Keisei Skyliner

The airport express linking Keisei-Ueno and Nippori with Narita Airport. Running on the Narita Sky Access Line opened in 2010 at 160 km/h — the fastest of any conventional line in Japan — it connects Nippori and Airport Terminal 2 in as little as 36 minutes, cutting a journey that once took 51.

The 160 km/h Airport Express

The Skyliner is the airport express Keisei Electric Railway runs between Keisei-Ueno / Nippori and Narita Airport. The turning point came on 17 July 2010 with the opening of the Narita Sky Access Line. Routing over this new line cut the time from Nippori to Airport Terminal 2 to as little as 36 minutes — down from a previous best of 51. That saving of fifteen minutes rewrote the terms of airport access.

What made it possible is the second-generation AE-series train running at 160 km/h. That is the fastest scheduled speed of any conventional line in Japan outside the Shinkansen, a pace befitting a route between the city centre and an international airport. The sharp, bluish carriages are also known for their design by Kansai Yamamoto.

An Airport Line with Two Routes

Keisei’s access to Narita Airport in fact follows two routes: the older run via the Keisei Main Line, and the Narita Sky Access Line opened in 2010. The Skyliner runs the latter — a high-specification new line — to raise its top speed, and keeps its stops few to serve as a direct airport run. At Nippori it connects with JR’s Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines, making the station a transfer hub for passengers from across the city.

The Narita Sky Access Line was built with a clear mission: to link central Tokyo and Narita Airport in the shortest possible time. Against the backdrop of rising inbound tourism, this fast connection between the aerial gateway and the heart of Tokyo grows more important as urban infrastructure year by year.

Summary

The Keisei Skyliner races over the 2010 Narita Sky Access Line at 160 km/h, connecting Nippori and Narita Airport in as little as 36 minutes. As the fastest conventional-line run in Japan, it has shrunk the felt distance between Tokyo and its international airport. Board the blue train waiting at Nippori and, just 36 minutes from the bustle of the city, you arrive at the threshold of a journey by air.

Related: Tokyo Skytree / Keikyu Shinagawa Station

Looking for a hotel along the route? Rakuten Travel offers a wide selection.