Here’s a lightly edited version of something I posted yesterday in a Japan travel group (on Facebook).

PRE-DEPARTURE
I registered my vaccination details on MySOS a few weeks ago and received a blue screen within a couple of hours. (Note: This was BEFORE November 1st when the quarantine functions were integrated into VJW.) I did a separate registration on VJW for immigration and customs, and instantly received QR codes for both.

EN ROUTE
Cabin crew distributed blank immigration and customs forms during the flight. I chose not to fill them out since I’d already pre-registered for both on VJW.

PRE-DISEMBARKATION
After we landed at NRT (note: I flew with Japan Airlines), the cabin crew announced that passengers should remain in their seats until the quarantine officers at the airport communicated their instructions about who should disembark first: (1) passengers entering Japan or (2) passengers transferring directly to other flights. (I suspect this varies depending on which checkpoint is more crowded, inbound or transfers.) Surprise surprise, everyone ignored this announcement and stood up immediately after the aeroplane docked.

Once the doors were opened, cabin crew announced that passengers entering Japan - myself included - should disembark first. Those transiting at NRT without entering Japan (easily identified via the large yellow-bordered “TRANSFER” tags on their hand luggage) were politely but firmly asked to resume their seats or stand aside. Needless to say, getting off the plane was easier said than done as the aisles were clogged with transfer passengers who had ignored the earlier announcement and were not immediately next to their original seats.

QUARANTINE CHECKPOINT
On the long walk from the gate, I immediately connected to the free airport WiFi and loaded up my QR codes. I showed my blue screen to one of the staff who handed me a blue card, which in turn allowed me to swiftly clear the checkpoints all the way to the final quarantine counter. After turning in the blue card, my QR code was scanned, I was handed a slip of paper with health precautions etc., and then they waved me towards immigration.

IMMIGRATION
Staff members checked to see whether passengers were in possession of either (1) a VJW immigration QR code or (2) a completed paper form. I showed my QR code and was allowed into the immigration queue. The process was essentially the same as before the pandemic - photo, fingerprints, sticker in my passport - except that I didn’t have to turn in a paper form (the officer simply took my phone and scanned the code).

CUSTOMS
After collecting my luggage, I queued up at a kiosk where I scanned (1) my passport’s information page and (2) my VJW customs QR code. The kiosk took my photograph - mask off for that bit! - and then I marched over to an e-gate. I removed my mask a second time, walked though the first set of gates which closed behind me, the camera recognised my face, the second set of gates swung apart…

…and welcome to Japan. 😊

All told, the process took 20-30 minutes or so from aeroplane to exit. The main bottlenecks were A.) on the plane itself whilst we waited for an announcement on who was to disembark first (plus I was in Y not J so no priority disembarkation), B.) at baggage reclaim (again, Y passenger so no priority tags), and C.) at the customs kiosks where quite a number of people were in the queue to use them. Had I arrived at a less busy time and/or had I been travelling J, the whole thing might’ve been done with in 10-15 minutes.

Cheers and it’s great to be back!