Getting online in Tokyo

Tokyo is served by two airports: Narita (NRT), about an hour east of the city in Chiba prefecture, and Haneda (HND), much closer to central Tokyo. Both publish their own free Wi-Fi instructions, and both list SIM and Wi-Fi rental counters in the terminals.

Arriving at Narita or Haneda

Whichever airport you land at, the first things you are likely to need data for are the train or bus into the city, hotel directions and a transport payment app. Sorting connectivity before you leave the terminal is easier than trying to solve it on a platform.

Official airport Wi-Fi

Narita Airport provides free Wi-Fi access points in all terminals and on the terminal shuttle buses. To connect, turn Wi-Fi on and select FreeWiFi-NARITA, then accept the terms and security notice on the screen that appears. Narita states the service needs no advance security configuration, recommends a VPN if you want a secure connection, and notes that network speed may be affected by environment and congestion.

Haneda's passenger terminal publishes free wireless LAN under the network name HANEDA-FREE-WIFI in Terminals 1, 2 and 3: select the network, open a browser and follow the on-screen instructions. Haneda notes the service cannot be used inside shops (lounges excepted) and that some areas may be difficult to connect in.

Getting connected after arrival

Narita lists cellular phone, Wi-Fi rental and SIM card sales locations in Terminals 1, 2 and 3, so a local option exists if you want one. A travel eSIM installed before departure avoids the counter entirely and is usually working by the time you reach immigration. We make no claims about which option is faster in practice — no official source measures that.

Transport apps need a connection

JR East's Welcome Suica Mobile app for iOS lets travellers issue and top up a Suica for trains, buses and shopping, valid for 180 days once issued. JR East states the app requires location information to be turned on, that top-ups run through the credit card registered with Apple Pay, and that laws in some countries may prevent issuing or topping up until after you enter Japan. Either way, you need a working connection — airport Wi-Fi or mobile data — to set it up.