Japan Entry and Arrival Instructions: Immigration, Customs, and Airport Transportation

Fortunately, most of our tour guests, Americans, Canadians, and Australians, do not need a visa to visit Japan. All you need is a valid passport – just make sure it doesn’t expire before the end of your trip!

If you are ultimately heading to Okinawa, Osaka, or another city in Japan other than Tokyo, you will likely connect via one of the two main Tokyo airports – Narita or Haneda. You’ll go through customs and immigration and collect your bags in Tokyo, and then re-check in for your connection.

Step 1: Fill Out Your Customs and Immigration Forms

We suggest that you fill out your customs and immigration forms ahead of time via the Japan Travel Web. This process takes about 15 minutes and will expedite the airport arrival process. For guidance on the form, watch this video. Make sure you opt to do the customs declaration at this point, too. Upon completion, you’ll get a unique QR code to be presented to both immigration and customs officials; save it on your phone (or print it).

Or, you can fill out the paper forms on the plane to Japan or upon arrival. On the form, and sometimes by customs officers, you’ll be asked why you’re in Japan. Your purpose is “tourism.” If you need to elaborate, you can say “watching baseball.”

On the e-form or paper form, list our hotel as the place where you’ll stay in Japan:

(For our mainland NPB tours that pass through Tokyo)
Hotel Metropolitan Edmont
10-8, Iidabashi-3chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
102-8130, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3237-1111

(For our Okinawa Spring Training Tour)
Cococius Monpa Hotel
Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun
Okinawa 904-0115
Phone: +81 98-923-3388

Step 2: Landing in Japan

You’ll first go to immigration after exiting the plane. If you filled out the forms online, have your QR code ready and scan it at the Electronic Declaration Gate.

After getting your passport stamped, retrieve your luggage. Go through a final checkpoint where you offer them your passport, the same QR code (or customs form), and luggage for inspection.

Go into the public area of the terminal. You’ll find restrooms, shops, and currency exchange windows. This is a good time to exchange currency for yen if you haven’t already. The exchanges may be closed if you have a late arrival, but ATMs will be open.

If you have a connecting flight, follow the signage or go to the arrivals hall help desk to find your gate. You will likely have to find your way to a different terminal. You will check in again for your final leg.

Step 3: Transportation to Your Hotel

If you arrived at Narita Airport and your hotel is in Tokyo…

Note: If you don’t want to bother with public transportation, you can take a taxi directly to our hotel. The trip is about 90 minutes, and the cost is about ¥25,000 ($170). Show the driver the hotel information in Step 4 below. Pay the amount on the meter and do not leave a tip.

Take an escalator downstairs. Look for the window for Keisei Railway, NOT the JR Railway.

You want to take the Keisei Skyliner train to Keisei Ueno (kay-say way-no) Station (not to be confused with simply Ueno Station, which is part of the JR Railway). The cost is about 2,500 yen. There are other, slower trains, so be sure to ask for the Skyliner. The attendant can point you in the direction of the tracks. If the proper track and train are not clear to you, simply show a passerby your ticket, and they’ll show you the right train. Keep your ticket in a safe place; you’ll need it to exit.

(Alternatively, you can purchase the ticket online for 2,300 yen. You will receive a voucher via email, which you’ll exchange for a ticket at the airport. Visit this website to purchase a voucher.)

The train station at which you want to arrive, Keisei Ueno Station, is at the end of the line from Tokyo Narita Airport, so sit tight until every last person gets off. The bulk of the passengers often get off at the stop just before Ueno, which is Nippori. Don’t get faked out and get off with them. Wait until Ueno, the end of the line. The ride is approximately 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at Ueno, go upstairs, where you’ll exit through the ticket wicket. Have your ticket handy since you’ll need it to either pass through the automatic wicket or give to the train officer at his exit post.

Look for signs that point you toward the taxi stand. Immediately after passing through the ticket wicket exit, take a hard 90-degree left, walk about 10-15 steps, and take another hard left into a long hallway. Go up the hallway until you come to a covered driveway and taxi stand. There should be taxis there. If not, you’ll see a sign with a button to summon one. If you have any trouble finding this hallway, simply ask the train officer at the ticket wicket, “Taxi?” They’ll get it. It’s the same word in Japanese.

Allow the taxi driver to open the trunk, help you with your luggage, and open the passenger door. The driver will also close the door for you. Drivers prefer to do that all themselves.

Show the appropriate map and hotel information below to the driver. Be sure that you are looking at the hotel that corresponds with your tour! And remember – only pay the amount on the taxi meter and do not leave a tip – there is no tipping for services in Japan. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in at the front desk with your passport; your room key will be waiting for you.

For guests on our May 2025 NPB Tour:

Hotel Metropolitan Edmont
10-8, Iidabashi-3chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
102-8130, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3237-1111

(show the driver the map below)

The taxi ride from Ueno Station to the hotel costs approximately 2,000-3,000 yen.

If You Arrive at Haneda Airport and your hotel is in Tokyo…

Note: If you don’t want to bother with public transportation, you can take a taxi directly to our hotel. The trip is about 45 minutes, and the cost is about ¥9,000 ($60). Show the driver the hotel information in Step 4 below. Pay the amount on the meter and do not leave a tip.

Follow the signs to the Monorail Station in the airport. Buy a ticket at the kiosk. Use the touch screen to select “English” and follow the instructions. Your destination is Hamamatsucho Station, the end of the monorail line. The cost is about 500 yen, and you must use cash to purchase.

If the proper track or how to get a ticket is not clear to you, ask someone for help. Many people speak English, and those who don’t will easily understand your simple needs. Keep your ticket in a safe place. You’ll need it again to exit.

Upon arrival at the Hamamatsucho Monorail Station, go down to street level and find the taxi stand. If any trouble, simply ask anyone, “Taxi?” It’s the same word in Japanese. They’ll point you in the right direction.

Allow the taxi driver to open the trunk, help you with your luggage, and open the passenger door. The driver will also close the door for you. Drivers prefer to do that all themselves.

Show the appropriate map and hotel information below to the driver. Be sure that you are looking at the hotel that corresponds with your tour! And remember – only pay the amount on the taxi meter and do not leave a tip – there is no tipping for services in Japan. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in at the front desk with your passport; your room key will be waiting for you.

For guests on our May 2025 NPB Tour:

Hotel Metropolitan Edmont
10-8, Iidabashi-3chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
102-8130, Japan
Phone: +81 3-3237-1111

(show the driver the map below)

The taxi ride from Hamamatsucho Station to the hotel costs approximately 4,000-6,000 yen.

If you landed at Osaka Airport (KIX) and your hotel is in Nara…

If your final destination is in Okinawa…

[Follow these directions if you are a guest on our annual February Okinawa Spring Training Tour.] You have two options for getting to the hotel: taxi or bus. The first bus departs Naha airport at 11:10 AM, and the last departs at 5:40 PM, so if you have a particularly early or late arrival, you will need to take a taxi.

To take a taxi, find the taxi stand and ask the driver to take you to the Cococious Monpa Hotel (Google Maps link here). The drive time can vary greatly depending on traffic – anywhere from 30-90 minutes. The approximate price from Naha Airport to our hotel is ￥7,000 ($45) or ￥10,000 ($65) after 10:00 PM.

If you prefer the cheaper and more economical bus route, find the two bus company counters: Okinawa Bus and Karry Kanko. The Okinawa Bus price is ￥810 ($5), and Karry Kanko is ￥960 ($6). If you are using Okinawa Bus, purchase your ticket at the counter; for Karry Kanko, make sure you have cash and pay on the bus.

Note that neither of these buses stops directly at our hotel, Cococious Monpa; rather, they stop at the hotel next door, La’gent Hotel Chatan. You will choose which bus company depending on your timing. See the schedule table below.

Departure from OKA Airport	Arrival to La’gent Hotel Chatan (next to our hotel)	Bus Company	Cost
11:10 AM	12:16 PM	Karry Kanko	￥960 (pay cash on bus)
11:20 AM	12:42 PM	Okinawa Bus	￥810
1:30 PM	2:52 PM	Okinawa Bus	￥810
3:12 PM	4:18 PM	Karry Kanko	￥960 (pay cash on bus)
4:40 PM	6:02 PM	Okinawa Bus	￥810
5:40 PM	7:03 PM	Okinawa Bus	￥810