Where to buy a SIM card at Narita Airport
SoftBank Global Rental
SoftBank Global Rental operates landside counters on the first floor of Terminal 1’s Central Building and Terminal 2’s Main Building. Both are open from 07:00 to 21:00.
The seller publishes several prepaid data packages for Japan, including 3GB for five days at ¥3,960, 10GB for ten days at ¥5,720 and 10GB for 30 days at ¥6,600. These are complete published product prices rather than monthly subscription charges.
Ask the counter staff to confirm whether your selected SIM requires online registration, a passport upload or APN configuration. SoftBank’s separate Prepaid SIM for Travel product requires an unlocked phone, the original passport, online registration and a passport photograph upload. It is data-only and does not provide ordinary voice calling.
AnyFone JAPAN
AnyFone has airport stores on the first floors of Terminals 1 and 2, both open from 07:00 to 21:00. The company sells a broad selection of prepaid physical SIMs, so the package offered to you may depend on current stock.
Published options start from ¥3,300 for a four-day product. Confirm the data policy before paying, particularly when a package is described as unlimited. Such products may still include fair-use rules, temporary speed restrictions or tethering conditions.
AnyFone also offers physical SIM products with voice and data, but these should not be confused with a simple disposable tourist data SIM. Voice-enabled products can involve reservations, identification checks, rental conditions or additional call charges.
GPA prepaid SIM vending machines
Greenport Agency operates prepaid SIM vending machines in all three terminals. Machines are available 24 hours a day, including after the staffed counters close.
Locations include Terminal 1’s first floor, Terminal 2’s first floor, several machines on the second floor before customs, and Terminal 3’s first floor. The company advertises products covering different data amounts and validity periods, but it does not publish a dependable live list of machine prices or stock.
Vending machines are convenient for late-night arrivals, but they provide less installation help than a counter. Check that your phone is unlocked and compatible before paying; Greenport Agency warns that customer-error purchases are not refundable. Multilingual technical support numbers are provided for certain products.
J WiFi & Mobile in Terminal 3
Terminal 3 has a J WiFi & Mobile counter on the first floor before security. Normal counter hours are 07:00–21:00, with separate smart-pickup hours of 06:00–20:30.
The airport confirms that this location handles mobile connectivity services, but a current walk-in SIM package list and complete counter prices are not reliably published. Check the data allowance, network, validity and activation requirements before purchasing.
Airport SIM packages and current prices
The clearest current Narita prices are SoftBank Global Rental’s published prepaid packages. At approximately ¥159 to $1 on the checked date, ¥3,960 is about $25, ¥5,720 is about $36 and ¥6,600 is about $42.
AnyFone publishes products beginning at ¥3,300, but the complete Narita inventory can change. GPA vending machines also carry multiple brands and plans, although there is no reliable current price list for each machine.
Do not compare these airport totals directly with a carrier’s monthly base tariff or an online delivery price. Airport products may include the physical card, prepaid data and the convenience of immediate collection, while online prices may require advance ordering or delivery to a Japanese address.
Registration, activation, and payment
Bring your original passport even when buying a data-only SIM. Registration requirements differ by product, and a counter may need to verify your identity or help you complete an online application.
SoftBank’s official Prepaid SIM for Travel requires customers to be at least 18, use an unlocked device with a camera, upload a photograph of the original passport and complete web registration. SoftBank says processing can take up to 30 minutes after a correct application.
Other prepaid data SIMs may activate when inserted, but APN settings can still be required. Keep the packaging until the connection works because it normally contains the APN name, username, password and support details.
Airport payment support varies. AnyFone lists major credit cards for reserved products, while some airport machines support combinations of cash, credit cards, QR payments and Japanese IC cards. Do not assume every foreign card or mobile wallet will work at every machine.
Airport SIM vs city store vs Roafly eSIM
A city store is not automatically cheaper. SoftBank states that the retail price of its tourist prepaid SIM is set by the retailer, so there is no single official nationwide shelf price to compare with Narita.
Standard monthly plans from Japanese carriers should not be treated as easy tourist SIMs. Applications may require a residence card, Japanese address and an accepted payment method. They are more suitable for residents and some long-stay visitors than for a short holiday.
Roafly avoids the counter, physical SIM swap and stock risk. The supplied Japan network is NTT docomo, and you can retain your primary SIM for messages or calls from home. Roafly Japan plans are data-only, and hotspot use draws from the same purchased data allowance rather than a separate hotspot quota. See Best eSIM for Japan: Plans, Speed & Coverage and How to Get Mobile Internet in Japan for broader planning.
For a connection that does not depend on airport stock or counter hours, arrange a Japan eSIM before departure.
Airport WiFi
Narita provides free WiFi throughout Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and on the terminal shuttle buses. Select FreeWiFi-NARITA, open the connection page and accept the terms and security notice.
The airport does not publish a guaranteed speed because performance can vary with congestion and location. The network is also open rather than configured with individual WiFi encryption, so the airport recommends a VPN when a secure connection is required. Free power outlets are available in multiple terminal areas.
Use airport WiFi to retrieve an eSIM installation code, contact your accommodation or complete SIM registration. It is a useful arrival backup, not a substitute for mobile data once you leave the terminal.
Best option by arrival situation
Arriving before 21:00 in Terminal 1 or 2: Use AnyFone or SoftBank Global Rental when you want staff assistance and a physical SIM. Compare the validity, data limit and registration process before paying.
Arriving late at night: Use a GPA vending machine if your phone cannot use eSIM. Check device compatibility carefully because installation assistance may not be available.
Arriving in Terminal 3: The 24-hour vending machine provides the most dependable after-hours physical option. J WiFi & Mobile is available during normal daytime and evening hours.
Traveling with an eSIM-compatible phone: Install Roafly before departure. This avoids queues, vending-machine uncertainty and removal of your primary physical SIM.
Needing a Japanese telephone number: Ask specifically for a voice-enabled product. Most convenient tourist packages are data-only, so a standard airport data SIM or Roafly eSIM will not provide a local number.
Staying several months: Compare eligible local voice plans and long-term services in the city. A short-validity airport tourist SIM may become expensive or inconvenient when it cannot be renewed.
FAQs
Can I buy a SIM card after landing at Narita?
Yes. Terminals 1 and 2 have several staffed counters on the public side of the terminal, and all three terminals have prepaid SIM vending machines.
Can I buy a SIM in Narita Terminal 3?
Yes. Terminal 3 has a 24-hour GPA SIM vending machine and a J WiFi & Mobile counter open from 07:00 to 21:00.
Do I need a passport?
It depends on the product, but you should carry your original passport. SoftBank’s official tourist prepaid service specifically requires a passport upload and does not accept another document in its place.
Do Narita SIM cards include calls and SMS?
Many airport tourist SIMs are data-only. Do not assume that a package includes a Japanese number, conventional calls or SMS unless those features are clearly written on the package.
Is a Narita Airport SIM cheaper than buying one in Tokyo?
There is no verified general price advantage. Airport prices are published for some products, while city retailer prices, stock and service fees vary.
Will the SIM work in a locked phone?
No. Airport sellers instruct customers to use a SIM-unlocked device. Check your carrier-lock status and supported network bands before purchasing.
Is Narita’s free WiFi enough for the whole trip?
No. It works throughout the airport and shuttle buses, but it does not provide mobile internet after you leave the airport.
Final recommendation
For most visitors with an eSIM-compatible phone, a Roafly Japan eSIM is the simplest option because it can be prepared before departure, uses the supplied NTT docomo network and does not depend on Narita counter hours or stock.
Choose a staffed physical SIM counter when you need installation assistance or cannot use eSIM. SoftBank Global Rental provides the clearest published airport prices, while AnyFone offers a larger product selection. Late-night arrivals can use the 24-hour vending machines, but should expect variable stock, product-specific activation and no reliably published live price list.
