How to get from Narita Airport or Haneda Airport to Ueno by train: the Keisei Skyliner, Access Express, Keisei Main Line, Narita Express, Tokyo Monorail, and Keikyu, with approximate times.
- The Keisei Skyliner runs from Narita Airport to Keisei Ueno in as little as 41 minutes, according to Keisei, with a stop at Nippori.
- The Narita Express does not stop at Ueno. You change at Tokyo Station.
- From Haneda, the usual routes are the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho then JR to Ueno, or a Keikyu train that runs through to Asakusa.
- Fares and timetables change. Check the operator's website or a route app before you travel.
Next Step
Plan a calligraphy class near Ueno
The beginner class is 60 minutes, guided in English, a 6-minute walk from JR Ueno Station.
Narita to Ueno: the Keisei Skyliner
The Keisei Skyliner is the fastest train from Narita Airport to Ueno. Keisei says it reaches Keisei Ueno in as little as 41 minutes. The only intermediate stop is Nippori, where you can change to JR lines. Seats are reserved, so buy a ticket for a specific train at the airport station or online.
Keisei Ueno Station is next to Ueno Park and a short walk from JR Ueno Station and the Ueno stations of the Tokyo Metro Ginza and Hibiya Lines. Trains start from Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station and also stop at Terminal 2/3 Station, so the trip from Terminal 1 takes a few minutes longer.
The Skyliner costs more than the regular Keisei trains because it is a reserved limited express. LIVE JAPAN listed the one-way fare at 2,580 yen in February 2026, with a lower price for foreign visitors who book online. Fares change, so check Keisei's official site for the current price.
Narita to Ueno: cheaper trains and the Narita Express
If you are not in a hurry, two regular Keisei services also run to Keisei Ueno without a reserved-seat charge. The Access Express uses the same fast line as the Skyliner for part of the way and takes about an hour. The Keisei Main Line is slower, about 80 minutes, and is usually the cheapest option.
Some Access Express trains run through onto the Toei Asakusa Line toward Asakusa instead of going to Keisei Ueno. Toei says you can reach Asakusa this way without changing trains. Check the destination on the platform board before you board.
The JR Narita Express does not stop at Ueno. It goes to Tokyo Station, where you change to the JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line for Ueno. LIVE JAPAN notes that this route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
- Skyliner: fastest, reserved seats, one stop at Nippori
- Access Express: about 60 minutes, no reserved-seat charge
- Keisei Main Line: about 80 minutes, usually cheapest
- Narita Express: change at Tokyo Station for Ueno
Haneda to Ueno: Tokyo Monorail and JR
From Haneda, the simplest route to Ueno is the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line north to Ueno. The fastest monorail services take about 15 minutes to Hamamatsucho. Allow roughly 40 to 50 minutes in total including the transfer.
Both the JR Yamanote Line and the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line stop at Hamamatsucho and at Ueno, so you can take whichever train comes first. Monorail times and fares change, so check the operator's site or a route app.
Haneda to Asakusa and Ueno: Keikyu
Keikyu trains from Haneda Airport run through onto the Toei Asakusa Line, so some trains go to Asakusa without a change. Not every departure does this. Check that the train shows a destination on the Toei Asakusa Line, such as Asakusa or Oshiage, before boarding.
From Asakusa, the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line goes to Ueno. You can also take Keikyu to Shinagawa and change to the JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line for Ueno. Travel times depend on the service type, so use a route app on the day.
- Monorail to Hamamatsucho, then JR to Ueno: one transfer
- Keikyu through to Asakusa, then Ginza Line to Ueno
- Keikyu to Shinagawa, then JR to Ueno
If you are coming to a calligraphy class
Our classes are held at Shitaya Jinja Kaikan, the hall of Shitaya Shrine in Higashi-Ueno. It is a 6-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, or a 2-minute walk from Inaricho Station, which is one stop from Ueno and two stops from Asakusa on the Ginza Line.
It is safer to book a class for a day after you arrive rather than on arrival day, since flight delays and immigration lines are hard to predict. If you plan to come straight from the airport, leave a wide margin and store large luggage at your hotel or in a station locker first.