Japan · Arrival

What to do after landing in Japan - airport, cash, Suica & transport explained

We landed at Narita at 3pm on a United flight from the US and were on a train to Tokyo by around 4:30pm. Here's exactly what we did, in order - so you know what to expect and can move through the airport without losing time.

By DeeApril 2026

Airport

Narita International (NRT)

Airline / Terminal

United Airlines - Terminal 1

Landed

3:00pm

Cleared customs

~4:10pm

On train to Tokyo

~4:30pm

Train taken

Keisei Main Line (not Skyliner)

Step 1 - immigration (expect a queue)

We landed at 3pm and the immigration line was long, probably because multiple long-haul flights landed within the same hour. We were through baggage claim by 4:10pm, so the whole process from landing to exit took about an hour and ten minutes.

At the immigration counter, have your passport and your Visit Japan Web QR code ready. The officer stamps your passport and sticks a Landing Permission sticker next to the stamp - this sticker has its own QR code on it.

Register on Visit Japan Web - can be done even before you fly: The immigration QR code is generated in advance. If you haven't done it yet, connect to airport wifi and you'll be doing it in the queue on your phone. Read the full Visit Japan Web registration guide →

Step 2 - get your eSIM

While waiting in the immigration line, you can register for an eSIM. I used airalo and it was super easy - connect to airport wifi first and then just download their app, choose a plan, and activate it right from your phone. You can do this even before you land if you want. I chose the unlimited 15-day plan for $45.

If you plan to buy a physical SIM card, you can explore them at the airport. Whether it is eSIM or physical SIM, it's better to have it ready before you leave the airport.

Full eSIM guide - how to install and activate it

Read the eSIM installation guide →

Step 3 - Visitors Centre and the 7-Eleven ATM

After collecting your bags, head to the Visitors Centre on the arrival floor before going down to the train station. It's a useful stop for a few reasons: there's a cluster of ATMs right behind it, SIM counters, bathrooms, resting area and information desks if you have any questions.

7-Eleven ATM - what we learned

✅7-Eleven ATMs reliably accept international debit and credit cards - use these

✅JP Bank ATMs at the airport also work with international cards

❌Other bank ATMs like Chiba Bank did not work with our international card at the airport

💴Transaction fee: ¥110 for withdrawals up to ¥20,000. ¥220 flat fee for anything above ¥20,000 - per transaction

💡Since Japan is very safe, withdraw a larger amount at once to reduce the number of transactions and fees.

You need cash for the Suica card deposit and initial top-up. We withdrew ¥10,000. You can always withdraw more later, 7-Eleven ATMs are everywhere in Japan.

Step 4 - get your Suica IC card

After the ATM, head down to the train station area (basement level). The green JR ticket vending machines have an English option - select "Purchase new Suica card", insert cash, choose your load amount. We loaded ¥3,000 (¥500 is a refundable deposit, so ¥2,500 is usable balance).

Do this before you board any train. You'll need it the moment you pass through the ticket gate.

Full Suica guide - green vs red card, topping up, Shinkansen e-ticket, losing it

Read the Suica IC card guide →

Step 5 - JR Pass collection (read this before you assume you can collect anywhere)

If you've pre-purchased a JR East Pass or JR Pass, there's a JR East Travel Service Center at Narita, so it's better to collect it there. Passes like the JR East Pass can only be collected at major stations like Narita Airport, Ueno, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station.

⚠️ Once collected, the pass cannot be reissued if lost

This is why we didn't collect ours at the airport - we had several days before we needed it and didn't want to risk losing it. If you collect it early, keep it very safe.

Step 6 - getting to Tokyo from Narita

Narita is about 60km from central Tokyo. You have four realistic options. Here's the full comparison, then what we actually chose and why.

⚡ Keisei Skyliner

⏱ ~41 min to Ueno💴 ¥2,580 (¥2,310 online discount)

✓Fastest option

✓All reserved seats

✓Luggage racks, power outlets, WiFi

✓Direct to Keisei Ueno - easy transfer to JR/Metro

✗More expensive

✗Not covered by JR Pass

🚃 Keisei Main Line (Limited Express)

⏱ ~80–90 min to Ueno💴 ¥1,060 (pay with Suica)

✓Cheapest train option by far

✓No advance booking - just tap Suica

✓Same destination as Skyliner (Keisei Ueno)

✗40–50 minutes longer

✗No reserved seats

✗Can get crowded at peak times

✗No luggage racks

🚅 N'EX (Narita Express)

⏱ ~53 min to Tokyo Station💴 ¥3,070 one-way / ¥5,000 round-trip tourist ticket

✓Covered by JR Pass (if active from day 1)

✓Direct to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku, Shibuya

✓All reserved seats

✗Most expensive if paying cash

✗Not useful if JR Pass isn't active on arrival day

🚌 Airport Limousine Bus

⏱ ~90 min (up to 2 hrs in traffic)💴 ¥3,100

✓Drops at hotels and major stations directly

✓Great if you have a lot of luggage

✓No need to navigate train stations

✗Slowest option - traffic-dependent

✗Less frequent than trains

Use Google Maps before you decide

We went with the Keisei Main Line - not the Skyliner.

At the station we opened Google Maps and checked the next Skyliner departure time vs the next Keisei Main Line departure. The Skyliner was leaving a little later than the next regular Keisei Limited Express. Even accounting for the Skyliner being 40 minutes faster in transit, the next available Skyliner would arrive at Ueno only a few minutes before the regular Keisei train. The time saving wasn't worth the extra cost. Also it was evening peak hour, so taking bus would have been slower and more crowded.

The Skyliner is still the better default choice if you're not checking departure times, have a lot of luggage, or just want the comfort of reserved seats and a smooth ride after a long flight. The Keisei Main Line is a regular commuter train with no luggage storage. We travelled light, which made the decision easier.

Narita arrival checklist - in order

✓Have Visit Japan Web immigration QR code ready before landing

✓At immigration - get passport stamped + Landing Permission sticker (QR code for tax-free)

✓Collect bags

✓Visit the Visitors Centre - WiFi, eSIM, info desk

✓Withdraw cash from 7-Eleven ATM (¥110 fee up to ¥20k, ¥220 above)

✓Get Suica IC card from green JR vending machine - load at least ¥2,000

✓Collect JR Pass at airport if your trip starts here (check if your first station has a service center first)

✓Check Google Maps for next train departure times before choosing Skyliner vs regular Keisei

✓Board train - tap Suica at the gate

Related Japan guides

📲

Visit Japan Web - immigration QR code guide

🚆

Suica IC card - complete setup guide

Green vs red card, how to top up, Shinkansen e-ticket registration, and what happens if you lose it.

🛍️

Tax-free shopping in Japan

How the Landing Permission sticker QR code activates your tax-free shopping on Visit Japan Web.

🗂️

Japan eVisa - Indian Passport, US Resident

Complete visa process - documents, rejection reason, timeline, and step-by-step portal walkthrough.

The first hour in a new country sets the tone for the whole trip. Get these five things done in order and you'll be on a train to Tokyo before you know it.

Safe travels ✈️

- Dee