Landing in Tokyo — SIM, Water, Plugs, Apps

You step off the plane at Narita or Haneda, phone battery at 32%, no signal, and realize you don’t actually know how to get online without burning your entire data plan on roaming fees. This page tells you exactly how to fix that in the first ten minutes after landing — plus the other boring-but-critical stuff (water, plugs, apps) that nobody writes coherently.

Getting Online: SIM, eSIM, and WiFi Reality

eSIM (Do This Before You Fly)

If your phone supports eSIM, this is the best option — you land and you’re online. No hunting for kiosks, no tiny SIM tray, no drama.

Airalo Japan 7-day / 3GB: roughly $8. Works fine for light maps + messaging. 7-day / 10GB ~$18 if you want to stream or hotspot.
Ubigi: similar pricing, slightly faster connection in some suburban areas. 7-day / 10GB ~€16.
Holafly: unlimited data plans from ~$19 for 7 days. Data is throttled after a daily cap but still usable for maps and LINE.

Activate before your flight or during the layover. All three let you install the profile ahead of time; it activates when you connect to a Japanese network. Keep your home eSIM active for SMS — you’ll need it for bank 2FA.

Physical SIM at the Airport

If your phone is SIM-locked or doesn’t support eSIM, hit the dedicated kiosks in the arrival lobbies.

Narita: Look for Mobal and Sakura Mobile counters in both Terminal 1 and 2. Also SoftBank vending machines. Also BIC Camera has SIMs.
Haneda: Mobal and Sakura Mobile counters at the arrivals area of Terminal 3. Smaller selection in Terminal 1/2 but still available.
Pricing: ¥2,500–¥5,000 for 7–15 days with 3–10GB data. Bring passport; they’ll register it.

Pocket WiFi Rental

Useful if you’re in a group — one device powers up to 5 phones. Reserve online and pick up at the airport.

ninja WiFi: ~¥800/day. Unlimited data with fair-use policy. Pickup at Narita/Haneda counters or post-office delivery to hotel.
SAKURA pocket WiFi: similar pricing and pickup points. Battery life ~10 hours, carry a power bank if you’re out all day.

Downside: you need to charge it, carry it, and return it at the end of your trip. For solo travelers, an eSIM is simpler.

Free WiFi: What You Can Actually Rely On

Free WiFi exists but is not a primary plan.

Narita and Haneda airports have solid free WiFi (no signup needed).
Major train stations have FREE_Wi-Fi_TOKYO and JR_Wi-Fi — you’ll need to register with an email or login via LINE. Works for 30–60 minutes per session.
Starbucks and most cafés have free WiFi, but it’s often slow at peak hours.
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) have free WiFi with registration.

Verdict: fine as a backup, but don’t rely on it for navigation in a pinch. Get a SIM or eSIM.

Water, Power, and the Little Things

Tap Water in Tokyo

It’s 100% safe and honestly tastes better than bottled water in most Western cities. Tokyo water is filtered and treated to high standards — locals drink it from the tap without a second thought. Skip plastic bottles unless you want flavor (vending machines are everywhere, ¥130 per bottle, which is cheap by Tokyo standards). Reuse a bottle if you must, but the tap water is legitimately good.

Power Plugs

Type A — the same two-flat-pin plug you know from the US. Voltage is 100V, 50/60Hz. If you’re coming from North America, you can plug in directly with no adapter or voltage issues. From the UK, Europe, or Australia: bring a Type A adapter. USB-C chargers work fine but you’ll still need the physical adapter. Most hotel rooms have a USB port or two, but don’t count on it for fast charging.

Apps You Must Download

For a more detailed breakdown of payment and cash logistics, see our Tokyo money guide. For the 24-hour side of the city, check Tokyo 24 hours.

Suica / Pasmo (via Apple Wallet or Google Pay): This is your transit card and small-payment card. Add it to your phone’s wallet before you land, top up with credit card, and tap through train gates, convenience stores, vending machines, and restaurants. Physical cards also available at station machines if your phone can’t do it.
Google Maps: Works for transit, walking, and restaurant searches. The train schedules are near-perfect. Compare with NAVITIME if you want alternate routes or platform numbers.
NAVITIME for Japan Travel: More detailed than Google Maps for transit — shows exact exit numbers, platform maps, and walking routes within stations. Free version is adequate.
Tabelog: Restaurant reviews by locals. Ignore the English apps; Tabelog is where Tokyoites actually rate places. The interface is dense and Japanese-heavy, but the rating numbers (3.0–4.0 scale) are reliable. Don’t eat anywhere below 3.2 unless a local recommends it.
Google Translate: Download the Japanese language pack for offline use. Point your camera at menus, signs, or handwritten notes. Works well for Kanji you can’t read.
LINE: Messaging app. Everyone in Japan uses LINE — restaurants, hotels, friends, even some businesses. WhatsApp and iMessage are uncommon with locals. If you want to message a hotel or a new Japanese contact, join LINE. It’s free and the default.
GO Taxi or JapanTaxi: Hailing a taxi on the street can be hit-or-miss, especially outside central areas. These apps let you book a cab, input your destination in English, and pay with card or app. JapanTaxi is now part of GO, so one is enough.

Language, Cash, and the Basics That Actually Matter

English Level — Honest Assessment

English signage in Tokyo is extensive — train stations, major tourist spots, airports, and hotel staff all handle English fine. Speaking fluency among the general population is low. Mid-range hotel staff can manage check-in and basic questions. Ramen shop staff: expect zero English. The three phrases that solve most situations:

“Sumimasen” (soo-mee-mah-sen) — excuse me / sorry. Gets attention, starts any interaction.
“Arigatou gozaimasu” (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zai-mahs) — thank you. Use it often.
“Kore kudasai” (koh-reh koo-dah-sai) — “this please.” Point at a menu item or photo, say this, done.

For the broader survival picture of Tokyo, check our main Tokyo guide.

Cash vs Card — The Real Policy

Tokyo is more card-friendly than the internet claims. Most restaurants, stores, and hotels accept Visa, Mastercard, and increasingly AmEx. But ramen shops, small izakayas, market stalls, and some temples are cash-only. Arrive with ¥10,000–¥30,000 in cash. The easiest source: 7-Eleven ATMs at the airport (or any 7-Eleven) — they accept foreign cards, dispense yen, and have English menus. No, don’t exchange at a counter at the airport unless you like losing 5% to fees. The 7-Eleven ATM uses spot rates. Bring USD/EUR as backup if your home card fails — exchange desks are around but rates are mediocre.

Time Zone & Visa

JST (UTC+9). No daylight saving. If it’s noon in London, it’s 9pm in Tokyo. Most Western passports (US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, NZ) get 90 days visa-free as tourists. You don’t need to apply in advance. But do the Visit Japan Web pre-arrival form — it’s a web form you fill out up to 2 weeks before landing. You’ll get a QR code that saves you a substantial queue at immigration and customs. Skip it, and you’re standing in a separate line watching QR-code people breeze past.

Getting From the Airports to the City

These are the workhorse routes, not a sightseeing trip. Pick based on where you’re staying and your budget.

Narita Airport (NRT) — 60–70 minutes to central Tokyo

Narita Express (NEX): ¥3,070 to Tokyo Station, ~60 min. Faster and comfortable. If you’re staying near Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Shinagawa, it connects directly. Takes JR Pass — but see the JR Pass note below.
Skyliner: ¥2,520 to Ueno, ~41 min. Best if you’re staying in Asakusa, Ueno, or north-east Tokyo. Very fast, reserved seats.
Limousine Bus: ¥3,200 to major hotels in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, etc. ~80–120 min depending on traffic. Door-to-door if your hotel is near a stop. Luggage goes under — no need to haul it onto a train.
Keisei Access Express: ¥1,270 to Nippori/Keisei-Ueno, ~70 min. The cheapest option. Slower, no reserved seats, some runs stop at local stations. Fine if you’re on a tight budget and not in a hurry.

Haneda Airport (HND) — 13–30 minutes to central Tokyo

Tokyo Monorail: ¥500 to Hamamatsucho, ~13 min. From Hamamatsucho you can transfer to the JR Yamanote Line (circular loop around central Tokyo). Fast and frequent.
Keikyu Line: ¥330 to Shinagawa, ~15 min. Cheaper than the monorail, direct to Shinagawa which connects to Yamanote Line and Shinkansen.
Limousine Bus: ¥1,200 to major hotel districts, ~30–60 min depending on traffic. Again, good if your hotel has a stop and you have luggage.

Haneda is closer and cheaper to reach. If you have a choice, book flights into Haneda over Narita.

JR Pass — The Honest Verdict

The Japan Rail Pass (foreign tourist only) gives you unlimited JR trains including Shinkansen for 7, 14, or 21 days. Current price for 7 days is around ¥50,000 (as of 2025). If you’re staying in Tokyo the whole trip, don’t buy it. A one-day pass on Tokyo’s JR lines is ¥760. The math doesn’t work. The pass only pays off if you do intercity travel — Tokyo → Kyoto (~¥14,000 one-way) + Kyoto → Osaka (~¥1,500) + maybe a day trip. If your itinerary is Tokyo-only, skip the pass and just use a Suica card.

This page is part of our Tokyo survival cluster. You might also want how to not get ripped off on money exchanges and what stays open when everything else closes.