Separate tickets: check the actual route
For separate tickets or reclaim/recheck, confirm the second airline will accept the itinerary, check Japan entry before travel, complete arrivals/immigration, collect required bags and clear customs; travel on the public side to the correct terminal, check in/bag-drop before that airline’s deadline, then security and applicable exit controls. Hand-baggage-only international airside transfer is possible only if the airline confirms no-entry/no-reclaim handling and supplies/accepts the onward boarding pass. Do not assume a shuttle time is a minimum connection time.
Confirm bags and boarding passes
Ask each airline whether bags are checked through and where the next boarding pass is issued. Have the bag-drop, check-in and boarding deadlines for your onward flight.
Allow for the full route
Include arrival delays, border control, baggage reclaim, terminal travel, bag drop and security. This guide does not calculate a safe connection time or promise missed-flight protection; check your booking terms.
Visa & entry
Remaining in the same-day international departure/transit area may avoid immigration only when the airline confirms the described no-reclaim connection. Leaving airside, collecting bags for a public-area transfer, connecting domestically or transiting overnight requires the relevant entry/border process. nine hours is before security, not a transit hotel accessible without entry.
Check entry and transitOfficial sources & review
Requirements may change; confirm your travel-date rules with the authority.
- Narita · transfer procedure Official · external ↗ · 2026-10-14