The flight from Incheon Airport arrived at Kansai International Airport in Japan approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes later. Even after landing at the airport, the ground transit took quite some time, causing a delay beyond the expected time. Kansai International Airport serves as a gateway to Japan’s Kansai region and is commonly used when visiting cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe.
“Immigration Procedures at Kansai Airport”
After the aircraft landed at Kansai Airport, the natural progression is to proceed with immigration procedures. The sequence typically follows these steps, which are similar to immigration procedures at other airports:
Kansai Airport Immigration Procedure:
- Disembarkation from the aircraft.
- Immigration inspection (usually facilitated by pre-filling an entry declaration form onboard or using the online Visit Web Japan system).
- Baggage retrieval.
- Customs declaration.
- Completion of the immigration process.
In the case of Eastar Airlines, the airline I used on this trip, passengers had to take an airport shuttle after disembarking from the plane to reach the immigration inspection area. Depending on circumstances, some passengers may need to take the shuttle, while others might not. It’s likely that passengers arriving on low-cost carriers are often directed to gates requiring shuttle transportation.
“Immigration Inspection”
Following the flow of people after disembarking, I arrived at the immigration inspection area. Even at the immigration inspection area, the distinct atmosphere of Japan could already be felt. For visitors holding Korean nationality, a visa-free stay of up to 90 days is permitted.
Moreover, post-COVID-19, an online website called “Visit Web Japan” allows travelers to pre-fill the entry declaration form online. After completion, a QR code can be downloaded and stored. This QR code is then presented at the immigration counter to expedite the immigration process.
Immigration inspection involves scanning the passport, registering fingerprints, taking a photo, and finally scanning the “QR code” for completion.
On this day, there seemed to be quite a crowd of travelers, resulting in a longer wait than expected. (Compared to visits before COVID-19, the airport appeared busier.)
“Baggage Retrieval & Customs Declaration”
Once immigration inspection is complete, you can proceed to the baggage claim area. In this trip, as I had checked in one piece of luggage, I waited for it to arrive at the designated area.
After retrieving the baggage, the next step is customs declaration. Again, using the QR code received from “Visit Web Japan” online, I was able to swiftly complete this process.
Having the experience of entering another country after a considerable hiatus, memories of past experiences were a bit fuzzy, causing a slight nervousness. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, allowing me to start my journey in Japan with a relaxed mind.
“Kansai International Airport”
- Address: 1 Senshukukokita, Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture 549-0001, Japan
- Phone Number: +81 72-455-2500
- Website: Kansai International Airport