Layover in Tokyo: what to do in 6, 8 or 12 hours

Layover in Tokyo: what fits in your hours

Haneda is close to the centre: Shinagawa is 11 minutes by Keikyu train and Tokyo Station about half an hour, so Tokyo is one of the best cities for a layover of six hours or more. Narita is a different story, an hour or more further out.

How much time you really get

We count 11 minutes each way on the Keikyu Airport Line from Haneda Airport Terminal 3 to Shinagawa (change to JR Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku for Tokyo Station), plus 20% for waiting, 45 minutes from landing to the exit, and 120 minutes back at the airport before departure. Bags checked through.

HND Time in Tokyo

Layover	In the city
5 h	1 h 45 min	Tight
6 h	2 h 45 min	Tight
8 h	4 h 45 min	Go
10 h	6 h 45 min	Go
12 h	8 h 45 min	Go
16 h	12 h 45 min	Go
24 h	20 h 45 min	Go

Plan with your own flight times and passport

Can you leave the airport?

Leaving the airport means entering Japan. Of the 13 passports we cover, India, China (mainland), South Africa and Philippines need a visa; the others can go without one. Rules for every passport, with official sources →

Two hours: Asakusa

Layover of 5 h 30 min or more

Many Keikyu trains run straight through onto the Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa, without a change.

Sensō-ji. Tokyo’s oldest temple, through the Kaminarimon gate with its giant lantern.
Nakamise-dōri. The shopping street leading to the temple, for snacks and souvenirs.

Four hours: Tokyo Station and Ginza

Layover of 7 h 30 min or more

Keikyu to Shinagawa, JR Yamanote Line to Tokyo Station, walk to Ginza.

Tokyo Station Marunouchi building. The restored red-brick station of 1914, best seen from the square in front.
Imperial Palace East Gardens. The former castle grounds, a short walk from the station. Free, but closed on some weekdays.
Ginza. Department-store food halls in the basements are the easiest good meal in Tokyo.

Seven hours: Shibuya and Harajuku

Layover of 10 h 30 min or more

JR Yamanote Line from Shinagawa to Shibuya, then one stop to Harajuku.

Shibuya Crossing. The famous scramble crossing; watch it from above at Shibuya Sky or the station’s upper floors.
Meiji Jingū. The forest shrine next to Harajuku Station, a quiet half hour.
Takeshita Street and Omotesandō. Youth fashion on one street, flagship stores on the avenue next to it.

Good to know

Get a Suica or PASMO card (or add one to your phone) for the trains; Keikyu and the JR lines all take it.
International flights use Terminal 3; ANA also flies some from Terminal 2.
The airport is close, but security and departure immigration still take time: the planner keeps two hours.

Opening hours and ticket prices change: check them on GO TOKYO (official tourism site) before you go.

Before you go

Going into Tokyo

Leave your bags in Tokyo Radical Storage
Book a luggage locker near the station or your sight, so you can walk the city light.
Short tours in Tokyo Klook
Skip-the-line tickets and short guided tours that fit a few hours.
Fixed-price transfer from HND Kiwitaxi
A driver waiting at arrivals, useful when trains are not running or you travel in a group.
Mobile data for the layover Saily
An eSIM you install before you fly, for maps and your airline app in town.

Staying at HND

Lounge passes at HND Klook
Pay-per-visit lounge access where your card or ticket does not get you in.
Missed your connection? AirHelp
Check whether a delay or a missed connection entitles you to compensation.

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Questions

How long a layover do I need to leave Tokyo Haneda Airport?

About 4 h 45 min or more for 90 minutes in Tokyo. That counts 11 minutes each way on the Keikyu Airport Line from Haneda Airport Terminal 3 to Shinagawa (change to JR Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku for Tokyo Station) plus a margin, 45 minutes to get through arrival, and 120 minutes back at the airport before departure.

What can I do on an 8-hour layover in Tokyo?

About 4 h 45 min in the city: enough for “Four hours: Tokyo Station and Ginza”.

Do I need a visa to leave the airport in Tokyo?

Leaving the airport means entering Japan. Of the 13 passports we cover, India, China (mainland), South Africa and Philippines need a visa; the others can go without one. Check your own passport in the planner.