I've found that the VJW app make it much easier to deal with the administrivia since I've already filled out most of the information before and put it in my profile. Saves a bunch of time on way in since all I need to do is open a new trip and update the few things that change. Siegex's comments about having your card (or official QR code) with you make sense given the chance of random checks as long as the quarantine rules are still in effect. I've seen random checks in way to many border crossing scenarios (not just Japan or the US) where some kind of random check happen because some upper mid-level bunglecrat (not front line) needs to justify their continued employment.

My concern, the reason i brought up the card thing, is throughout covid, airline check in reps weren't up to date on new policies, so people would end up getting in to arguments with them as they didn't know policies changed, leading to having to bring a manager in who makes a command decision and refuses to look at the official gov't site showing that the policies change. It's not worth dealing with when you can just simply bring your CDC card to satisfy the requirement. At the airports though they are no longer checking covid info, and haven't been for a month, so this is really just to be safe when checking in until all airlines are up to date on the new covid policies for japan.

I see. How does that work? Is there a separate line at immigration and customs for those who have the QR codes from "visit Japan"?

Last week at Haneda around 1730;

Immigration was hand the agent my passport, take a picture, scan fingerprints, and she just asked if I had my code. No QR scan, just a quick look and then permit in my passport.
Waiting for the bags to come down so scanned passport and Customs QR. Another picture and my bag came out so off to Customs. Got in the e-gate line, had another face scan and out to Tokyo.
The longest part this time was waiting for bags, last couple of times it was the walk from Gate 142.

Pardon if this is obvious - but who scanned these?

You do - they have kiosks set up where you scan your passport and the QR code -- and then it's off to the e-gate where they scan your face for a match...

Saved the QR codes to my phone - seems like they might be useful.

Yes, that’s recommended, but there’s also free wifi at the airports, that is if ou didn’t get a travel SIM card or activate your roaming.

Just entered through Haneda 3 hours ago.

Easy peasy.

Landed at Haneda on 5/6 @1700 on AA 27. There were a number of booths open for immigration. Waited maybe 10 minutes in line. Went through customs and had screen shots off of both customs and immigrants QR codes. These were scanned, along with facial recognition and walked out. Flight attendants had said prior to landing that if you used VJW, you did not need the paper copy.

However, am trying to add the tax free code and cannot take a good a scan of the landing permission stamp. Tried a number of times and all screen shots couldn’t be loaded.

Landed yesterday afternoon at HND, passport check was quick with a screenshot of the QR code, customs had long lines for the paper forms but
no wait for the QR code line, make sure to scan passport and code while waiting for bags to show up, bags were really slow yesterday.

Hi, if I have a 13 hour layover in Japan, do I need this covid pass?

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You never needed it if you did not leave the airport. But more importantly, all steps in regards to covid-19 protocols have been stopped.

You can still use VJW for immigration purposes if you decide to see a bit of Japan in the 13 hours or get a landside hotel.

How are immigration and customs lines for QR code vs paper at Haneda? Norri's post indicated long lines for paper forms at customs, but it sounded like no difference from previous data points

How prevalent are QR scanners for tax-free? Are they usually available at shops that offer tax-free or should one always carry a passport, in which case seems to defeat the purpose of pre-registering for a QR code

The line is the same for QR code and paper forms for immigration. Might be a bit of a difference when you come to the point where they start looking at your documents. But until then, same same.