Returned into Japan at NRT. Some tips for those crossing the border into Japan:

- The quarantine setup, test and mobile phone checks seem much better organized at NRT than HND. The entire process was quicker, the setup is more compact by distance meaning less walking and the process was just simply faster and more efficient. I recommend entering via NRT despite the inconvenience of the distance from Tokyo. It’s actually worth it.
- It’s a nice little perk of flying UA as a GS or NH in F that you get escorted as the first pax to go into quarantine and essentially you are guaranteed to be at the front of your plane’s line.
- Arrival time is KEY. When I came into NRT, there were no flights immediately before so there were zero lines and zero pax waiting for testing or results. This made the process much faster. I just got lucky with my arrival time - I didn’t plan it that way but if you can arrive during a lull, it can save hours.
- Returning to Japan during this year’s GW is great. There are almost no pax entering Japan and there are still AT LEAST 150 people quarantine related officers and staffers working to assist very, very few pax.
- Make sure to have your survey QR code and all paperwork filled out before you land.
- Use the new JP pre departure test form (as I did) and you’ll have far less of an issue with their new increased scrutiny of pre departure COVID test results. When I say pre departure, I mean the test you are required to have within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Japan.
- Ensure not to eat candy or chew gum for an hour before your saliva test. If you do, you’ll have to get a nasal swab test.
- Save your paper or electronic boarding pass. At one of the quarantine stations, they require it to confirm your flight number.

In addition, a few new things they have implemented this time around in addition to all the stuff I posted about previously during my return a few weeks ago:

- Testing of COCOA app (somehow it works for me now!)
- Testing of Skype video call

Can’t believe it but I can actually say I prefer Narita to Haneda for the moment.

Oh, and as expected, they didn’t care in the least that I was already vaccinated. Makes no difference to their process (yet). Hopefully soon they will accept that vaccine passport that they already pledged support for publicly.