Originally Posted by
ttyl
Thanks all for the feedback. I do prefer above ground and sightseeing. I'll use the Skyliner and go to Ueno instead, and like the idea of the Tokyo Tower picture too.
Just a clarification, am I able to pay the train/monorail fares with an international CC? Otherwise, I can withdraw some Yen from an ATM and use that.
For the Skyliner, do you recommend pre-purchasing the ticket online? Can they be used on a later train ride in case there is a flight delay?
From a capacity perspective there is no need to pre-purchase the Skyliner, just show up and buy a ticket for the next. If you arrive with only a few minutes to the next departure, there can be some crowding at the limited express ticket machines, and sales office which you could avoid. But they run every 20 minutes, so it is probably fine to just walk up and buy for the next possible departure.
For the yamanote/monorail tickets you will need cash. Skyliner is fine with a credit card. There may be an option to buy a through ticket from Narita via Ueno and Hamamatsucho, and then you can pay the whole thing with a credit card. But otherwise you will need cash....