Japan - NRT transit: possible to go to lounge then clear immigration?

As the title says...we are on a long layover in NRT. My ideal would be to drop by the SkyClub, grab a shower and freshen up, then head into Narita for shopping and food. While I've transited NRT many times, I've never tried this particular flavour and can't find reference to it here.

So, does anybody recall how one can make the path from the lounge to arrival immigration? In HK there's a "secret door" that can get you through between arrivals and departures, but it's definitely a non-standard path. Am I better off giving up on this idea entirely, or is there a way to do it at NRT that I'm forgetting?

Off topic. But where is this secret door at hkg?

So, does anybody recall how one can make the path from the lounge to arrival immigration? In HK there's a "secret door" that can get you through between arrivals and departures, but it's definitely a non-standard path. Am I better off giving up on this idea entirely, or is there a way to do it at NRT that I'm forgetting?

You are better off giving up on this idea entirely.

There is a pay shower facility on the landside of T1.

http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_37.html#t1

Or you could get hot, wet and naked with some strangers in Narita:

http://www.sentoguide.com/baths/chiba/narita

It's always possible for departing passengers to get back to arrival immigration , at any airport. It happens all the time. There are always secret doors. You just have to give your reason to the security/customs/immigration officer to show you the door.

People cancel travel at the last minute, or have forgotten something at the hotel, or couldn't find customs for VAT refund processing. Never got funny looks or questioning when getting these "same hour" arrival stamps.

How will you clear the transit security check without an on-going boarding pass?

How will you clear the transit security check without an on-going boarding pass?

Presumably the OP will have a boarding pass for the flight he's connecting to. If he doesn't he should carry a printout of the reservation - this will be enough to convince the security checkpoint.

I'd be very interested to hear how this goes, OP. If you try it, please share your experience.

As the title says...we are on a long layover in NRT. My ideal would be to drop by the SkyClub, grab a shower and freshen up, then head into Narita for shopping and food. While I've transited NRT many times, I've never tried this particular flavour and can't find reference to it here.

So, does anybody recall how one can make the path from the lounge to arrival immigration? In HK there's a "secret door" that can get you through between arrivals and departures, but it's definitely a non-standard path. Am I better off giving up on this idea entirely, or is there a way to do it at NRT that I'm forgetting?

You need an onward boarding pass to access the transfer security line and the NH lounge. *A lounges, unless otherwise clearly specified, are departure lounges not arrivals.

You need an onward boarding pass to access the transfer security line and the NH lounge. *A lounges, unless otherwise clearly specified, are departure lounges not arrivals.

No you don't, I have done this with just a copy of my itinerary (and once with nothing in writing). However, while there may well be a way to get back to arrivals, I sure don't know what it is, nor is it signed anywhere that I've been in Narita.

I would recommend against trying this.

I would recommend against trying this.

What's the worst that could happen?

What's the worst that could happen?

This... (http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/01/japans-immigration-control) Mwahhaa haa haa.

What's the worst that could happen?

+1. Don't know terminal 2 as well, but I'm guessing that if you are in the departure area in terminal 1 as you are walking out toward the number 3 satellite (*A flights), if you take a right after the duty free and before the UA club, you will find a way out. If no one can check, I should be through there next week and will do a little exploring. I suspect the authorities will be a little anal about it, but as jib says, it can't hurt to try.

Addendum - From the Narita Airport official website. Going Outside the Airport

Passengers connecting between international flights should make their way directly to their departure area (airside) after completing transit security screening and transit counter procedures.
You will be required to undergo immigration procedures if you leave this area to meet a friend or to go outside the airport. For further information, please contact your airline.

So it sounds doable.

Somebody had asked on one the threads whether a passenger connecting international to international at NRT with a long connection could first clear security, use the lounges, and then get back to customs and immigrations to exit the airport for sightseeing and other purposes before coming back to catch the connecting flight.

The answer is that all of security check-points will allow to pass back through the checkpoint which will give you access to customs and immigrations. If you need help, lounge staff will guide you to the exit.

Note however, that if you don't have a connecting boarding pass or itinerary, you can't get though security in the first place, nor if you could will they allow you access to the lounges. In other words, no use of the lounges if NRT is your final destination....only if you are outbound or connecting.

....Note however, that if you don't have a connecting boarding pass or itinerary, you can't get though security in the first place, nor if you could will they allow you access to the lounges. In other words, no use of the lounges if NRT is your final destination....only if you are outbound or connecting.

Well, no. As I pointed out above, I have gotten through transfer security with just a printed itinerary and once without even that, telling them I needed to get the boarding pass below.

And you can get into the United Club without a boarding pass if you are a member. Suspect that is true for the other clubs as well.

The answer is that all of security check-points will allow to pass back through the checkpoint which will give you access to customs and immigrations. If you need help, lounge staff will guide you to the exit.


Are you saying after heading through transit security and grabbing a shower in the lounge that I'd need to move salmon-esque back through security in order to access immigration on a long layover?

Are you saying after heading through transit security and grabbing a shower in the lounge that I'd need to move salmon-esque back through security in order to access immigration on a long layover?

That's what I understood - I've done this at another airport. It was painless. I wasn't screened and didn't have to queue up. They just waved me through.

The answer is that all of security check-points will allow to pass back through the checkpoint which will give you access to customs and immigrations. If you need help, lounge staff will guide you to the exit.

Note however, that if you don't have a connecting boarding pass or itinerary, you can't get though security in the first place, nor if you could will they allow you access to the lounges. In other words, no use of the lounges if NRT is your final destination....only if you are outbound or connecting.

What if your final destination is domestic Japan? My family and I are scheduled to fly LAX-NRT-FUK this coming spring. We did this a couple of years ago, and after clearing immigration, the wait for the NRT-FUK portion of the flight was long, chilly and dull (well, for me - my kid and husband curled up and went to sleep). Since we're flying in business class on American Airlines, I wondered if we should see about going to a lounge in between flights, but since one's an international flight and one's domestic, we have to completely exit immigration and customs before entering the domestic terminal. I considered seeing if we could hang out in the lounge for awhile before checking in for the domestic flight, but I worry that we'll have to pick up our luggage first, which will take us out of the secure area. (I assume we can't just leave our luggage alone for an hour.)

Has anyone done this? Any tips?

As already explained, you need an international departing boarding pass(plus other eligibility requirements) to access the international lounge.

You can leave your bags in the baggage claim are for an hour, or even 10 hours. But that is irrelevant.

JAL domestic Sakura lounge has showers(3), available to
http://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/lounge/japan/nrt/

(1) JMB members....
(2) JMB members ...

(3)"Emerald" and "Sapphire" upper tier members of oneworld frequent flyer program . One accompanying guest is also welcome.

(4)First class domestic passengers departing from this airport on the day.
Or passengers connecting to a same-day JAL flight with a first class reservation.

(5)Passengers connecting by 2:00 a.m. of the next day to or from an international JAL Group flight with a first or business class reservation. (*Note 2)

Has anybody tried this recently? I will be arriving NRT with an international connection and will have onward BP.

I was planning on grabbing a shower first at a lounge and then heading back out to immigration in reverse through the transit security area.

Has anybody tried this recently? I will be arriving NRT with an international connection and will have onward BP.

I was planning on grabbing a shower first at a lounge and then heading back out to immigration in reverse through the transit security area.

No problem. I did it a month or two ago. Just head out through security the opposite way you came in. They may ask but just tell them you're headed out of the airport. If you're confused someone in the lounge can direct you.

Once you've reversed your way out through security just go out through customs immigration like you normally would.

No problem.

Thanks. Will report back after my attempt this Sunday

Thanks. Will report back after my attempt this Sunday

How did it go?

How did it go?

It was as easy as 5khours said it would be.

My inbound flight docked near gates 50s Terminal 1 South Wing. The transit security checkpoint was nearby - went through it and into the NH lounge a couple steps away. After a shower, went back through the transit security the reverse way. They don't really have a channel in the opposite direction so you have to ask one of the personnel to let you go through.

They checked my BP and let me pass. No fuss.

Went through immigration. No issues there either. The one thing to keep in mind is something there are long lines (as was in my case) so be prepared time-wise. Went landside. 30 minutes later was back airside.