JAPANLIFE GUIDE
SOS

Arrival and Departure

Arriving in and Leaving Japan

Prepare Visit Japan Web, follow airport arrival procedures, choose an IC card, and check tax-free goods and security requirements before departure.

Check in advancearrivaldepartureairportVisit Japan Web

Start with this

Before you travel, check your passport validity and visa requirements, then prepare Visit Japan Web and your arrival and departure procedures.

Show this in Japanese

Official information checked: 2026-09

Arriving in and leaving Japan

Prepare for arrival, airport procedures, tax-free goods, and security screening. Choose Arrival or Departure below.

Choose your journey

Arrival

Register Visit Japan Web first, then follow immigration, baggage claim, and customs. Choose the IC-card option that fits your phone and trip.

1Register Visit Japan WebRegister immigration and customs information before your trip, then display the QR code at the airport.

What to do

  1. 1Open the official Visit Japan Web and create an account with your email address.
  2. 2Each traveller normally needs an account. Families entering Japan together can register accompanying family members in one representative’s account and create their QR codes there.
  3. 3Enter your passport details, arrival schedule, and immigration and customs information.
  4. 4Stay logged in before landing so your entry QR code can be used offline.
  5. 5At the airport, open the QR code from the procedure screen. It can be used for immigration and customs.
  6. 6You can still enter Japan without completing it, but you may need to fill in paper forms at the airport.

Have these ready

  • Passport
  • Flight ticket or flight number
  • Email address
  • First accommodation address in Japan
  • A device that stays signed in
  • Registration and showing the QR code are free. Watch for fake sites or apps that request payment.
  • Do not rely on a screenshot alone. Confirm that you are signed in before departure; changing accompanying-family details requires an internet connection.
  • Tax-free 2D codes cannot be used as screenshots. They are a separate feature from the entry QR code.
Open Visit Japan WebView official instructionsView Visit Japan Web FAQ
2Check your passport and visa firstVisa and boarding requirements vary by nationality, residence, and itinerary. Visit Japan Web alone does not meet entry requirements.

What to do

  1. 1Check your passport validity and make sure its name matches your flight ticket.
  2. 2Use the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Japanese embassy website to check visa requirements for your nationality and residence.
  3. 3Keep return or onward-flight and accommodation details ready in case your airline asks for them.

Have these ready

  • Passport
  • Visa or eVISA, if required
  • Return or onward-flight details
  • Accommodation details
MOFA visa information
3Follow the airport signs after landingAfter an international arrival, the usual order is Immigration, Baggage Claim, then Customs.

What to do

  1. 1After leaving the aircraft, follow signs for Arrivals and Immigration.
  2. 2Keep your passport and Visit Japan Web QR code ready for immigration.
  3. 3Collect your baggage and check that everything arrived. If a bag is missing or damaged, speak to the airline baggage counter before customs.
  4. 4At customs, use your QR code or the method directed by staff. Tell a customs officer about food, animals, plants, large amounts of cash, or other items that require declaration.

Have these ready

  • Passport
  • Visit Japan Web QR code or paper declaration
  • Baggage receipt
  • Details of food, animals, plants, or other items to declare, if applicable
  • If you have a baggage problem, ask the airline or airport staff before going through customs.
  • If you are unsure whether an item needs declaration, ask Customs or quarantine staff instead of guessing.
4Use Suica or PASMO to travel from the airportIC cards work on trains, subways, buses, and many shops. Suica and PASMO work in much the same way where the nationwide IC mutual-use mark is shown.

What to do

  1. 1With iPhone, check Welcome Suica Mobile compatibility before travel, then issue and top up Suica in the app. Location permission is required, and some countries or devices may need setup after you arrive in Japan.
  2. 2With a non-iPhone, when setup takes too long, or when the app does not work, choose a physical Welcome Suica or TOURIST PASMO at an airport or major station.
  3. 3Physical cards are commonly topped up with Japanese cash, so keep some yen ready.
  4. 4An IC card alone may not cover limited express trains, Shinkansen, or travel across separate IC areas. Check whether you also need a ticket or reservation.

Have these ready

  • iPhone and payment card for mobile setup
  • Japanese cash for a physical-card top-up
  • Route to your destination
  • Shinkansen or limited-express booking, if needed
  • Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days from purchase and normally cannot be refunded. Avoid topping up more than you expect to use.
Welcome Suica Mobile for iPhoneWhere to buy Welcome SuicaHow to use Suica and IC cards
Tips
  • Visit Japan Web is a free government service. Do not use a site that asks you to pay to register or show a QR code, or whose address is not a .go.jp domain.
  • Visit Japan Web is not a visa. Before flying, check passport validity, visa requirements, and your airline's boarding conditions.
  • Airport Wi-Fi can be crowded. Keep your passport, flight details, accommodation address, and onward-flight information easy to display on your device.
  • If you have a connecting flight, ask the airline whether your checked baggage is tagged through to the final destination. If you enter Japan, you normally complete immigration and customs at the airport where you arrive.

Useful Japanese phrases

Arriving in and Leaving Japan

この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。

Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.

I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.

Station or facility

すみません、どこに行けばいいですか。

Sumimasen, doko ni ikeba ii desu ka.

Excuse me, where should I go?

Article updated:

Official sources checked:

Review status: Provisional translation

Editing and verification

Editorial responsibility: JAPAN LIFE GUIDE editorial team

We turn official information into practical next steps for travellers. Source-check dates are shown beside references and are separate from article updates.

Editorial policy and contact

Share this guide