San Francisco to Narita (SFO–NRT) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–NRT is served by 4 airlines with nonstop service. Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and United Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 5,112 miles in approximately 11h 15m. Beyond nonstop, 47 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JL Japan Airlines | 7 | 789 | 11h20 | Oneworld | – | |
| NH All Nippon Airways | 7 | 77W | 11h20 | Star Alliance | – | |
| UA United Airlines | 7 | 772 | 11h20 | Star Alliance | – | |
| ZG Zipair | 7 | 788 | 10h15 | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
On-Time Performance
Other ways to reach Narita from San Francisco
| Metric | SFO→NRT | SJC→NRT |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 4 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 28 | 6 |
| Flight time | 11h 15m | 10h 30m |
| Departure OTP | 63% | – |
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · NRT: JST
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 10:00 AM (next day) in Narita.
US citizens enter Japan visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or business. No pre-registration required. Passport must be valid for the duration of stay.
Complete the Visit Japan Web form online before arrival to speed up immigration and customs processing. Declare cash over JPY 1,000,000. Bringing meat, fruit, or plant products requires declaration; penalties for violations are strict.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
Keisei Skyliner (41 min to Ueno, ¥2,570) and Narita Express (N'EX, 60 min to Tokyo Station, ¥3,070) are the primary train options. Limousine buses serve major hotels throughout Tokyo, Yokohama, and even Osaka for ¥3,200–¥6,000. Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected by free shuttle bus; Terminal 3 (LCC) is a 15-minute walk or shuttle from Terminal 2.
Rental car desks are in the arrivals halls. Highway Bus (cheaper than limousine) is available to many cities. IC card (Suica/Pasmo) works on Keisei and JR lines from NRT at standard fares.
Humid subtropical climate. Summers (June–September) are hot, very humid, and subject to the rainy season (tsuyu) in June–July, followed by typhoon season peaking in August–October. Typhoons can close Narita for 12–24 hours. The airport is particularly exposed on the Chiba plain. Temperatures reach 28–34°C.
Winters (December–February) are cool and dry at 3–10°C with clear skies. This is the most reliable flying season. Snow is infrequent but causes significant disruption when it occurs. The Kanto plain is ill-equipped for heavy snowfall. Spring (late March–April) is mild.
SFO–NRT Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco to Tokyo Narita
SFO–NRT is a key transpacific route connecting the Bay Area to Japan. Multiple carriers offer daily nonstop service, with United and ANA providing the most frequencies. Flight times average 11 hours westbound and 9.5 hours on the return.
Airport and Connection Notes
Narita serves as a hub for JAL and ANA with connections throughout Asia and Oceania. Travelers continuing within Japan can connect via domestic flights or use the Shinkansen high-speed rail network from Tokyo Station, reachable in under an hour by Narita Express.