Arrival In Japan

Immigration and Customs

Clearing immigration and customs in Japan is not difficult, and the system has been streamlined to avoid delays.

On arrival at the immigration booth, you submit your passport and arrival card (hopefully soon to be done away with). You’ll get your photo taken, and get fingerprinted (both index fingers).

Then it is off to the luggage carousels to claim luggage. Once you have everything to head through customs, where there are green and red lanes like most other countries. Security checks (sniffer dogs and x-rays) are done before your luggage arrives on the carousel, so customs tend to be quite quick. A warning however that Japan has very strict laws on drugs, pornography, and weapons. And remember that Habeas Corpus does not exist in Japan, and smuggling anything illegal can result imprisonment without charge, long incarceration penalties, and deportation from Japan with no right to re-enter. DON’T bring drugs into Japan.

Narita Airport has the most international flights and is located about 60km east of central Tokyo.  The airport has a long history or trouble with local residents since the government forcibly commandeered land back in the 60s. With frequent demonstrations, security was tight at the airport, with check points for those arriving by both vehicle and train. These check points only ceased operations in 2012.

Narita Airport has 3 terminals. The original terminal one has been extensively redeveloped, and the only original gates are the two circular satellites on the northern side of the building. Terminal two opened in the early 90s, and consists of a main terminal and a satellite terminal that used to be connected by automated train services, but have since been replaced by moving walkways.

Terminal 3 was added in 2015 to serve low cost carriers and is located about 400m north of terminal 2.

Terminal 1 is the base for All Nippon Airlines, and all Star Alliance carriers also use this terminal. Japan Airlines is based in terminal 2, and houses all One World alliance members. Members of other alliances and independents are shared between the terminals.

Haneda Airport has only opened to international flights in the last 10 years or so and is still mainly a domestic airport. It is located a lot closer to central Tokyo than Narita Airport. With Narita Airport closing it’s runways between Midnight and 6AM, and the completion of the 4^th off shore runway, Haneda has seen a rapid increase in the number of international flights. Originally slots for international flights were only going to be given to those landing between 11PM and 7AM, but additional slots have been granted during day time hours.

Haneda Airport has 3 distinct terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 are for domestic flights only and house Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways respectively (along with the subsidiaries). The separate international terminal opened in 2010, and serves all international flights.