The Japanese rules and restrictions are on entry, not transit.

That being said, you can't change between Haneda and Narita, as that requires entry to Japan, and you can't do overnight connections in Narita. So compared to normal, it is a bit more restrictive.

Thanks for the info CPH-Flyer . Another question - do you know if 2 hours layover in Narita would be enough? Will be my first time flying in the COVID era, so not sure if there will be any extra processes other than re-checking bags through the scanner.

Two hours is fine, all connecting passengers are taken off the arriving flights first and escorted to transit security. You will not see your bags in Narita, they will be forwarded to the next flight.

CPH-Flyer Oh I meant my carry on bags. For layover we usually need to run them through the scanner again, before going to next flight's gate. Or is this no longer necessary during COVID?

Ahhh, I thought you were talking about checked luggage. Transit security check is running as normal, but nothing extra.

Haha yeah I wasn't aware if there would be additional security. One more question if you don't mind, do we need to show any negative COVID test or some sort? Apologies if the questions are too basic, as all documentation I can find are referring to arrival and not transit.

You don't need any documentation beyond what your arrival country requires. Japan does not have additional requests for transit.

My NH JFK-NRT had no transit screening in Nov last year
​​​​​​Ymmv though, it was policy for some usa-NRT pre-covid to be allowed to skip transit security . Only applies to flights inbound from USA to narita

That is supposedly still in place.

Would either of these count as a transit and hence be allowed under the current rules?

a) LHR-HND-LHR

b) LHR-HND-FRA or FRA-HND-LHR

Purchased as a return (or open jaw) ticket with time spent at HND being less than 24 hours.

b) would work since you are not arriving from and departing to the same country.
a) would not be permitted

Thank you. Then it is as I suspected. A shame that currently LHR is the only ANA 77W route to EU.

Did another separate ticket transit in Narita arriving on UA and departing on QR. On my first leg from GUM, there were 8 (out of 107) passengers connecting to QR and only my companion and I were hand carry only!!! Even without a policy in place to through check to QR, it seems they’re allowing it due to COVID and the inability for most people to enter Japan. We were escorted by a UA agent from our gate in T1 all the way to the T2 transit counter. Each passenger took roughly 20-30 minutes to verify documents and check in, so altogether 2.5 hours. Was probably the most thorough document check I’ve ever experienced BY FAR, felt so bad for the agent. They even had to verify if my hotel was on the Maldives Official Lodging list. They had an older hard copy list with 152 properties, and what do you know, my property was #153, so had to find the updated list online.

I had a back up routing to SF just in case we were denied boarding and the UA agent escorting was well aware of this. But because it took so long to get us processed we couldn’t even use that. Agent said if we were IDB’d we would need to overnight airside which I didn’t even know was possible. Contradicts policy but due to COVID there’s really no other alternative as all the US bound flights departed. I’m otherwise eligible for entry into Japan but my PCR tests for the Maldives was a few hours invalid for Japan.

We heard from some people who had returned from the US that free tests are available in the US. Most important, they are valid for Japan as long as the right documents are stamped. My son is in NYC and due to come back next week via ICN. He knows Japanese who have done this, supposedly the test is just 30 minutes. I guess it is the/an antigen test? It's hard for me to verify anything though.

Searching NYC in English I just see commercial testing for $200 or free NYC testing that takes 3-4 days.

EDIT: The Japan Immigration acceptable ECLEIA or CLEIA tests seem to be terms that only get hits in Japanese. The form warns ICA is not acceptable.

I know CMH and GUM has a location that offers free PCR tests. Some other locations like LAS offer free tests but possibly only to residents..? But all these tests take hours at the earliest. The only 30 minute test I know is antigen, but I thought that wasn’t eligible for Japan? Or maybe rapid PCR (LAX airport testing) but never heard of a free one.