SIM Card in Narita Airport: eSIM, SIM or Pocket WiFi

1. eSIM

An eSIM is a digital SIM you download to your phone, usually as a QR code, before you leave home. No physical card to insert, no kiosk to find, no original SIM to lose. You activate it when you land and you’re online. For me, this is the easiest option by a long way.

Pros:

• You’re set up before you fly. You buy and install it at home, then activate when you land. No counter to find after a long flight, no queue, no faff.
• Your home number stays live. The eSIM sits alongside your physical SIM (dual-SIM), so you keep your normal number for calls and texts from family or your bank.
• Nothing physical to lose. No taking out your home SIM and storing it in a hotel safe for two weeks.
• Cheapest option in my experience. Airalo’s 10GB plan is about £13 ($18), well under what physical SIM counters or pocket WiFi cost for the same data.

Cons:

• Your phone needs to support eSIM. Virtually every phone sold in the last 5 years does (iPhone XS / 2018 onwards, most Samsung Galaxy and Pixel models from 2020 onwards). Worth checking your phone’s settings before you buy.
• Data only, no Japanese number. Most travel eSIMs don’t give you a local phone number. For first-time visitors this almost never matters, WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime cover what you actually need.
• You need a working internet connection to install it. Do this at home before you fly, not at the airport on hotel WiFi after landing.

My Top Tip! Buy and install the eSIM at home a day or two before you fly, but don’t activate it until you land. Most plans only start counting the validity period from activation, not purchase, so you don’t burn a day on transit time.

2. Physical SIM Cards

A physical SIM is the traditional tiny plastic card you swap into your phone in place of your home SIM. You can buy one at counters in the Narita arrivals area, in convenience stores, and at electronics shops like BIC Camera. I’ve not used one myself because eSIM has been faultless for me, but they’re a sensible option if your phone doesn’t support eSIM.

Pros:

• Works with any unlocked phone. No compatibility checks needed. If your phone takes a SIM, this will work.
• Some plans include voice calls and a Japanese number. Rare to actually need this as a tourist, but worth knowing if you do.
• Available at the airport on arrival. Counters in T1 and T2, plus 24/7 vending machines if you land outside counter hours. Locations and hours are further down.

Cons:

• You have to do the setup after a long flight. Find the counter, queue, swap the SIM, activate it. Not what you want after 11 hours in economy.
• You need to safely store your home SIM for the trip. It’s a tiny piece of plastic that’s easy to lose.
• Topping up is a faff. If your data runs out, extending or reloading the plan often means another trip to a shop or a clunky website.
• Usually more expensive than eSIM for the same data. Around £15 to £25 for 10GB over 15 days at counter prices, versus Airalo’s £13.

If your phone supports eSIM, I’d still go eSIM. The convenience gap is bigger than the price gap, and the price gap already favours eSIM.

3. Pocket WiFi

Pocket WiFi is a small portable router you rent for the duration of your trip. It connects to a Japanese mobile network and creates a private WiFi hotspot that all your devices can join. You pick it up at the airport or have it sent to your hotel, and you return it by post when you leave.

Pros:

• Best value for groups of three or more. One device, one rental, everyone connects. The per-person cost drops fast once you’re past two people.
• Connects laptops, tablets and phones at the same time. Useful if you’re working on the road or travelling with kids and devices.
• Unlimited data on most plans. Less stress about going over a data cap if you’re a heavy user or streaming a lot.
• Prices have dropped a lot recently. NINJA WiFi starts at about ¥440 per day (around £2 per day) on basic plans booked in advance. Japan Wireless unlimited works out about ¥695 per day (around £3.20 per day) on a 30-day rental. Walk-up rates at the airport are higher, so book online before you fly.

Cons:

• Another gadget to charge. Most pocket WiFi devices last 4 to 8 hours of active use. If it dies mid-afternoon, everyone in your group loses data at once.
• You all have to stay together for it to work. Split up to do different things and one of you is offline.
• Pickup and return adds steps to your trip. Counter pickup on arrival, return by post or counter on departure. Easy enough, but more than the zero steps eSIM needs.
• Overkill for solo or couple travellers. If it’s just one or two of you, eSIM is cheaper and simpler.

My top recommendation and what I used

I use Airalo and I’ve recommended it to anyone who’ll listen, including my parents who are not tech-savvy and now use it on their own. I’ve written a detailed Airalo review as a result.

Specifically, I’ve used the Moshi Moshi 10GB / 30 days plan, which is about £13 ($18) right now. Across two weeks in Japan I ran Google Maps constantly, Google Translate for menus and signage, Instagram, FaceTime home, and tethered my laptop and iPad off the eSIM for evening admin. 10GB has been more than enough each time. Some heavier users might want 20GB to be safe, but for most first-timers 10GB is plenty.

The setup took about 10 minutes the first time, and it activated within 30 seconds of landing. I was sceptical going in, but the Airalo app walks you through it step by step. I followed the instructions exactly and it just worked.

Why I made this decision:

• I could set it up and pay from home before flying. Knowing I’d be online the moment I landed was worth a lot after a long flight.
• I’ve had no dropouts or connection problems across multiple trips.
• I didn’t want to carry a separate pocket WiFi device, or worry about charging another gadget.
• I didn’t want to take my UK SIM out and risk losing it.
• It was the cheapest option for me. Honestly, this was the last thing I considered. Convenience was the main reason.

Get your eSIM here

Discount codes:

10% discount code: AIRALOESIM10

15% discount for first time users: NEWTOAIRALO15

Have you decided the best way to get to your hotel? Have a look at the best airport transfer options from Narita

I want a physical SIM card in Narita Airport 

If you’ve decided a physical SIM is right for you, there are several reliable counters in the Narita arrivals area. The three I’d point you to are SoftBank Global Rental, JAL ABC, and BIC Camera. I haven’t personally used any of these because eSIM has been faultless for me, but the locations are obvious and easy to find in the arrivals halls. Walk straight out of customs and follow the signs.

Softbank Global Rental

SoftBank Global Rental has counters in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at Narita. Both also sell SIM products under the AnyFone Japan brand.

Terminal 1: Central Building, 1st floor, before security check. Right next to the central entrance of the arrival floor.
Opening hours: 07:00 to 21:00

Terminal 2: Main Building, 1st floor. Right in the middle of the international arrivals area.
Opening hours: 07:00 to 21:00

SoftBank Website with full details

JAL ABC Airport Counters

They have locations in Narita terminals 1 and 2 and offer options of a local sim card from multiple network carriers. 

JAL ABC Arrival Counter Terminal 1

Opening hours: 06:30 until one hour after the last arriving flight.

JALABC Arrival Counter Terminal 2

Opening hours: 06:30 until one hour after the last arriving flight.

JAL WEBSITE WITH FULL DETAILS

BIC Camera shops

BIC Camera is a large Japanese electronics chain. The Narita store stocks a range of visitor SIMs from multiple carriers alongside electronics and travel kit. Useful if you want to look at a few options side by side.

Location: Terminal 2 Main Building, 4th floor, before security check.
Opening hours: 08:00 to 20:00

BIC CAMERA WEBSITE WITH FULL DETAILS