Hello, this is Shibutama! I recently wrote an article about where to catch the Narita Express at Shibuya Station.
As a follow-up, this time, I investigated whether you can ride the Narita Express without a reservation, or if it’s possible to ride with just a Suica card, and even if you can pay after boarding!
Can You Ride the Narita Express Without a Reservation?
First, let’s address whether you can ride the Narita Express without a reservation.
In conclusion, yes, you can ride the Narita Express without a prior reservation.
Just like the Shinkansen, if you make it to the platform, you can board the train. The Narita Express is similar; you can get on if you try.
However, unlike the Shinkansen, the Narita Express does not have non-reserved seats (自由席).
To ride the Narita Express, you need both a “basic fare ticket” (乗車券) and a “limited express ticket” (特急券), just like the Shinkansen. However, for the Narita Express, the limited express ticket is always a reserved seat limited express ticket (指定席特急券).
So, while you are technically supposed to purchase this reserved seat limited express ticket in advance, you can actually board the train with just a basic fare ticket.
You Can Ride the Narita Express with Suica
Therefore, it is possible to ride the Narita Express with a Suica card.
These days, you can even ride the Shinkansen with Suica if you set it up in advance (currently only on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Tohoku Shinkansen). The Narita Express can also be boarded with Suica.
The issue is that, unlike the Shinkansen, there are no non-reserved seats, so payment occurs after boarding. Furthermore, since all seats are reserved, you cannot purchase a specific reserved seat even if you pay onboard.
You are generally free to sit in any empty seat, but the problem is that if the person who actually holds the reserved ticket for that seat arrives, you will naturally have to give up the seat. This means you might not be able to fully relax during your journey.
Payment is Possible After Boarding the Narita Express
So, yes, it is possible to pay for the Narita Express after boarding.
If you board with just your Suica and sit in an empty seat, a conductor will eventually come around. You can then pay for a non-reserved limited express ticket on the spot.
By doing so, you can still have a seat, even if it’s not a pre-assigned reserved one.
Unless it’s a major holiday, the Narita Express usually has empty seats. So, if you have a strong mentality, you might consider just hopping on with your Suica!
Use “Ekinet Ticketless Service” for Reserved Seats with Suica
By the way, if you purchase a reserved seat in advance using the “Ekinet Ticketless Service”, you can comfortably sit in your reserved seat with just your Suica card.
This is arguably the proper way to ride with Suica. It seems you can purchase tickets up to 4 minutes before departure, so it’s okay even if you’re cutting it a bit close. However, if you find buying on Ekinet troublesome, it might be faster to just hop on with your Suica on weekdays, wouldn’t it?
Cheapest Way from Shibuya Station to Narita Airport: Go for Just ¥1,510!
By the way, Shibutama has discovered a way to get from Shibuya Station to Narita Airport for the cheapest price of ¥1,510! It’s a method that cuts the fare by about half.
Check out the details in this article! >> Cheapest Way from Shibuya Station to Narita Airport: Go for Just ¥1,510!
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