The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

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Each passenger is allowed to bring on two pieces of oversized luggage each. Each of these pieces of luggage cannot exceed 250 cm in total dimensions as previously stated. Additionally, each piece of luggage cannot exceed 30 kg (66 lbs) in weight. This does not include hand-carry items like backpacks or purses.

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JR allows passengers to bring two pieces of baggage weighing 30 kg or less and with total dimensions of 250 cm or less (and no longer than 200 cm) onto the train as portable personal effects for which there is no charge. Personal effects such as umbrellas, walking sticks and handbags do not count.

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