Somewhere over the Pacific the cabin lights come up, trays of breakfast appear, and the seat-back map shows a small plane icon creeping toward the Japanese coast. For anyone starting in the New York area, the question that comes first is simple: which airline gets you there without a stop? United Airlines flies nonstop between Newark and Haneda Airport, the Tokyo airport that sits closest to the city itself.
The rest of the trip is a matter of choosing where to land, how to reach your hotel, and what to line up on the Tokyo end before you leave.
Which airlines fly from Newark to Tokyo?
United Airlines is the carrier that links Newark with Tokyo nonstop, and it lands at Haneda Airport. Haneda is the airport of Tokyo city, and it is now possible to arrive directly in the heart of the capital from international destinations. For a traveler leaving the New York area, that means a single flight from the Jersey side of the Hudson to the Tokyo side of the bay.
United’s Haneda network reaches well beyond Newark. The same airline also flies nonstop from Haneda to Chicago–O’Hare, Guam, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington–Dulles. That matters if you plan an open-jaw trip, flying into Tokyo from Newark and heading home from a different American city.
| Airline | Tokyo airport | Nonstop U.S. cities |
|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | Haneda | Chicago–O’Hare, Guam, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Washington–Dulles |
| Delta Air Lines | Haneda | Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle/Tacoma |
| American Airlines | Haneda | Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York–JFK |
| All Nippon Airways | Narita | Chicago–O’Hare, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco |
| Zipair Tokyo | Narita | Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose (CA) |
United from Newark to Haneda
This is the route that answers the title directly. You board at Newark and step off at Haneda, one of the two airports that serve the capital. Because Haneda is the Tokyo city airport, the arrival puts you in the capital without a transfer between airports.
It suits travelers who want the whole journey on one airline and one ticket, and who are building a trip around Tokyo first. From Haneda you can also continue on a domestic flight, since several Japanese carriers fly from the same airport. Skymark Airlines serves Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kobe, Naha, Sapporo–Chitose and Shimojishima, and Air Do serves Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, Memanbetsu, Obihiro and Sapporo–Chitose.
Other U.S. gateways into Haneda
Delta Air Lines flies nonstop from Haneda to Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle/Tacoma. American Airlines flies nonstop from Haneda to Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and New York–JFK. These are the other nonstop American links to the same airport, useful to know if your trip starts or ends somewhere other than Newark.
Narita carriers and onward flights in Japan
Narita International Airport is the other Tokyo-area gateway. All Nippon Airways flies nonstop from Narita to Chicago–O’Hare, Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with seasonal service to Vancouver. Zipair Tokyo flies nonstop to Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose (CA), with charter flights to Orlando.
Narita is also a departure point inside Japan. All Nippon Airways flies to Nagoya–Centrair, Osaka–Itami and Sapporo–Chitose, and Japan Airlines flies to Nagoya–Centrair and Osaka–Itami. Spring Japan serves Hakodate, Hiroshima and Sapporo–Chitose, while Peach and Jetstar Japan fly to a long list of cities, from Fukuoka and Naha to Ishigaki and Amami Oshima.
Where do you land?
Flying United from Newark, you land at Haneda Airport, the airport of Tokyo city. Narita is the other airport serving the capital, and it handles international and domestic destinations, so you may meet its name when comparing fares or building a trip with another carrier.
Haneda, the airport of Tokyo city
Haneda Airport lets you arrive directly in the heart of Tokyo from international destinations. For a traveler stepping off a long flight, that is the appeal: the airport belongs to the city itself rather than to a neighboring prefecture.
From the passenger terminal you can search for routes, departure and arrival times, and fares for trains, monorails and buses to your destination. That tells you how Haneda connects to the rest of Tokyo: by rail, by monorail and by bus, each with its own routes and fares to look up for your hotel’s neighborhood.
Narita, in Chiba Prefecture
Narita Airport lies in Chiba Prefecture, 1 hour by express train from Tokyo. It serves most major international destinations and many domestic airports, which is why you see so many low-cost Japanese carriers fly from it.
Three rail lines serve the airport: the Narita Sky Access line, the Keisei line and the JR line.
| Terminal | Station | Walk (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Narita Airport Station | 5 |
| Terminal 2 | Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station | 5 |
| Terminal 3 | Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station | 10 |
Kansai and Centrair, if Tokyo is not the first stop
Not every trip to Japan has to begin in Tokyo. Kansai International Airport makes it possible to visit Japan without going through Tokyo, and it is the gateway to western Japan, serving Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Wakayama. It sits about 50 minutes from Shin-Osaka high-speed train station and 1 hour 15 minutes from Kyoto Station.
Nagoya’s Central Japan International Airport, known as Centrair, is the airport hub for flights to and from cities in Asia and Japan. Both Narita and Haneda connect onward to it, so a Newark arrival at Haneda can be followed by a domestic hop in that direction, with the cities served by the carriers above.
What do you need for the trip?
What you need most is a plan for the Tokyo end: which airport you arrive at, how you will cross the city to your hotel, and where you go next. With United’s nonstop flight into Haneda, the planning centers on that one airport and its ground links.
Getting from Haneda into the city
Haneda gives travelers three kinds of public transport to look up: trains, monorails and buses. The airport’s route search shows departure and arrival times and fares for each, based on where you are headed. Typing in your hotel’s nearest station gives you the options side by side.
Taxis work on a set system. There are two types of taxi stands at Haneda, general stands and stands for app-dispatched or reserved taxis. If you arranged a taxi through an app or by phone, you must use the dedicated stand for reserved taxis.
Driving and parking at Haneda
Most Americans leave the rental car at home in Tokyo, but the airport does offer parking for those who drive to it. Spaces in lots P2 through P5 can be reserved in advance, with details on each lot’s own reservation page. That matters mainly for residents and for travelers picking up someone who flew in.
Reaching the city from Narita
If your itinerary uses Narita instead, the three rail lines are the way to read the map: the Narita Sky Access line, the Keisei line and the JR line. Terminal 1 is a few minutes on foot from Narita Airport Station, and Terminals 2 and 3 share Narita Airport Terminal 2・3 Station.
Your terminal decides which station you walk to, so check it on your ticket before you set out. Because Narita lies in Chiba Prefecture, plan the ride into the capital as a real train journey rather than a quick hop.
Planning your first days
Think about what comes after the airport. From Haneda, domestic carriers such as Skymark, Air Do, Solaseed Air and StarFlyer fly to cities across the country. Solaseed Air serves Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Naha and Oita, and StarFlyer flies to Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Osaka–Kansai and Ube.
If you plan to see Kyoto and Osaka after Tokyo, Kansai International Airport is the western gateway, and a flight into it can end a trip that began at Haneda. Mapping those two ends early shapes where you spend your nights.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Japan Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Japan’s currency is the yen, and you will use it from the first taxi stand or ticket machine. Keep a few coins handy for small purchases at stations and shops.
Tokyo’s streets and stations are used to visitors with luggage, so crossing the city with a suitcase after a long flight is something many travelers do. If you arrive in the rainy season or during typhoon months, the weather can slow ground travel, so leave some slack on the day you land.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Haneda Airport, airlines and destinations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Narita International Airport, airlines and destinations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narita_International_Airport#Airlines_and_destinations), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Japan travel advisory (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/japan-travel-advisory.html)
- Japan National Tourism Organization, how to reach the city from each international airport (https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/airport-access/), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, how to get to Japan, airports, airlines (https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/getting-to-japan/), checked October 11, 2026
- Narita International Airport, Access by rail (https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/train/), checked October 11, 2026
- Haneda Airport Passenger Terminal, Access (https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/access/index.html), checked October 11, 2026
To plan your stay
- Best Time to Visit Japan: Cherry Blossoms, Autumn Colors, Weather and Festivals
- Things to Do in Japan: Kyoto Temples, Onsen, Street Food and Day Trips
- Where to Stay in Japan: Ryokan, Temple Stays, Capsule Hotels and the Best Cities to Base In
- Know Before You Go to Japan: Entry, Money, Etiquette and Getting Around