When we arrived at Tokyo Haneda, we were among the first ones off the plane, but our gate was quite far from the immigration hall and several other flights arrived around the same time. By the time we reached immigration, there was a long line.

It took about 1/2 hour to get through the line. We used QR codes received from the Visit Japan website prior to the trip on the automated machines so we didn’t have to slow down and fill out paper forms like many of our fellow travelers.

Even after going through what we thought was automated immigration, we still had to then wait in another line and have our passport checked manually. This was fortuitous as I remembered to have the immigration officer put a sticker with yet another QR code in our passports which allowed us to shop tax-free under the rules in effect (purchases over 5,000 JPY that we would not consume in Japan). Note that this system is going away in November 2026 and you will have to line up at the airport with your receipts to get a tax refund like the European VAT refund system.

At baggage claim, our checked bags came out fairly quickly. We went through the nothing to declare line at customs and made it out into the arrivals area. We already had our boarding passes for the Tokyo-Osaka flight on our phones so we did not need to check in with JAL again at the transfer desk.

I had scoped out the layout of the arrivals area as we needed to do a couple of things. My daughter needed to pick up a digital e-sim with a Japanese phone number to be able to receive her concert ticket. I needed to have our large suitcase with our Tokyo clothes for later in the trip stored and transported to our hotel in Ginza.

We were able to accomplish both things at the JAL ABC counter. There was a short line, but we had plenty of time. It only cost me about $20 to have the large suitcase stored for four days and sent to the Hyatt Centric Ginza the day before our arrival there. When we eventually checked in, the suitcase was waiting for us in our suite. My daughter was able to get her e-sim. She ended up having a few issues with it, but the Conrad Osaka staff managed to sort it out for her.

Now it was time to head over to Terminal 1 for our domestic flight. Luckily, the entrance to the bus transfer was right next to the luggage storage counters. There was a security check without a long line then a couple of escalators down to a bus stop. The bus arrived fairly quickly and we headed on a tour around Haneda to Terminal 1.

The bus was full of other tourists heading to various parts of Japan. The ride took about 10 minutes and we were dropped off at Terminal 1. We found our gate and as there was another flight leaving for Osaka before ours I walked around and found the JAL desk to see if we could change to the earlier flight. I was told it was not possible because of our cheap fare class (we paid about $65pp for the flight).

While I was walking around, I found an ATM to withdraw some yen and a 7-11 to try our first Japanese snacks. My daughter and I also grabbed an ice cream near the gate. We were able to charge our devices while we waited at the gate. I may have been able to get us in the JAL lounge as we probably had access from traveling in business and first class on the prior flight, but everyone was tired and comfortable just waiting at the gate.

Up Next: Japan Airlines 767 HND-ITM Economy Class Review

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