The main characteristic of Terminal 1 is the divide in north wing and south wing. Regardless of the terminal you find yourself at, there are counters that sell bus and train tickets at both north and south wing. The Arrival Lobby is on the 1st floor and all buses depart from the 1st floor as well. If you go by train, take the elevator or escalator down to B1F.

・ Bus

As soon as you leave the Arrival Lobby, you’ll immediately find the bus ticket counters right in front of you. The main ones are Keisei Bus and Airport Limousine Bus, but there are plenty of buses serving various directions, so make sure to carefully check where you want to go at the ticket counter. If you’re confident and not afraid of possible transfers and so on, we especially recommend Keisei Bus’s Tokyo Shuttle – a one-way ticket to Tokyo costs a mere 1,000 yen.

Both Keisei Bus and Airport Limousine Bus sell combination tickets for Tokyo Metro, allowing you unlimited train rides for 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours. Buying this combination ticket is cheaper than purchasing these passes separately.

・ Limousine Bus (counter): south wing & north wing, 6:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
・ Keisei Bus (counter): south wing & north wing, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

・ Train

If you choose to go by train, such as Keisei’s Skyliner or JR’s Narita Express, go down to B1F, where the ticket counters are. The trains also depart on this basement floor.

・ Narita Express: Ticket Counters and Boarding Platforms

As soon as you go down to B1F, look for the ticket counters with a red sign above them. You can get your tickets either at a staffed ticket counter, or at an automatic ticket vending machine. To save some money, we recommend buying a round-trip ticket, but in any case, make a seat reservation. If you don’t decide on a specific time for your way back to Narita Airport, you can’t make such a seat reservation. It’s recommended to either decide a time or making a seat reservation at ant JR Station before boarding the train.

・ Skyliner: Ticket Counters and Boarding Platforms

The Skyliner takes you from Narita Airport to Tokyo in as little as 36 minutes. For the Tokyo subway combination ticket, ask the staff at the ticket counter. The ticket vending machines only accept cash while at the counters, you can pay with a credit card. By the way, the Keisei Main Line and the Keisei Access Express are cheaper alternatives to the Skyliner but stop at local stations, so they take longer.

・ Exchanging Japan Rail Pass and Other JR Tickets

If you’ve got a reservation for the Japan Rail Pass, go to the JR East Travel Information Center. Simply look out for the bright red sign shown on the left on the picture above and exchange your ticket. There, you can also get a Suica card and book a seat reservation. Inside the center even is a SIM card vending machine.

JR East Travel Service Center – B1F
Hours: 8:15 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

If you want to get tickets for the Narita Express but there’s a long queue at the ticket counters, you can also get your tickets at the Travel Service Center!

・ Buying Unlimited Ride Subway Tickets

If you plan on getting around Tokyo a lot, you will want to look for other discount tickets as well. There are tickets that offer unlimited rides for 14 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours for Toei and Tokyo Metro lines. To get those, head to the Keisei Bus counter on the 1st floor’s Arrival Lobby, south wing. Keep in mind that you have to show your passport to get these special discount tickets.

1F Arrival Lobby, south wing
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

In today’s world, you don’t want to travel without internet. On Narita Airport’s Terminal 1, there are both SIM card and rental Wi-Fi vending machines and counters on the 1st-floor Arrival Lobby and B1F, close to the train platforms. The prices don’t vary too much by provider, so mainly keep an eye out on how much data you plan to use, your schedule, and what kind of SIM card you want.

・ Buying a SIM Card at a Vending Machine

Two vending machines sell SIM cards from different providers. Choose by type, such as micro or nano, as well as length: 7 days, 14 days, and 15 days. The ones on the right can even be paid with credit cards.

1F floor Arrival Lobby, behind the Visitor Service Center
Hours: 24/7

・ Buying & Renting at the TelecomSquare

Buy a SIM card that works in Japan or rent a portable Wi-Fi router at the TelecomSquare. There are two kinds of SIM cards available 7 days for 3,800 yen, and 30 days for 5,500 yen. If you plan to share it with friends, we recommend the rental Wi-Fi routers for 1,296 yen per day. For stays longer than 7 days, there are even plans with 7, 15, or 30 days respectively.

1F Arrival Lobby, B1F
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 8:00p.m.

If you’re fit enough, you might want to start sightseeing straight away. In that case, why don’t you send your suitcase from the airport right to your hotel? The same system works the other way around, of course, allowing you to use every minute in Japan and picking up your luggage right at the airport before you leave. When you arrive, head to a delivery service counter at the Arrival Lobby, while you can easily pick up luggage at similar counters at the Departure Lobby on your last day.

・ GPA Airport Delivery Service

The delivery fee for a medium-sized suitcase to Tokyo starts from 2,146 yen. The delivery is carried out by Kuroneko Yamato’s TA-Q-BIN.

1F Arrival Lobby, north wing
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – last flight

・ JAL ABC

The delivery fee for a 140cm-sized suitcase to Tokyo is 2,150 yen. JAL ABC also offers rental SIM cards and Wi-Fi routers for 980 yen per day. If you hand your luggage in by 11:00 a.m., it will be delivered on the same day without an additional fee. For anything later than 11:00 a.m., same-day delivery costs an extra 300 yen. Bonus: buy the Keisei Skyliner ticket alongside your luggage delivery and get an extra 620 yen off.

1F Arrival Lobby, south wing & north wing
Hours: 6:00 a.m. – last flight

・ QL Liner

This service is particularly recommended for large suitcases. The fee for a 140cm-sized suitcase to Tokyo is 2,150 yen. QL Liner also takes care of larger suitcases, up to 260cm, which other companies don’t accept. On top of that, rental SIM card and Wi-Fi routers are available as well.

1F Arrival Lobby, south wing & north wing
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – last flight

You’ll find the Visitor Service Center on the 1st floor of Terminal 1’s central building. Here, a relaxing break space awaits alongside all kinds of travel-related information. Especially the JTB counter, shown on the image above, offers Japan Rail Pass exchange and purchase, tickets for theme parks such as Tokyo Disneyland, tour and train booking, and even hotel reservations – if there’s anything you need, make sure to stop by.

1F Arrival Lobby, central building
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The Arrival Lobby of Terminal 2 looks like a long corridor and is split into Zone A and Zone B. Bus and train ticket counters, luggage delivery services and so on can be found in either zone, while SIM cards and Wi-Fi rental are in the central area. The connection passage to Terminal 3 is at the of B Zone.

・ Bus

As soon as you leave the Arrival Lobby, you’ll find bus ticket counters just ahead in both Zone A and B. If the one right in front of you is overly crowded, head over to the other one – it takes less than three minutes.

・ Keio Bus

The picture above shows the Keisei Bus ticket counter where you can get tickets to Tokyo Stations and several other locations for 1,000 yen. Also, note that special discounts for subway tickets are available here.

1F Arrival Lobby
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

・ Airport Limousine

The Airport Limousine bus can immediately be recognized by its white color and bright orange stripe. It stops at many hotels all around Tokyo, so it’s a particularly convenient choice if you’re staying at a major hotel. Special discounts for Tokyo subway combination tickets are available as well.

1F Arrival Lobby
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

After buying a bus ticket, head outside. The different bus stops are lined up one after another, so check carefully before getting on.

・ Train

If you want to go to Central Tokyo by train, go down to B1F and find a ticket counter there. Both Keisei’s Skyliner and JR’s Narita Express depart from this floor.

・ Narita Express: Ticket Counters and Boarding Platforms

Tickets for the Narita Express are available at either ticket counters or vending machines. Buying a round-trip ticket will save you quite a bit of money, but do pay attention to seat reservation. If you don’t decide on a specific time for your way back to Narita Airport, you can’t make such a seat reservation. It’s recommended to either decide a time or making a seat reservation at ant JR Station before boarding the train.

・ Skyliner: Ticket Counters and Boarding Platforms

The Skyliner takes you from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo in about 36 minutes. The Keisei Main Line and the Keisei Access Express are cheaper alternatives to the Skyliner, serving areas such as Ginza and Asakusa.

The Skyliner & Keisei Information Center provides information on various sightseeing spots and attractions, offers free Wi-Fi, and redeems tickets bought online. Support is available in various languages.

On top of that, several convenient Tokyo subway combination tickets can be bought here as well.

B1F
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

・ Exchanging Japan Rail Pass and Other JR Tickets

If you booked the Japan Rail Pass, go to the JR East Travel Service Center and exchange your booking for the real tickets. On top of that, you can make a seat reservation or get a Suica card here as well. Inside this center also is a SIM card vending machine.

B1F
Hours: 8:15 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

・ Buying Unlimited Ride Subway Tickets

Both Skyliner and Narita Express offer combination tickets for unlimited rides on Tokyo’s subway (three types: 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours). They’re available at the Arrival Lobby on the first floor, as well as in both A and B Zone. Keep in mind that you need to show your passport to get these tickets.

１F Arrival Lobby
Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Of course, Terminal 2 also offers various places that rent and sell SIM cards and Wi-Fi routers. They can be found in the vicinity of the train platforms, in the Arrival Lobby on the 1st floor, and on B1F. The cost does not vary too much, so choose by type, length of the offer, and so on.

・ Buying a SIM Card at a Vending Machine

SIM card vending machines of two providers can be found next to the escalator in the center of the Arrival Lobby. The types offered do not only differ by nano, micro, and so on, but also by duration: 7 days, 14 days, and 15 days. The SIM cards on the left can also be paid with a credit card.

1F Arrival Lobby, near the central escalator
Hours: 24/7

・ Buying & Renting at the TelecomSquare

This is the place to go if you are looking for a SIM card that works in Japan or a portable Wi-Fi router. There are two kinds of SIM cards available 7 days for 3,800 yen, and 30 days for 5,500 yen. If you plan to share it with friends, we recommend the rental Wi-Fi routers for 1,296 yen per day. For stays longer than 7 days, there are even plans with 7, 15, or 30 days respectively.

1F Arrival Lobby: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
B1F: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00p.m.

・ GPA Airport Delivery Service

The delivery fee for a medium-sized suitcase to Tokyo starts from 2,146 yen. The delivery is carried out by Kuroneko Yamato’s TA-Q-BIN.

1F Arrival Lobby, B Zone, North Exit 3
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – last flight

・ JAL ABC

The delivery fee for a 140cm-sized suitcase to Tokyo is 2,150 yen. JAL ABC also offers rental SIM cards and Wi-Fi routers for 980 yen per day. If you hand your luggage in by 11:00 a.m., it will be delivered on the same day without an additional fee. For anything later than 11:00 a.m., same-day delivery costs an extra 300 yen. Bonus: buy the Keisei Skyliner ticket alongside your luggage delivery and get an extra 620 yen off.

1F Arrival Lobby, B Zone, South Exit 2
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – last flight

・ QL Liner

This service is particularly recommended for large suitcases. The fee for a 140cm-sized suitcase to Tokyo is 2,150 yen. QL Liner also takes care of larger suitcases, up to 260cm, that other companies don’t accept. On top of that, rental SIM card and Wi-Fi routers are available as well.

1F Arrival Lobby, B Zone, South Exit 2
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – last flight

Terminal 3 is the terminal of low-cost carriers and domestic flights. Arrivals and departures share a lobby. The structure of Terminal 3 is simple and easy to understand. However, train access and luggage delivery services aren’t directly available – you’ll have to go to Terminal 2 for that. Let’s take a look at how to get around Terminal 3, the connections to other terminals, and how to get to Central Tokyo from there.

・ Bus

After your arrival, simply follow the floor’s orange marks with a train or bus symbol and head towards the exit. You’ll end up right in front of the bus ticket counter. Three different bus services are available: Airport Limousine, Keisei Bus, and JR Bus.

Additionally, the vending machines right next to this bus ticket counter sells tickets for the Skyliner up to 20 minutes before its departure. It’s a good idea to buy them here to avoid congestion at the station.

Keep in mind, however, that tickets for JR lines cannot be bought here, but the bulletin board still shows all necessary information. If you want to take the Narita Express, you’ll have to go to another Terminal to buy a ticket.

Getting to the Bus Stations

At the other terminals, the bus stations are right in front of the exits, but Terminal 3 requires a bit of a walk. Follow the orange signs within the terminal and take the escalator downstairs to get to the buses. See the picture below.

・ Train (Different Terminal)

If you want to get to Tokyo by train, you have to go to another terminal first. There’s a free shuttle bus that runs between Narita Airport’s different terminals or simply walk to Terminal 2. That takes about 10-15 minutes.

・ Taking the Shuttle Bus

The shuttle buses to Terminal 2 run frequently, arriving roughly every 5 minutes. If you want to go to Terminal 1, you might have to wait up to 30 minutes if you are unlucky enough to get a particularly bad connection. See the image below for a timetable.

・ Walking to Terminal 2

If you don’t travel with heavy, large luggage, you might want to go to Terminal 2 on foot. Leave Terminal 3 and go straight ahead. Stick to the left as the road splits into two and take the escalator.

The walk to Terminal 2 is about 530 meters long. That sounds rather long at first, but you’re walking under a roof at all times and essentially only have to go straight. On top of that, there are plenty of areas to rest at, so stretching your legs after a long flight might be rather invigorating.

Both SIM cards and Wi-Fi routers are directly available at Terminal 3.

Vending machines are right next to the terminal’s exit, in a corner of the coin locker area.

2F Departure/Arrival Lobby

・ Buying & Renting at the TelecomSquare

Buy a SIM card that works in Japan or rent a portable Wi-Fi router at the TelecomSquare. There are two kinds of SIM cards available 7 days for 3,800 yen, and 30 days for 5,500 yen. If you plan to share it with friends, we recommend the rental Wi-Fi routers for 1,296 yen per day. For stays longer than 7 days, there are even plans with 7, 15, or 30 days respectively.

2F Departure/Arrival Lobby
Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

If there’s anything you want to know, need help with, or feel like you’re lost, make sure to go to a nearby information center or ask the Narita Airport staff. Make your journey smooth and fun!

Terminal 1
Aeroflot
Aeroméxico
Air Busan
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air Japan
Air New Zealand
Air Seoul
Aircalin (Air Calédonie International)
Alitalia
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Asiana Airlines
Aurora
China Southern Airlines
Delta Air Lines
EgyptAir
Ethiopian Airlines
Etihad Airways
EVA Air
Garuda Indonesia
Ibex Airlines
Jet Airways
Jin Air
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
MIAT Mongolian Airlines
Peach Aviation
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
Shandong Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines
Sichuan Airlines
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Swiss International Air Lines
Uzbekistan Airways
Vietnam Airlines
Virgin Australia Airlines
Xiamen Airlines
Yakutia Airlines

Terminal 2
Air India
Air Macau
Air Niugini
Air Tahiti Nui
American Airlines
Bangkok Airways
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Cebu Pacific Air
China Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
Eastar Jet
Emirates
Finnair
Firefly
Hainan Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
HK Express
Hong Kong Airlines
Iberia
Indonesia AirAsia X
JAL (Japan Airlines)
Latam Airlines (LAN)
Latam Airlines (TAM)
Malaysia Airlines
Nokscoot
P.I.A (Pakistan International Airlines)
Philippine Airlines
Qantas Airways
Qatar Airways
Royal Brunei Airlines
S7 Airlines
Scoot
SriLankan Airlines
Thai AirAsia X
Tigerair Taiwan
T'way Air

Terminal 3
Jeju Air
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Japan
Spring Airlines Japan
Vanilla Air

Photo Credit (main image): pio3 / Shutterstock.com