✈️ Airport Terminal Logistics
Managing your first hour on the ground, luggage shipping, and cash collection.
Fee-Free Cash Withdrawals at 7-Eleven ATMs
When landing in Japan, do not use airport currency exchange booths, which charge high commissions and offer poor exchange rates. Instead, withdraw local cash directly using an international debit card at ATMs.
- 7-Bank ATMs (7-Eleven): These ATMs are highly compatible with foreign debit cards (Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus) and have English, Spanish, and French language menus. They are located inside all airport terminals and inside every 7-Eleven store nationwide.
- Fee Structure: 7-Bank charges little to no ATM transaction fees (typically ¥110 to ¥220 depending on withdrawal amounts), making them vastly cheaper than currency desks.
- Alternative ATMs: Japan Post Bank ATMs (green machines located inside post offices and airports) also work reliably with international cards.
Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin) Counter Protocols
Navigating local trains and stations with heavy suitcases is stressful and tiring. Japan has a highly efficient luggage forwarding network called Takkyubin (宅急便), primarily operated by Yamato Transport (identifiable by the black cat logo).
You can ship your suitcases directly from the airport terminal to your hotel in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka for roughly ¥2,000 to ¥3,500 ($13 to $23 USD) per bag.
- Collect your luggage from the airport carousel and pass through customs.
- Follow airport signs for the "Baggage Delivery" or "Luggage Forwarding" counters (Yamato, JAL DFS, or Sagawa).
- Provide your hotel booking confirmation containing the hotel's name, full physical address, and your check-in date.
- Pay the shipping fee (cash or credit card). The staff will attach a tracking tag and ship the bag. It will be waiting for you at your hotel's front desk upon arrival (typically overnight delivery; same-day delivery is available for early morning arrivals in Tokyo).
Airport Express Train Terminal Boarding
Once you have cash and have forwarded your large bags, proceed down to the basement levels of the airport terminals where the train platforms are situated.
- Narita Express (N'EX) vs. Skyliner: Look for the bright red signs for JR trains (N'EX) or the blue signs for Keisei trains (Skyliner). You must purchase a seat reservation ticket from the machines or manned ticket counters before boarding these express trains.
- Haneda Monorail vs. Keikyu: Haneda features simple commuter platforms. You do not need to buy reserved seats; simply tap your digital or physical IC card at the gates and board the next departing train.