Narita Airport arrival guide

1. Arrival terminal

This guide starts after immigration, baggage collection and customs, when you enter the public arrivals area at Narita International Airport (成田国際空港). You do not need to visit every service below: first check your terminal, any pickup deadline, and your hotel's nearest station.

JAL ABC's arrivals counters are on 1F in Terminal 1's North and South Wings and on 1F in Terminal 2. If you booked a SIM or Wi-Fi device, match the counter to your confirmation email. A booking for another terminal is not a pickup at your arrival door. Terminal 3 arrivals should check the booked location before setting off.

On Japanese floor signs, 1F means ground level, 2F is one level above it, and B1 is one level below ground. The JR EAST Travel Service Center in Terminal 1 is on B1, below the arrivals lobby. It handles rail advice, ticket sales and eligible reservation collection; bring the documents specified in your booking.

2. Internet & SIM cards

Use the airport's free network, FreeWiFi-NARITA, to open reservations or set up a mobile connection. Japan.Free_Wi-Fi_NARITA is a different network used in Narita city. Airport Wi-Fi does not provide a connection throughout your onward journey.

• Physical SIM: JAL ABC sells Japan SIM cards at its Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals counters. Your phone must accept the SIM and support the product.
• eSIM: JAL ABC offers a downloadable SIM online and at those counters. Check that your particular phone supports eSIM and is unlocked before buying; keep an internet connection available during setup.
• Rental Wi-Fi: JAL ABC offers a portable device for use in Japan. Check the booked pickup counter, availability for walk-in rentals, and how and where to return it.

Once setup is complete, turn off airport Wi-Fi briefly and check that your hotel map opens. Save the address and booking offline too.

3. Cash & currency exchange

Seven Bank (セブン銀行) ATMs at Narita support overseas-issued cards, subject to card and transaction restrictions. An ATM withdraws money from your account; a currency-exchange counter exchanges the banknotes you bring. Check the machine's fees and your card provider's conditions before confirming a withdrawal.

GPA currency-exchange counters are in Terminal 1's North and South arrivals lobbies and Terminal 2's arrivals lobby, Zone B. Check opening status, accepted currencies and the displayed rate. Choose the service that matches what you have—an eligible card or foreign cash.

4. Luggage storage & delivery

Temporary storage (手荷物一時預かり) means you return to collect the bag. Delivery (宅配) sends it elsewhere. This distinction matters if you will leave Japan through a different airport.

• Store it: coin lockers are available in Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The Narita International Airport Promotion Foundation also has a staffed storage counter on the north side of Terminal 2's 3F departures lobby. Check access hours and the collection deadline, not just whether the bag fits.
• Send it: Sagawa Express (佐川急便) has a baggage counter in Terminal 2's main building, 1F arrivals lobby. Its listed same-day hotel service covers ten Tokyo wards and Urayasu City, not every Tokyo hotel. The acceptance cutoff is 14:00, with delivery expected from 16:00 onward. A bag with length, width and height totaling up to 160 cm is listed at ¥3,650, including tax and the stated airport and same-day fees.

Show the hotel's Japanese address and your reservation to the delivery counter. Confirm that the hotel can receive the bag, the delivery date and the total price before handing it over. Counter opening hours do not extend the same-day cutoff. Keep your passport, valuables, medication and anything needed before delivery with you.

5. Getting to your hotel

The Narita Express (成田エクスプレス), also called N'EX, is a JR limited-express train connecting the airport with major stations including Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama. These are different stops, not interchangeable names for central Tokyo. Check the destination and stopping pattern of the departure you intend to take.

Use the hotel's nearest station and address to compare the complete journey. A direct train to a major station can still leave you with a transfer or a long walk. N'EX has luggage space and power outlets; it is one option, not a recommendation for every hotel. If you already have a bus or hotel-shuttle booking, follow that booking's boarding instructions instead.

Before passing the ticket gates (改札口)—the barriers separating the public station area from the platforms—confirm the train and the tickets your booking requires. Allow time for ticket collection and walking, especially after a late flight. The ticket counter's closing time and the last train are separate checks.

6. Showers & rest

The paid showers in Terminal 1's Central Building, 2F, are before departure immigration and can be reached from the public area. The refresh rooms beyond departure immigration in Terminals 1 and 2 are not accessible as a stop on your way into the city.

nine hours Narita Airport also offers daytime naps and shower use. Ask about the available session and whether it fits your onward transport. A daytime nap booking is different from an overnight hotel stay.

7. Before you leave

• Check that your SIM or Wi-Fi pickup is complete and your connection works away from airport Wi-Fi.
• If sending luggage, save the receipt and confirm the hotel and delivery date; if storing it, save the terminal, floor and collection deadline.
• Check your train's destination, ticket requirements and last connection to the hotel.
• Keep the hotel's Japanese address available to show a member of staff if you need help.