Book online before you fly, then collect your pocket WiFi or SIM from a counter or self-service station in the arrivals area. Every major international airport has them. Booking ahead is usually cheaper than walking up, and it guarantees you a device. With an eSIM there’s nothing to collect at all.
Which providers offer airport pickup, from their own sites (checked 20 Oct 2026):
| Provider | Airports |
|---|---|
| Sakura Mobile | Narita (Terminals 1, 2 and 3), Haneda (Terminals 2 and 3), Kansai (Terminals 1 and 2), Fukuoka (International Terminal), Chubu Centrair, New Chitose (Domestic Terminal) |
| Japan Wireless | Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu Centrair, Fukuoka, New Chitose |
| NINJA WiFi | Haneda, Narita, Kansai and other major airports, with counters and pickup lockers |
Counter locations and opening hours change, so check your booking confirmation and the provider’s pickup page before you fly.
How airport pickup works
- Book online and choose your arrival airport and terminal as the pickup point.
- Find the counter or station in the arrivals hall after customs. Your booking confirmation says which one.
- Show your booking (and sometimes your passport) to collect the device or SIM.
- Test it before you leave the airport. Free airport WiFi is a handy backup if anything needs sorting out.
If you land late at night, check the counter’s opening hours. Some providers offer self-service lockers or kiosks, or delivery to your hotel instead.
Haneda Airport (Tokyo)
International flights use Terminal 3, and some international flights use Terminal 2. Sakura Mobile has pickup at both terminals, and Japan Wireless and NINJA WiFi also offer Haneda pickup.
Narita Airport (Tokyo)
Narita has three terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 handle most full-service international flights, and Terminal 3 serves low-cost carriers. Check which terminal your flight uses before choosing a pickup point. Sakura Mobile has pickup at all three terminals, and Japan Wireless and NINJA WiFi also offer Narita pickup.
Kansai International Airport (Osaka)
Most international flights arrive at Terminal 1, and Terminal 2 serves some low-cost carriers. If you’re on a low-cost airline, check the terminal before you book a pickup there. Sakura Mobile has pickup at both terminals, and Japan Wireless and NINJA WiFi also offer Kansai pickup.
Other airports
New Chitose (Sapporo)
Sakura Mobile (Domestic Terminal) and Japan Wireless both offer pickup here.
Chubu Centrair (Nagoya)
Sakura Mobile and Japan Wireless both offer pickup here.
Itami (Osaka)
Itami is mainly a domestic airport, useful if you’re connecting to Osaka from elsewhere in Japan. None of the providers we track lists pickup at Itami, so have your device delivered to your hotel instead.
Fukuoka
Sakura Mobile (International Terminal) and Japan Wireless both offer pickup here.
Returning your device
Sakura Mobile and Japan Wireless both include a prepaid return envelope: put everything back in and drop it into any post box in Japan. Japan Wireless asks for it to be posted by noon on the day after your rental ends, and charges for late returns. NINJA WiFi lets you return the device free at its airport counters, or send it back from most convenience stores for ¥550. Check the deadline in your booking.
Posting it at the airport? There are no post boxes after security, so drop the envelope in before you go through. Airport post offices have post boxes, and some terminals have them in the departure lobby.
No counter needed: eSIM
An eSIM is installed on your phone before you fly, so there’s no queue, no opening hours to worry about and nothing to return. If your phone supports it, it’s the simplest way to land connected. Best eSIMs for Japan
Questions people ask
Can I buy pocket WiFi at Haneda Airport?
Yes. Rental counters at Haneda rent devices on the spot, though booking online first is usually cheaper and avoids the risk of them running out.
Does Narita Airport have free WiFi?
Yes, Narita has free WiFi in the terminals. It’s useful while you sort out your connection, but it stops working once you leave.
How do I rent pocket WiFi in Japan?
Book online with a rental company, choose your airport or hotel for pickup, collect it when you arrive and post it back at the end. Compare pocket WiFi rentals
Is it worth getting pocket WiFi in Japan?
For groups and families, often yes. For one person with an eSIM-capable phone, an eSIM is usually cheaper and simpler. eSIM vs pocket WiFi
Written by Stephen
Stephen lives in Osaka. fly-jpn is where he compares eSIMs, SIM cards and pocket WiFi for visitors, using what he has learned as a resident. A plan is only described as tested when he has bought it and used it in Japan himself.