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 a Suica (or Pasmo/IC card) to pay for the base fare of the Narita Express (N'EX), but it is not a "tap-and-go" service in the traditional sense. The Narita Express is an "All-Reserved" limited express train, which means you must have both a base fare ticket AND a Limited Express Reserved Seat ticket. To use your Suica, you would tap it at the ticket gates as usual to cover the distance-based fare, but you must also purchase a separate reserved seat ticket from a kiosk or the JR website before boarding. In 2026, many travelers find it simpler to buy a "N'EX Round Trip Ticket" or use a JR Pass, as these are often more cost-effective. If you board the N'EX with only a Suica tap and no seat reservation, you are technically in violation of the rules and will be required to pay the limited express surcharge to the conductor on the train (often at a higher "on-board" price). For a truly seamless "tap" experience from Narita to Tokyo, the Keisei Skyliner or local rapid trains are better options, though they arrive at different stations.