Quick answer

Fill in Visit Japan Web before you fly, sort your Suica at the airport, know your hotel's nearest station exit, and keep arrival day light. We landed at Narita and took the train to Ueno.

Landing in a new country after a long flight is when jet lag, new signs and too many decisions hit at once. Here’s how our arrival went, so you know roughly what to expect.

The short version:

  • Do Visit Japan Web before you fly. It gives you QR codes for immigration and customs.
  • Narita is further out, Haneda is closer to central Tokyo.
  • Sort your Suica at the airport, before you need the train.
  • Keep arrival day light. Hotel, dinner, sleep.

The flight in

We flew Korean Air with a layover in Incheon. A well-run layover airport takes some stress off the day. Incheon has clear signs, food options and space to stretch before the last leg.

Narita vs Haneda

  • Haneda → closer to central Tokyo, faster into the city.
  • Narita → further out, but lots of international flights and good train connections.

We landed at Narita.

Immigration, bags and customs

  1. Immigration → show your Visit Japan Web QR code. Lines moved reasonably well for us, but it depends on how many flights land together.
  2. Baggage claim.
  3. Customs → another QR scan.
  4. Arrivals hall → ATMs, SIM and eSIM desks, and train ticket counters, all signed in English.

Getting into Tokyo from Narita

Our hotel was in Ueno, so the Keisei Skyliner made sense. It runs from Narita to Ueno in roughly 40 to 50 minutes, with reserved seats and luggage space.

It’s not the cheapest option, but after a long flight, a fast direct train without changing lines with bags was worth it.

Cheaper options: the Keisei Access line or the limousine bus. Both are fine, just slower or with more transfers depending on where you’re staying.

What I’d plan for arrival day

  • Nothing big on the first evening. We did a calm evening at Senso-ji and a walk by the Sumida River, and that was plenty.
  • Know your hotel’s nearest station exit before you land. The wrong exit in a big Tokyo station can add 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Check your departure airport if you fly home from a different one. Easy to mix up mid-trip.
  • Have some yen and a working card ready. More in my money guide.

Power banks on flights

Power bank rules have become much stricter in recent years because of battery fire risks. As of Japan’s rules in 2026:

  • Never in checked baggage. Cabin bag only.
  • Maximum two power banks, each up to 160 Wh.
  • No charging the power bank, or charging your phone from it, during the flight.

Rules keep changing, so don’t rely on an old checklist. Check the latest rules of your airline, your departure airport, any transit airport and Japan before you fly.

Arrival day isn’t the day to prove how efficient you are. Get to the hotel, eat something, sleep, and let the trip start properly the next morning.