Start with the official checker
Before entering Japan, check MOFA’s visa-exemption table and passport/nationality conditions, then the Japanese embassy/consulate responsible for your residence for documents, purpose and itinerary. Tell the airline if the itinerary requires reclaim, a domestic leg, an overnight transit or a landside hotel.
Volairport does not decide whether you may enter or transit.
Check my entry requirements Official · external ↗Airside transit or 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.
Your airport 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.
Self-transfer guideOfficial sources & review
Requirements may change; confirm your travel-date rules with the authority.
- Japan MOFA · entry and visas Official · external ↗ · 2026-10-14
- Narita · transfer procedure Official · external ↗ · 2026-10-14