Field file / TOKYO

Asia / Japan

Tokyo

Tools46

Channels12

Local currencyJPY

Verified21 Jul 2026

Emergency firstPolice — 110

01 / Full local toolkit

Every useful channel.

8 toolkit entries now include sourced visitor checks for phone, payment, identity, language, setup and coverage. Unchecked tools are labelled honestly.

Ride-hailing

4 tools

No UberX-style private drivers in Japan — apps only hail licensed metered taxis. GO is the runaway default.

GOLocal default

The local default (20M+ users, ex-JapanTaxi). Most cars, fastest pickup, no surge, English + in-app card pay.

Visitor-readyWill it work for me?

GO explicitly supports short-term foreign visitors, offers English, and accepts in-app card payment; completed rides include an international-service fee.

Phone number: Use a reachable number for account/ride confirmation; no Japanese number is stated as a visitor requirement.
Foreign payment: A registered credit card can use GO Pay; in-car payment varies by taxi.
English: An English version of the app is available.
Local ID: No Japanese ID is listed for ordinary taxi booking.
Before arrival: Install and register your card before landing.
Visitor fee: Short-term visitors pay an international service charge on completed rides.

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S.RIDE

Tokyo-focused, tied to big fleets (Sony/Kokusai). One-swipe hail; strong car availability in central 23 wards.

Not yet traveler-checked

DiDi

Chinese app, also hails taxis. Frequent promo coupons make it the cheap pick; smaller fleet than GO.

Not yet traveler-checked

Uber

Works but weak here — routes to licensed taxis/premium only. Pricier, longer waits than GO. Skip unless the others fail.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Food delivery

3 tools

Uber Eats + Demae-can together are ~90% of the market. Uber Eats wins on English.

Uber EatsLocal default

Most downloaded, widest coverage, fully in English with English support — easiest for a new arrival.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Demae-can (出前館)

The veteran local #2, 100k+ merchants nationwide. Deeper Japanese-restaurant coverage; app is Japanese-first.

Not yet traveler-checked

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menu

Homegrown Japanese app with 90k+ restaurants and frequent discounts/coupons; some English support. A solid local alternative to the big two.

Not yet traveler-checked

Groceries

4 tools

Most Tokyoites just shop in person — a conbini (7-Eleven/FamilyMart/Lawson) is on every corner. Online grocery is fragmented; no single dominant app.

Amazon Fresh / Amazon.co.jp

Same/next-day for Prime members in Tokyo, good for imported goods. Broadest English-friendly option.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Rakuten Seiyu Net Super

Supermarket home delivery ('netsuper'), low ~¥2,000 minimum, relatively English-friendly. Earns Rakuten points.

Not yet traveler-checked

Uber Eats

Also delivers conbini + supermarket items in ~1 hour. Pricey per-item but fast and English.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Life Net Super / Ito-Yokado

Local supermarket delivery apps residents actually use; Japanese-only, tied to nearby store stock.

Not yet traveler-checked

Public transport

5 tools

You pay by tapping an IC card (Suica/PASMO); you plan routes in Yahoo Transit or Google Maps. Trains, not taxis, are how Tokyo moves.

Suica / PASMO (Mobile IC)Local default

Tap to ride and pay. iPhone visitors can use Welcome Suica Mobile or Apple Wallet; Android visitors should plan on a physical IC card.

Works with limitsWill it work for me?

Excellent for iPhone visitors through Welcome Suica Mobile or Apple Wallet; Android visitors should plan on a physical IC card instead.

Phone number: No Japanese phone number is required for Welcome Suica Mobile.
Foreign payment: Top up with an eligible card already in Apple Pay; issuer declines can still happen.
English: Welcome Suica Mobile is designed for overseas visitors.
Local ID: No Japanese ID or bank account is required.
Before arrival: Download and issue before the trip where local law permits.
Device limit: The official visitor mobile app is iOS/Apple Pay only; physical IC is the cross-platform fallback.

Yahoo! Norikae Annai (Yahoo Transit)

The route-search app locals actually use — exact platforms, transfers, fares, delays. Japanese-first.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Google Maps

Excellent Tokyo transit directions in English incl. car/platform hints. Best default for non-Japanese speakers.

Visitor-readyWill it work for me?

Works without local onboarding. Download the destination area before flying, but remember offline mode is driving-only.

Phone number: No local phone number is required.
Payment: No payment method is required for maps and navigation.
English: Interface and place search are available in English.
Before arrival: Download an offline area while you still have reliable internet.
Offline limit: Offline maps do not provide transit, walking, live traffic, or alternate routes.

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Japan Travel by NAVITIME

English transit + JR Pass mode, offline route saving. Built for visitors.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Japan Transit Planner (Jorudan)

Multilingual timetable/transfer search; solid English alternative to Yahoo Transit.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Payments

4 tools

QR code = PayPay; tap = Suica. Cash is still king at small shops, clinics, and older restaurants — always carry yen.

PayPayLocal default

Japan's dominant QR wallet, but a poor short-trip default: signup needs SMS, overseas cards may fail, and easy funding is domestic/ATM-based.

Resident-orientedWill it work for me?

Widely accepted, but not a sensible first-trip setup: signup needs SMS and overseas cards may fail, while balance funding is built around domestic cards, banks, or cash ATMs.

Phone number: An SMS-capable mobile subscription is required to register.
Foreign card: Overseas-issued Visa/Mastercard may fail; non-PayPay cards cannot top up the balance.
English: Core product/help is Japanese-first.
Local funding: Convenient funding is designed around PayPay Card, Japanese banks, or cash ATM top-up.
Before arrival: Skip for a short trip; set up Suica and carry yen instead.

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Suica / PASMOLocal default

Tap-to-pay IC works at transit gates, conbini, vending machines and many shops. The easiest short-stay cashless option.

Visitor-readyWill it work for me?

The easiest short-trip cashless option: use Welcome Suica on iPhone or a physical visitor IC card, and keep some yen for top-ups/fallbacks.

Phone number: Not required for a physical Welcome Suica; not required by the iOS visitor app.
Funding: Mobile can use an eligible Apple Pay card; physical Welcome Suica top-up is cash-only.
Local ID: No Japanese ID or bank is required.
Before arrival: iPhone users can set up mobile; others should get a physical card after arrival.
Where it works: Transit and IC-logo shops nationwide, but continuous travel cannot cross IC service areas.

Rakuten Pay

#2 QR wallet, tied into the Rakuten points ecosystem locals love.

Not yet traveler-checked

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d払い (d Payment) / au PAY

Carrier-run QR wallets (Docomo / au). Common among locals on those carriers; Japanese-only setup.

Not yet traveler-checked

eSIM & connectivity

5 tools

For a trip, a travel eSIM is the fastest path to data on landing. For longer stays, a foreigner-friendly carrier/MVNO gives you a Japanese number (needed for PayPay etc.).

AiraloLocal default

Best all-round Japan travel eSIM in 2026 tests — reliable 80–120 Mbps in Tokyo, cheap, install before you fly.

Visitor-readyWill it work for me?

Buy and install it on stable Wi-Fi before flying; it connects only once you reach the plan's coverage area.

Phone number: No local number needed; signup can use email verification.
Foreign payment: Cards and several global payment methods are supported.
Local ID: No destination ID is required for a travel eSIM.
Before arrival: Purchase and installation can usually be completed before departure.
On landing: Turn the line on in coverage; plan-specific activation rules still apply.

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Ubigi

Runs on NTT Docomo's network — best pick if you'll head rural/mountains.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Saily

NordVPN-maker's global eSIM; competitive Japan data plans, clean app.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Nomad

Global eSIM with frequent Japan deals and large-GB packs.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Sakura Mobile

Longer stays: English-support SIM/eSIM with a real Japanese number, no local bank account needed.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Messaging

4 tools

LINE is non-negotiable — it's how your landlord, coworkers, clinic, and friends all reach you. Set it up in your first 48 hours.

LINELocal default

The de-facto messenger of Japan. Everyone uses it; businesses run support and bookings through it. WhatsApp/iMessage are rare among locals.

Works with limitsWill it work for me?

Useful for local contacts, but account creation depends on where you live: outside five Asian markets, new accounts use Apple or Google rather than phone signup.

Foreign number: Phone signup is limited to Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand; other residents use Apple/Google signup.
Payment: No payment method is required for messaging.
English: The app interface can be switched to English.
Local ID: No Japanese ID is required for ordinary messaging.
Before arrival: Create or recover the account before flying so you can exchange contacts immediately.

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WhatsApp

Mostly foreigners/international contacts. Few Japanese locals use it.

Not yet traveler-checked

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X (Twitter)

Huge in Japan for real-time info (train delays, events) and DMs — not a primary chat app but locals live on it.

Not yet traveler-checked

Instagram

Widely used for DMs among younger locals and for discovering shops/restaurants.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Navigation

4 tools

Google Maps is excellent in Tokyo (station exits, platform, indoor). Pair with a translation app for signs/menus.

Google MapsLocal default

Best overall in Tokyo — walking, transit, station exit numbers, English. The default for residents and visitors alike.

Visitor-readyWill it work for me?

Works without local onboarding. Download the destination area before flying, but remember offline mode is driving-only.

Phone number: No local phone number is required.
Payment: No payment method is required for maps and navigation.
English: Interface and place search are available in English.
Before arrival: Download an offline area while you still have reliable internet.
Offline limit: Offline maps do not provide transit, walking, live traffic, or alternate routes.

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Yahoo! MAP

Popular local alternative with great crowd/rain radar and disaster info. Japanese-first.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Apple Maps

Much improved in Japan; solid transit and clean walking directions if you're on iPhone.

Not yet traveler-checked

Japan Travel by NAVITIME

Visitor-focused nav with offline maps and English transit.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Shopping

4 tools

Amazon and Rakuten are co-dominant for new goods; Mercari owns secondhand. Points ecosystems (Rakuten/PayPay) drive a lot of local loyalty.

Amazon.co.jpLocal default

Fast Prime delivery, English UI, everything. Easiest for new arrivals.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Rakuten IchibaLocal default

Japan's other giant — sprawling marketplace tied to the Rakuten points empire locals optimize hard. Japanese-first.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Mercari (メルカリ)

The dominant secondhand marketplace — locals buy and sell everything here. Japanese-only, needs local setup.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Yahoo! Shopping / PayPay

Third big marketplace, integrated with PayPay points.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Government & ID

2 tools

Visit Japan Web is the one every arriving traveler needs. My Number is for residents.

Visit Japan WebLocal default

Official immigration & customs portal — register before landing to get QR codes that speed you through arrival at Narita/Haneda.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Myna Portal (マイナポータル)

Residents only: links to your My Number Card for gov services, health insurance, tax. Not for tourists.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Bikes & scooters

3 tools

Docked bike/scooter share with ports near stations and conbini. E-scooters (LUUP) are legal on roads; helmets encouraged not mandatory for the low-speed class.

LUUPLocal default

E-scooters + e-bikes with ports all over central Tokyo; ¥50 base + ¥20/min. English app. The trendy local default for short hops.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Docomo Bike Share

Red electric-assist bikes, docked at stations across the 23 wards; workhorse for commuters.

Not yet traveler-checked

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HELLO CYCLING

Widespread e-bike share with the densest port network in greater Tokyo/suburbs.

Not yet traveler-checked

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Emergency numbers

4 tools

110 and 119 are free from any phone, 24/7. Operators may have limited English — state your location clearly; interpreter support can be patched in.

Police — 110

Crime, accidents, immediate danger. Free, nationwide, 24/7.

Not yet traveler-checked

Fire & Ambulance — 119

Same number for both fire and medical emergencies. Say 'kaji' (fire) or 'kyukyu' (ambulance).

Not yet traveler-checked

Japan Coast Guard — 118

Sea/marine accidents and emergencies.

Not yet traveler-checked

Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO) — 050-3816-2787

24/7 multilingual (EN/中文/한국어) tourist help line for emergencies, disasters, and medical guidance.

Not yet traveler-checked

13 / First 60 minutes

Leave the airport ready.

Six concrete setup decisions for Tokyo. No fake personalization—just the local default, the local caveat, and what to do before day one gets expensive.

Arrival sequenceConnectivity → airport exit → transit → map → money → contact

Mark only what you have actually set up. Progress stays in this browser.

Ready for arrival0 / 6 complete

Step 1 · Get onlineAiralo

Visitor-readyBuy and install it on stable Wi-Fi before flying; it connects only once you reach the plan's coverage area.

Set up data before you need a ride, ticket, map, or verification code.

Best all-round Japan travel eSIM in 2026 tests — reliable 80–120 Mbps in Tokyo, cheap, install before you fly. For a trip, a travel eSIM is the fastest path to data on landing. For longer stays, a foreigner-friendly carrier/MVNO gives you a Japanese number (needed for PayPay etc.).

Open Airalo

Step 2 · Price the airport rideGO

Visitor-readyGO explicitly supports short-term foreign visitors, offers English, and accepts in-app card payment; completed rides include an international-service fee.

Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.

The local default (20M+ users, ex-JapanTaxi). Most cars, fastest pickup, no surge, English + in-app card pay. No UberX-style private drivers in Japan — apps only hail licensed metered taxis. GO is the runaway default.

Compare airport routes

Step 3 · Check the public routeSuica / PASMO (Mobile IC)

Works with limitsExcellent for iPhone visitors through Welcome Suica Mobile or Apple Wallet; Android visitors should plan on a physical IC card instead.

Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.

Tap to ride and pay. iPhone visitors can use Welcome Suica Mobile or Apple Wallet; Android visitors should plan on a physical IC card. You pay by tapping an IC card (Suica/PASMO); you plan routes in Yahoo Transit or Google Maps. Trains, not taxis, are how Tokyo moves.

Read local details

Step 4 · Load the right mapGoogle Maps

Visitor-readyWorks without local onboarding. Download the destination area before flying, but remember offline mode is driving-only.

Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.

Best overall in Tokyo — walking, transit, station exit numbers, English. The default for residents and visitors alike. Google Maps is excellent in Tokyo (station exits, platform, indoor). Pair with a translation app for signs/menus.

Open Google Maps

Step 5 · Know how to paySuica / PASMO

Visitor-readyThe easiest short-trip cashless option: use Welcome Suica on iPhone or a physical visitor IC card, and keep some yen for top-ups/fallbacks.

Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.

Tap-to-pay IC works at transit gates, conbini, vending machines and many shops. The easiest short-stay cashless option. QR code = PayPay; tap = Suica. Cash is still king at small shops, clinics, and older restaurants — always carry yen.

Read local details

Step 6 · Reach people locallyLINE

Works with limitsUseful for local contacts, but account creation depends on where you live: outside five Asian markets, new accounts use Apple or Google rather than phone signup.

Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.

The de-facto messenger of Japan. Everyone uses it; businesses run support and bookings through it. WhatsApp/iMessage are rare among locals. LINE is non-negotiable — it's how your landlord, coworkers, clinic, and friends all reach you. Set it up in your first 48 hours.

Open LINE

This is an arrival checklist, not an app ranking. Open the full local toolkit below for alternatives, coverage limits, and services you may need later.

14 / Airport exit planner

Get out without guessing.

Choose the airport and the thing that matters most. The route order changes from sourced pickup, fare, service-hour, and payment facts—not a generic travel ranking.

Arrival briefHaneda is close to the city; Narita is not. Pick the airport before choosing the train, bus, or taxi.

2 airports covered

Where did you land?

What matters right now?

HND

Tokyo Haneda

International arrivals usually use T2 or T3; both rail operators are signed from Arrivals.

Routing to Central Tokyo

After baggage claim · Best balanceSearch your hotel station first; choose Keikyu for Shinagawa/Asakusa-side routes.Start with Keikyu Airport Line

Keikyu Airport Line

Best match

Haneda → Shinagawa / Asakusa Line

Open Haneda route search

Shinagawa, Ginza, Asakusa, and onward JR connections

Typical time: As little as 13 min to Shinagawa
Price reality: About ¥330 to Shinagawa
When it runs: Early morning to around midnight; check the live last train

Where to goFollow KEIKYU signs to the airport station below the terminal.

How to payUse an IC card or buy a destination ticket at the machine before the gates.

First moveSearch your hotel station first; choose Keikyu for Shinagawa/Asakusa-side routes.

WatchSome trains change service names or continue onto another line; follow the destination display, not only the color.

Tokyo Monorail

Haneda → Hamamatsucho

Open Tokyo Monorail

Tokyo Station side via a simple JR transfer

Typical time: As little as 13 min from T3 to Hamamatsucho
Price reality: About ¥520 to Hamamatsucho
When it runs: Early morning to around midnight; check the live last train

Where to goFollow TOKYO MONORAIL signs; T3 station connects directly to the arrival level route.

How to payUse Suica/PASMO or buy a paper ticket at the station machine.

First moveChoose the Monorail when Hamamatsucho gives you the cleaner final transfer.

WatchYou still need a JR/Metro transfer for most hotels.

Airport taxi

Official rank → door

Open Haneda taxi guide

Late arrival, several travelers, or difficult luggage transfers

Typical time: About 25–55 min to central wards; traffic dependent
Price reality: Fixed-fare zones vary; Shinjuku is ¥9,000 daytime + tolls
When it runs: 24/7

Where to goT3 general taxis: 1F lane 2. App/reserved pickups use their designated stands.

How to payConfirm the fixed-fare zone and tolls with the dispatcher before boarding.

First moveUse the general taxi line unless you already booked; app-dispatched cars have separate pickup stands.

WatchLate-night/early-morning fixed fares are higher; the 2026 Shinjuku example is ¥10,700 plus tolls.

15 / Money on arrival

Know what you're paying.

Local tender, realistic foreign-currency acceptance, and a daily USD reference before a terminal or exchange desk chooses the rate for you.

Local currencyJPY

Japanese yen

USD reference rateLoading daily rate

Check rate before paying

Unavailable

Reference only. Your bank, card network, ATM, or exchange counter may add fees or use a different rate.

What can I pay with?

PrimaryJPY

The normal currency for prices and payment.

Card and IC-wallet acceptance is strong in cities, but cash still matters at smaller restaurants, temples, and ticket machines.

Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026

Tokyo

Tokyo

Leave the airport.

Your first six downloads.

Every local channel.

Tokyo

Every useful channel.

Ride-hailing

Food delivery

Groceries

Public transport

Payments

eSIM & connectivity

Messaging

Navigation

Shopping

Government & ID

Bikes & scooters

Emergency numbers

Leave the airport ready.

Get out without guessing.

Keikyu Airport Line

Tokyo Monorail

Airport taxi

Know what you're paying.

Japanese yen