I essentially started preparing my leave from America to Japan around June-July, left July 23 from Los Angeles, and arrived in Narita Airport on the 24th. (I would have recorded as much as the process as I could, since I tend to forget things and I really wanted to write down what I could, but since I’m writing this post now, then whatever comes to mind now will do.) I am very thankful that my group in particular did not have to quarantine at this point in time.
Before the flight: Essentially pre-flight we had to download an app called MySOS and fill out our information. I think depending on the country you come from there are different labels and thus different quarantine requirements (length, vaccine status), but if I recall correctly, America is considered a “blue” country, so no quarantine is required. I also believe (don’t quite quote me on this) that technically there wasn’t a vaccination requirement either, though I did have 3 shots (1 booster) by the time I left. We were required to get a negative Covid test (with a bunch of restrictions on type and sampling method, including no rapid tests) at most 72 hours before our flight, but I believe this is now gone as of September 7, as time passes and requirements change/loosen up.
The flight: Nothing in particular happened with regards to covid I believe. I picked up my passport with my new visa in it, received some documents, dropped off my luggage, and checked in as normal. Flight itself was fine, about 10 hours. I didn’t particularly mind wearing a mask the whole time.
Landing: We landed at Narita airport. Since the last time I was at Narita, things had changed quite a bit. The first few minutes getting off the plane seemed as usual, but once we got out of the gate, everything was very methodical as the airport staff ushered everyone out into basically a single file line to be checked. Everyone was mostly going the one direction, with staff every few feet or so holding signs and telling everyone to have their passports and MySOS app ready. There were a few people every here and there going the opposite direction, but aside from the massive and long line that seemed to snake through the airport forever, everything was deserted. They essentially cleaned out the section I went through just to set up a covid requirements station. We stopped at around 3 different checkpoints, checking passports and documents and MySOS, before finally arriving at the point where you finally enter the country. That was another line, but not for covid reasons (I’m assuming), but because the amount of people that were there. Then we moved onto getting our checked-in baggage as usual, through customs, and then we were officially out of the airport.
What really stood out to me was how they converted the used-to-be bustling airport with shops and restaurants into a deserted single file maze for covid checkpoints. I’m also not entirely sure why there were multiple, as they seemed to check and scan the same thing every time, but I’m not in the place to question that I suppose. Other than that, since I was traveling with a large group with a program I figured I wouldn’t have any time to spend at the airport anyway, regardless of the weird covid line or not.
Interesting side note: There was a group of 4-5 American tourists(?) in front of me in line, and who were definitely very not Japanese looking. Every time they passed an employee saying directions and reminders, it’d come out in English. However, the second I passed, it came out in Japanese. For the record, I’m Chinese-American, so on first glance, I’m pretty Japanese passing, especially with a mask I guess. My Japanese is pretty good, so I understood it with no problem anyway, but I found that funny.
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