Narita to New Delhi (NRT–DEL) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Japanese passport holders need a visa to enter India. The eVisa at indianvisaonline.gov.in is the fastest route. A 30-day eTourist visa costs $25, a 1-year multiple-entry is $40, and a 5-year multiple-entry is $80. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days. Visa on arrival is not available for Japanese nationals. The eVisa is valid at 28 designated airports including Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), Bangalore (BLR), and Kolkata (CCU).

Upload a passport scan (valid for at least 6 months with two blank pages), a recent photo with white background, and provide your Indian hotel address. The approved eVisa arrives by email. Print it and carry it with you. At immigration, they will also take biometrics (fingerprints and photo). The 30-day visa allows double entry, while the 1-year and 5-year versions allow multiple entries with stays of up to 90 days per visit.

Direct flights from Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND) to Delhi run about 9 hours 30 minutes on JAL, ANA, and Air India. Mumbai is about 10 hours direct. India uses the Indian rupee (INR), trading at roughly 6.2 INR per JPY. No mandatory vaccinations for arrivals from Japan. International SIM cards from Japanese carriers rarely include India roaming at decent rates, so pick up a Jio or Airtel SIM at the airport telecom counters for INR 500 to INR 900 with data included.

The Narita Express (N'EX) runs from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport in 60 minutes, with stops at Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Yokohama (¥3,070 one-way from Tokyo; discounted round-trip tickets available). Keisei Skyliner from Ueno takes 41 minutes to Terminal 1 (¥2,570); the faster option from east-side Tokyo. Keisei Limited Express is slower (80 min) but cheaper at ¥1,290.Limousine buses depart from major Tokyo hotels and stations for ¥3,200 and take 75–105 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are extremely expensive (¥20,000–30,000+); avoid unless cost is no concern. The airport is 60 km from central Tokyo.

Airport Express Metro from T3 to New Delhi Railway Station (18–20 min, ₹60) runs 5am–11:30pm. T1 (domestic departures) has a free shuttle to T3 for the metro. Prepaid taxi booths in arrivals offer fixed fares; the New Delhi railway area is ₹400–600.Ola and Uber are reliable from DEL and often cheaper than prepaid taxis. Delhi traffic is severe; plan 60–90 minutes for surface transport during peak hours even though the airport is only 15 km from Connaught Place. NH-48 expressway provides the main access road.

Semi-arid climate with extreme seasonal variation. Summers (April–June) are extremely hot (38–46°C). Heat affects ground crew capacity but flights operate normally. Monsoon season (July–September) brings heavy rain and severe thunderstorms that frequently cause delays and diversions. Dust storms (andhi) precede monsoon onset in May–June and reduce visibility to near zero within minutes.

Dense fog is the most disruptive winter condition. December and January bring persistent cold fog (5–10°C with near-zero visibility) that can shut down operations for hours each morning. Delhi is one of the foggiest major airports in Asia during this period. Autumn (October–November) and spring (February–March) are the most flight-stable windows.