A first arrival in Japan is usually smooth: queues move, signs are in English and trains run on time. What makes the first day stressful is rarely Japan itself. It is landing tired with no phone signal, no yen, a suitcase that is too big for the plan, and a hotel that will not let you check in until mid-afternoon.
This checklist covers the first day only, from the plane to your hotel. Fares and rules below come from the airports, railways and government services and were checked on October 3, 2026. For things to book weeks ahead, use our what to book before your Japan trip guide instead.
The 10-point checklist
Tick these off in the week before departure; anything still open on the plane is what will slow you down on arrival.
- Passport valid for your whole stay, and a visa if your nationality needs one (check JNTO’s visa page).
- Visit Japan Web completed and the QR code saved as a screenshot.
- Phone plan ready: eSIM installed, roaming switched on, or pocket Wi-Fi pickup booked.
- About ¥10,000–¥20,000 in cash per person for the first day or two, or a card that works at Japanese ATMs.
- IC card plan: Apple Wallet, Welcome Suica Mobile, or which airport counter sells a card.
- Hotel address saved offline in Japanese and English, plus the nearest station.
- Airport-to-hotel route chosen, with the last train time noted if you land late.
- Big suitcase? A plan for stairs and transfers, or luggage delivery.
- Hotel check-in time confirmed, and where to leave bags if you arrive early.
- Nothing fixed or prepaid on the evening you land.
Immigration and customs: what happens after landing
Expect two checks after you leave the plane: immigration, then customs after baggage claim; Visit Japan Web’s single QR code covers both. The Digital Agency says foreign visitors show the code at the immigration counter and at the customs e-declaration terminal or inspection desk.
Fill it in at home, not in the queue. It takes about 15 minutes with your passport, flight number and first hotel address. If you skip it, Japan Customs says paper declaration forms are still available on the plane and at customs. Our Visit Japan Web guide walks through each step.
A few items need extra care at customs, such as some medicines, meat products and fresh fruit. If you carry prescription drugs, check the official rules for your medicine before you fly rather than relying on a travel forum.
Get your phone working before you need a map
Have mobile data running before you leave the arrivals hall, because the route to your hotel, your booking and translation all live on your phone. Airport Wi-Fi is free at the main airports, but it ends at the door.
For most visitors with a recent, unlocked phone, a travel eSIM installed at home is the least stressful option: it connects as soon as you land, with no counter to find. Roaming is simplest if your home plan includes Japan at a fair price. A pocket Wi-Fi suits groups sharing one connection, but you need to collect and return it. Our eSIM guide compares the options.
Cash, cards and your first transit fare
Carry some yen for the first day, but expect cards to work in most hotels, chain shops and stations. Smaller restaurants, shrines and rural buses can still be cash only.
- ATMs: Seven Bank ATMs, found in 7-Eleven stores and at the airports, accept many foreign cards. Check your bank’s foreign-withdrawal fees before you go.
- IC card: a rechargeable transit card pays for trains, buses and convenience-store purchases with a tap. TOURIST PASMO is sold at Haneda and Narita, and Welcome Suica at JR East counters and machines, including at Narita. Our IC card guide compares them.
- iPhone: add Suica or PASMO to Apple Wallet before you fly and you can skip the card counter entirely.
Your route from the airport to the hotel
Choose the route by your hotel’s nearest station and your luggage, not by a general “fastest way to Tokyo” answer. Tokyo’s two airports are very different distances from the city.
| Airport | Cheapest simple option | Faster or easier option | Late-night note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haneda | Keikyu Line: ¥330 to Shinagawa (11 min) | Airport Limousine bus to many hotels, or a flat-fare taxi (for example ¥7,600 to Chiyoda, plus tolls) | See our Haneda late-night guide |
| Narita | TYO-NRT bus: ¥1,500 to Tokyo Station (fastest about 65 min) | Skyliner: ¥2,470 to Nippori (36 min) or Narita Express: ¥3,140 to Tokyo | Narita is about an hour from the city; land late and a hotel near the airport can be the calmer choice |
Write down the last direct train or bus to your area before you fly. A delayed flight plus a long immigration queue can push you past it, and knowing the taxi fare in advance turns a crisis into a decision. For Narita to Shinjuku, our N’EX vs bus vs Skyliner guide compares the three routes in detail.
Luggage: stairs, lockers and delivery
If your suitcase is large, plan the first day around lifts and direct rides, or send the bag ahead. Many Tokyo stations have lifts, but they can be at the far end of a platform, and transfers at big stations involve long walks.
- Luggage delivery: Yamato Transport and similar services deliver bags from the airport to your hotel, usually the next day. Pack an overnight bag.
- Shinkansen soon after landing? Bags over 160 cm (length + width + height) need a special seat on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu lines: see our Shinkansen luggage guide.
- Early arrival: most hotels will hold bags before check-in, so you can go out without them.
Keep the first day light
Plan nothing fixed for the evening you land; use it to check in, eat nearby and sleep. Two to three hours from touchdown to the hotel is common once immigration, baggage and the ride into the city are added up, and more if several flights land together.
That is why prepaid, timed tickets belong on day two or later. If you arrive early and everything goes smoothly, a walk around your hotel’s neighbourhood is a better use of the evening than a booking you might miss.
FAQ
How long does it take to get out of the airport in Japan?
It varies with the number of flights landing at once. Allow one to two hours from the gate to the arrivals hall at busy times, then add the ride into the city.
Do I need cash on arrival?
Some, yes. Trains, shops and hotels usually take cards, but smaller restaurants and some buses are cash only. ATMs at 7-Eleven and in the airports accept many foreign cards.
Should I buy a SIM card at the airport?
You can, but installing an eSIM at home means you are online the moment you land, with no counter to find.
What if my flight lands after the last train?
Check the late-night bus and taxi options before you fly. For Haneda, our late-night guide lists them; at Narita, an airport hotel can be the simpler choice.
Sources
Checked on October 3, 2026. Prices and rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you pay.
- Digital Agency: how to use Visit Japan Web
- Japan Customs: passenger clearance
- JNTO: visa information
- Keikyu: Haneda fares
- Keisei: Skyliner
- Haneda Airport: access
- Narita Airport: access
- Seven Bank: international card ATMs
- Yamato: hands-free travel
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