Japan to Launch ‘Haneda Airport Direct Train’ – Just 23 Minutes from Shinjuku to the Airport

▲JR East Railway Company will build the “Haneda Airport Direct Train.” The image is only an illustrative train, not the actual design of the direct train. (Photo / Courtesy ofJR East’s official fan page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

With the yen plummeting and new tax exemption rules in place, Japan welcomed over 10 million visitors by early October. To shorten travel time from the airport to city centers, JR East announced on the 19th that it will develop a “Haneda Airport Direct Train,” set to begin operations before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

With the continuous growth of inbound tourism and the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Japan is also expanding its railway network to improve transportation convenience. In addition to the currently under-construction maglev train capable of speeds up to 500 km/h, JR East recently announced plans to build three “Haneda Airport Direct Trains” providing direct routes from central Tokyo to the airport, aiming for completion before the Tokyo Olympics.

JR East stated that the “Haneda Airport Direct Train” will consist of three routes: Shinjuku–Higashi-Shinagawa short-haul line, Shin-Kiba–Rinkai shuttle line, and Tokyo Station–Oshima short-haul line. Once operational, travel time from Tokyo Station to Haneda Airport is expected to be cut from the current 28 minutes to 18 minutes, while the trip from Shinjuku—currently the farthest station from Haneda at 46 minutes—will be drastically reduced to just 23 minutes.