Can you leave Tokyo airport during layover? (2023)

Can you leave the airport during a layover Japan 2022?

A: Transiting through Japan is possible under the current policy as long as you are: (1) arriving and departing from the same airport, (2) arriving and departing on the same calendar day, and (3) you do not leave the airport at any time.

Since the airport is situated within Narita City, you can easily head out and explore the nearby attractions during an extended layover.

In theory, absolutely! In practice, whether you leave the airport during a layover is tricky. If you're traveling domestically, you won't have to worry about customs or visas, but you're still leaving the airport, and returning gives you zero priorities over other passengers who are checking in on that flight.

The short answer is yes. It is possible to exit and reenter the airport. Whether or not you should depends on a range of factors, including if you're traveling internationally or domestically and how much time you have between flights.

Going Outside the Airport During Your Waiting Time

However, Immigration procedures will be required if passengers wish to leave this area to meet a friend or to go outside the airport. In some cases, a visa may also be required.

For travelers making a brief stopover in Japan while en route to another country, transit visas are required. Activities are limited to rest and leisure, and do NOT include business-related activities or visiting family and friends.

Though Tokyo may not be the final destination on your journey, that doesn't mean you can't make the most of your limited time in the capital! If you have a half day to spare during your layover or stopover, you can head from the airport to the center of Tokyo and see some of the top tourist spots.

It's not technically illegal. It IS, however, against the airline terms and conditions. It's called Hidden City Ticketing.

Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.

Is a 4 hour layover long enough to leave the airport?

On a domestic flight you are limited to a 4 hour connection which does not leave much time to leave the airport for sightseeing. If you are connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight then a layover is defined by the airlines as no more than 23 hours and providing ample to time for sightseeing.

So, if you have a visa (or your connecting country doesn't require one), then, yes, you can leave the airport during a layover on an international flight. If you need a visa but you don't have one, then you can't leave the airport during an international layover.

Yes. Airport layovers in international destinations with a level 3 travel health notice are included in CDC's recommendation to avoid nonessential travel. If a layover is unavoidable, CDC recommends you not leave the airport.

Haneda Airport Hotels

If you are on a layover in the international terminal, you don't have to go through security as there is a transit hotel offering both short-term and overnight rates. A hotel located in the public area of the airport and a number of nearby hotels offering free airport shuttles are other options.

There is a capsule hotel with 24-hour check-in at Parking P-2 connected to Terminal 2. The capsule hotel may be full on the day of your flight, so booking in advance is recommended. The Terminal 3 Main Building 2nd fl.

Entry & Exit:

You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business "visa free" stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. You cannot work on a 90-day "visa free" entry.

Activities are limited to sightseeing, leisure, and rest. Applicants must be traveling to foreign country from another foreign country via Japan who wish to stay in Japan for a short period (up to 15 days).

A passport and onward/return transportation ticket are required. Visas are not required for tourist/business stay of up to 90 days.

Does Tokyo airport have sleeping pods?

Lounges. While Tokyo Narita Airport has several lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Tokyo Narita Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Making a Domestic Connection

If you're connecting to a domestic flight at Narita, make sure to leave a layover of at least two hours. You will have to pick up your baggage, go through customs, re-check your bag, and then go through security again.

If you're flying from one end of the US to the other and you have a layover in the middle, there's no immigration procedures to worry about. This means for domestic connections, if you leave the airport on your layover, you'll have to go through security again to get to your second flight.

Yes, even the Skiplagged website itself warns against using this method often. Airlines could suspend your frequent flyer account and seize your miles like United has threatened, or worse. Some travelers who have used and abused this tactic have been sued.

A layover is a broad term that means any connection between flights. This could include a stop as short as 30 minutes (depending upon the airport) or as long as four hours (or up to 23 hours and 59 minutes on international flights).

Though Tokyo may not be the final destination on your journey, that doesn't mean you can't make the most of your limited time in the capital! If you have a half day to spare during your layover or stopover, you can head from the airport to the center of Tokyo and see some of the top tourist spots.

Yes, visa free tourism resumed October 11, 2022.

Individual tourists may visit Japan starting October 11, 2022, subject to vaccine or testing requirements as further described in the U.S. Embassy's “Information for U.S. Citizens Traveling to Japan” webpage.

The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). This is when Japan is at its most vibrant, with delicate cherry blossom or bright red leaves adding contrast to the scenery. Remember, it can also be very crowded at this time.

Does Japan accept rapid Covid test?

For travel to Japan, we recommend selecting a Rapid RT-PCR or Rapid NAAT Molecular test to avoid delays in receiving the Certificate of Testing.