Easy: Use a prepaid transport card (like a Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport) instead of a train ticket. From Narita, the card will cover your basic fare on the Narita Express or Keisei Skyliner into town and you can buy a reserved seat/express ticket with cash on the platform.

You can use your Suica card to pay the "Base Fare" for the Narita Express (N'EX), but you cannot use it to pay the "Limited Express" surcharge or for a seat reservation at the ticket gate. The Narita Express is an all-reserved-seat train, meaning every passenger must have a specific seat ticket before boarding. To use your Suica, you would tap it at the gate to enter the station, but you must also purchase a separate "Limited Express" ticket from a vending machine or the JR-East website to cover the surcharge and seat assignment. In 2026, a more efficient way is to use the "N'EX Tokyo Round Trip Ticket" for roughly ¥5,000, which covers both the base fare and the surcharge for a much lower price than using a standard Suica balance. If you are caught on the train with only a Suica tap and no seat ticket, you will be required to pay the surcharge to the conductor in cash, and you may have to stand if the train is fully booked. For tourists, the JR Pass or the specialized N'EX discount tickets remain the superior choice over a standard IC card tap.