Tokyo Monorail Complete Guide: Fares, Last Train, Suica, Hamamatsucho Transfer

The Tokyo Monorail is one of the main ways to get from Haneda Airport into central Tokyo.

It runs directly between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho Station, and from Hamamatsucho it's a 5-minute walk to Daimon Station (Oedo Line / Asakusa Line) for another transfer.

This one article covers everything about the Tokyo Monorail: the route map, fares, how to use IC cards, first and last train times, discount passes, and how to transfer at Hamamatsucho Station.

1️⃣ What Is the Tokyo Monorail? Route Map and Basic Info

🚆 Route Overview

The Tokyo Monorail connects Hamamatsucho Station (浜松町) in Minato Ward with Haneda Airport — a total of 11 stations over 17.8 km. It opened in 1964 and has been the representative way to reach Haneda Airport ever since. It’s currently operated by a subsidiary of JR East.

Three types of trains run on the line:

• Haneda Express (Airport Rapid): Haneda Terminal 3 → Hamamatsucho in about 14 minutes (non-stop through intermediate stations)
• Section Rapid: Stops at some stations, about 20 minutes
• Local: Stops at every station, about 23 minutes

During the day, trains run every 3 to 5 minutes, so even if you miss one the next arrives quickly. Because the line runs on elevated track, you can also enjoy views of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge through the window — one of the unique charms of the monorail.

🚆 Stations by Haneda Airport Terminal

Haneda Airport has three terminals, and the monorail stops at a separate station for each one.

• Terminal 3 Station (International): This is where most international flights arrive. From the 2F arrivals lobby, it's about a 1-minute walk to the monorail ticket gate.
• Terminal 1 Station (Domestic / JAL): Used for domestic transfers.
• Terminal 2 Station (Domestic / ANA): Used for domestic transfers.

If you’re flying into Haneda from overseas, you’ll most likely use Terminal 3. Head out into the arrivals lobby (2F), follow the signs to the left, and you’ll see the monorail ticket gate right there. There’s also a ticket gate on the 3F departures floor, so when you head back to the airport on the monorail you can get off on 3F and walk straight to check-in.

🚆 Hamamatsucho Station and Daimon Station

The monorail’s terminus, Hamamatsucho Station, isn’t a standalone station. Right next to it is JR Hamamatsucho Station, and a 5-minute walk away is the Toei Subway’s Daimon Station (大門駅). In practice, these three stations form a single transit hub.

• JR Hamamatsucho Station: Transfer to the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line (toward Tokyo Station, Akihabara, Ueno, Ikebukuro, etc.)
• Daimon Station: Transfer to the Oedo Line and Asakusa Line (toward Asakusa, Ginza, Shinjuku, Shiodome, etc.)

The Hamamatsucho / Daimon area is about 15 minutes on foot from Tokyo Tower and about 10 minutes from Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park, so it’s a good base for sightseeing as well.

2️⃣ Monorail vs. Keikyu: Which Should You Take?

The two rail options from Haneda Airport into central Tokyo are the Tokyo Monorail and the Keikyu Airport Line. Which one is better depends on where you’re going.

On fare alone, Keikyu is about 200 yen cheaper. But when you factor in travel time, how easy the transfer is, and where you’re going, the monorail often comes out ahead.

🚆 Recommendation by Destination

🚆 Carrying Luggage

If you’re dragging a large suitcase, the monorail is the more comfortable choice. Each monorail car has a dedicated luggage area where you can stand your suitcase upright. The Keikyu Airport Line doesn’t have this, so it can be pretty awkward to bring a big suitcase on board during busy times.

Also, at Haneda T3 the walk from the arrivals lobby to the monorail ticket gate is about a minute, and a single escalator gets you onto the platform. With Keikyu, the ticket gate is on the same 2F level, but the platform is underground, so there’s more stair and escalator walking involved.

3️⃣ Fares, Discount Passes, IC Cards, and Timetable

🚆 Basic Fares

Fares from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho are as follows.

Using an IC card (Suica, PASMO, etc.) saves you 1 yen. The fare is the same whether you take the Haneda Express, the Section Rapid, or the Local — there’s no extra charge depending on the train type.

🚆 Monorail & Yamanote Line Discount Ticket (540 yen)

This is a set ticket that lets you ride the monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho and then get off at any station on the JR Yamanote Line for a flat 540 yen. That’s up to 260 yen off the regular fare.

• Price: 540 yen adult / 270 yen child
• Available on: Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays during the sales period (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026), plus the full Japanese spring break period (including weekdays from March 14 to 31)
• Where to buy: ticket vending machines at the T3, T1, and T2 monorail stations at Haneda Airport
• Notes: same-day purchase only, no advance booking, one-way one-time use, no stopovers

🚆 JR East Passes (Tokyo Wide Pass, etc.)

If you already have a JR East pass like the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (3 days for 15,000 yen), you can ride the Tokyo Monorail for free. No separate ticket needed — just insert the pass at the ticket gate. If you’re planning a side trip to Kawaguchiko, Izu, or Ibaraki, your pass already covers the monorail too.

🚆 Digital Tickets

You can buy a digital ticket in advance through services like Klook. If you want to skip the queue at the ticket machines, buying ahead is convenient.

👉 [Klook] Buy a Tokyo Monorail ticket

🚆 Using Suica, PASMO, and ICOCA

The Tokyo Monorail accepts all of Japan’s interoperable transit IC cards.

Suica, PASMO, ICOCA — whichever card you have, just tap it at the gate and you’re on.

For travelers from overseas, the most convenient option is to set up a Mobile Suica on an iPhone using Apple Pay. In the iPhone Wallet app, choose “Transit Card,” add Suica, and you can issue and top it up before you even land in Japan. No need to buy a physical card on the ground — just tap your iPhone at the ticket gate.

👉 Tokyo Transport Cards: iPhone Suica, Welcome Suica, and PASMO Explained

If you’d rather have a physical card, you can buy a Welcome Suica at the JR East Travel Service Center inside the Haneda T3 monorail station. There’s no deposit, it’s valid for 28 days, and you can choose a value of 1,000 / 2,000 / 3,000 / 5,000 / or 10,000 yen.

👉 Haneda Airport Arrival Guide: ATMs, Buying Suica, and Getting into the City

⛔ Note: A Monorail Suica issued by Tokyo Monorail may not be refundable at JR East stations. (Refunds are only handled by the station of the issuing operator.)

🚆 Tokyo Monorail First and Last Train Times

📌 For reference: Keikyu's first train is at 5:26, which means the monorail is 17 minutes earlier. If you're arriving in the middle of the night or spending the night at the airport and want to get into the city as early as possible, the monorail's first train is the way to go.

⛔ Important: If you take the last train from Haneda T3 (00:10) and arrive at Hamamatsucho at 00:26, some of the Yamanote and Oedo Line connections have already ended for the night. Plan your route with the last trains of the connecting lines in mind.

Hamamatsucho Transfer Guide

The area around the monorail’s Hamamatsucho Station is undergoing major redevelopment. The old World Trade Center building is being torn down and a new one is going up, so transfer passages and walking routes are a little complicated right now.

If you’re pulling a suitcase, it helps to know the station layout in advance.

🚆 Transfer to the JR Yamanote Line

Get off the monorail at Hamamatsucho (5F), head down to 3F, and you’ll arrive at the transfer ticket gate for JR Hamamatsucho Station. It’s about a 2- to 3-minute walk.

The Yamanote Line runs as an Inner Loop (toward Shibuya and Shinjuku) and an Outer Loop (toward Tokyo Station and Ueno). Tokyo Station takes about 6 minutes, Akihabara about 10 minutes, and Ueno about 14 minutes.

JR Hamamatsucho Station is also served by the Keihin-Tohoku Line. The Keihin-Tohoku Line runs toward Yokohama and Omiya, so you can use it for trips into Saitama or Kanagawa as well.

🚇 Transfer to Daimon Station (Oedo Line / Asakusa Line)

From the monorail’s Hamamatsucho Station, you’ll need to go down to ground level (1F) and walk about 5 minutes to reach Daimon Station. The signs are clear, so you won’t have trouble finding your way.

Two lines run through Daimon Station:

• Asakusa Line: toward Asakusa and Oshiage (Skytree), with through-service to the Keikyu Airport Line
• Oedo Line: toward Tsukijishijo, Shiodome, Roppongi, Shinjuku, and Tochomae

🚇 Getting to Narita Airport from Daimon Station

From Daimon Station (Toei Asakusa Line) there’s a direct train to Narita Airport.

Check the timetable and pick a train whose destination shows “空 (Narita Airport)” — you’ll get there without any transfer. It takes about 80–90 minutes and costs around 1,300 yen (IC card fare). Departures can be infrequent, so check the timetable before you head out.

🎒 Luggage Storage at Hamamatsucho Monorail Station (Coin Lockers)

There are coin lockers on the 1F and 2F of the monorail’s Hamamatsucho Station. They can fill up on weekend mornings, so if they’re all taken, try the lockers at Daimon Station or the JR station instead.

• Price: small from 400 yen, large from 800 yen (as of 2026, subject to change)

Who the Monorail Is Best For & Useful Tips

🚆 Late-Night Arrivals and Early-Morning Departures

Since the monorail’s first train runs 17 minutes earlier than Keikyu, it’s the fastest way to get out of Haneda Airport in the early morning. If you’ve spent the night at the airport after a late arrival, the 5:09 first train gets you to Hamamatsucho at 5:25.

👉 Haneda Airport Departure Guide: Early-Morning Buses, Onsen, and Capsule Hotels

🚆 Heading to Odaiba

If you’re going from Haneda Airport to Odaiba, take the monorail, get off at Tennozu Isle Station,

and transfer to the Rinkai Line to reach Odaiba and Toyosu.

👉 One-Day Odaiba Itinerary (with Ariake and Toyosu)

🚆 Staying in Daimon or Hamamatsucho

If you’re booking a hotel in the Hamamatsucho or Daimon area, the monorail is the best option. It’s the terminus, so no transfers at all — you can walk straight from the station to your hotel. This area is within walking distance of Tokyo Tower and connects directly to Haneda, which makes it a great base for travelers flying in and out of Haneda.

🕘 Avoiding Peak Hours

On weekdays between 7:30 and 9:00, the Hamamatsucho-to-Haneda direction gets crowded with commuters heading to work. Going the other way — from Haneda into the city — runs opposite to rush hour, so it stays pretty quiet. Friday evenings and weekend mornings also get busy with domestic travelers, so if you’re heading back to the airport then, give yourself extra time.

The Tokyo Monorail is a real gift for travelers who make the Hamamatsucho / Daimon area their base. Before you head into the busy city center, take a moment to enjoy the Tokyo scenery from inside the monorail and start your trip at a relaxed pace.

🧡 Related Tokyo Travel Guides

👉 Haneda Airport Arrival Guide: ATMs, Buying Suica, and Getting into the City

👉 Tokyo Transport Cards: iPhone Suica, Welcome Suica, and PASMO Explained

👉 Tokyo Subway Map: High-Resolution PDF Download (Korean)