Arrival day in Japan: a step-by-step order for your first hours
Who this is for: first-time visitors landing at a Japanese airport who want a simple order for the first hours: arrival procedures, getting online, a transit IC card, a cash buffer, luggage, then the hotel. This is general information, not legal, immigration, customs, or medical advice. Always follow the official pages linked below.
The short version: land → get online → get a transit IC card that suits your phone → take out a little yen if you need it → decide what to do with your bags → go to the hotel. If one step fails, fix it before moving on.
Before you fly: two official checks
1. Visit Japan Web
Visit Japan Web is a Digital Agency service for arrival procedures (immigration and customs). You register the required information in advance and show a 2D code during the procedures. The Digital Agency notes that you can register on a computer, but you need a smartphone or tablet to show the code on arrival.
- Official: Visit Japan Web (English)
Follow the official instructions and forms; we do not add our own deadlines.
2. Will your phone work on Japanese networks?
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) explains that radio equipment used in Japan must conform to Japan’s technical standards, and that devices brought in by visitors may be used without the Japanese conformity mark if they meet certain conditions. If you plan to use your own phone with a SIM or eSIM, read the MIC page before you rely on it.
First hour: get online before you need the map
Order rule: connectivity first, because maps, translation, ride apps, and messages to your hotel all depend on it.
Start from the airport’s own services page rather than a blog’s list of counters. Narita’s page has a section for internet, Wi-Fi, and cell phones; Haneda’s service guide lists its terminal services:
Pick one path, then stop optimizing
| Your situation | Day-one move | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Unlocked phone; you travel solo or use little data | Activate an eSIM or buy a local SIM, after checking the MIC page above | Confirm data and messaging work before you leave the terminal |
| A group sharing one connection, or heavy hotspot use | Pick up a pocket Wi-Fi router | Check battery and login; share the network only with your group |
| Phone locked to your home carrier, or eSIM not supported | Don’t force a cellular plan; use airport Wi-Fi briefly, then a pocket Wi-Fi or a companion’s hotspot | A full eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi comparison is coming in a separate guide |
We do not quote queue lengths or counter wait times, because we could not match them to an official source.
Next: a transit IC card that matches your phone
Once you are online, get a transit IC card (a prepaid tap card for trains, buses, and some shops) that fits the device you actually carry.
| Path | Who it may fit | Official start |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Suica (JR East’s card for visitors) | Visitors who want a physical card from JR East | JR East — Welcome Suica |
| PASMO for international visitors | Visitors who want a physical PASMO card | PASMO — for visitors |
| Suica or PASMO in Apple Wallet | iPhone users with a compatible model and an eligible payment card in Wallet | Apple — Add a transit card to Apple Wallet in Japan |
| Android phone bought outside Japan | PASMO states that, in general, Android devices purchased outside Japan are not compatible with Mobile PASMO; a physical card is the usual fallback | PASMO — for visitors |
A few points from the official pages:
- Apple Wallet: Apple lists the requirements, including a compatible iPhone, an Apple Account signed in with two-factor authentication, and an eligible payment card in Wallet. Check them before you travel.
- Coverage: PASMO notes that it is accepted on participating train and bus networks across Japan, but not on every line.
We do not say where cards are in stock or that machines always have them. If a machine is out of cards, ask airport or station staff and take another row in the table.
A small cash buffer
Card acceptance varies from shop to shop, so a small amount of yen gives you a fallback on day one.
- Seven Bank publishes English guidance on withdrawing yen with cards issued outside Japan: Seven Bank — ATMs for foreign-issued cards.
- Before you travel, ask your home bank whether your card is enabled for overseas ATM withdrawals.
- At the ATM, follow the on-screen English prompts. If your bank advises against on-the-spot currency conversion, decline it.
- How much to take out: we do not suggest an amount. Take out what you need for the next short stretch, then reassess.
Luggage: three day-one choices
| Choice | When it fits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Carry it | Light bags; a short trip to the hotel | Stairs and transfers add up; check the rail or bus operator’s baggage rules for large items |
| Send it ahead (luggage delivery counter) | Heavy bags; you want to travel hands-free | Delivery options and timing depend on the counter and destination; check what the counter states before you pay |
| Coin locker or storage | A short hold before hotel check-in | Size limits apply; availability is not guaranteed |
Narita lists baggage, delivery, and postal services on its services page; Haneda lists its services on its services page.
Hotel check-in: run the sequence
Skip a step only if it is already done.
- Land. Complete immigration and customs as directed, using Visit Japan Web where it applies.
- Connect. eSIM, SIM, or pocket Wi-Fi from the table above; confirm data works.
- Transit IC card. Welcome Suica, PASMO, or a card in Apple Wallet; if practical, check it works at a gate or a charge machine.
- Cash buffer. An ATM that accepts your card, if you need yen today.
- Luggage. Carry, send ahead, or store; do not leave bags unattended.
- Hotel. Navigate with a live map, and keep your booking confirmation saved offline or as a screenshot in case you lose signal.
If any step fails, fix that step before you worry about the next one.
Official sources
| Topic | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Visit Japan Web | services.digital.go.jp/en/visit-japan-web/ | 2026-10-31 |
| Foreign phones in Japan (MIC) | tele.soumu.go.jp/e/sys/others/inbound/ | 2026-10-31 |
| Welcome Suica (JR East) | jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuica/welcomesuica.html | 2026-10 |
| PASMO for visitors | pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/ | 2026-10-31 |
| Apple Wallet transit cards in Japan | support.apple.com/en-us/108772 | 2026-10-31 |
| Seven Bank ATMs for foreign-issued cards | sevenbank.co.jp/intlcard/index2.html | 2026-10-31 |
| Narita Airport services | narita-airport.jp/en/service/ | 2026-10-31 |
| Haneda Airport services | tokyo-haneda.com/en/service/index.html | 2026-10-31 |