I took the ¥1000 bus from Ginza, Tokyo’s city center, to Narita Airport Terminal 3. Although I didn’t make a reservation for the bus, fortunately, there were plenty of seats, and the roads were clear, allowing me to arrive much earlier than expected.
My return flight was scheduled for 6:10 PM, and I reached the airport around 4:20 PM, providing ample time before departure.
“Tasks at Narita Airport, Returning Flight”
Upon arrival at the airport, I had approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes until departure. I proceeded to check and complete tasks at the airport in order:
- Check-in with the airline.
- Baggage and security check (passing through the security checkpoint).
- Visit the Japanese Customs.
- Departure inspection.
- Utilize duty-free shops.
- Board the plane.
“Checking in with the Airline”
I flew with Jeju Air this time. Once off the bus and entering Narita Airport Terminal 3, the airline’s counter was easily accessible near the entrance. After queuing up, I checked in with the airline staff. Unlike Incheon Airport, there were no self-check-in kiosks, so all procedures had to be completed through the airline staff. Luckily, the airport was not crowded at that time, so the process didn’t take long.
“Security and Baggage Check”
Narita Airport, like any other international airport, conducts security and baggage checks before boarding. The procedures were similar to Incheon Airport. Notably, Changi Airport in Singapore performed departure inspection before the security and baggage check, making it a unique feature compared to Narita Airport.
After baggage and security checks, the next step was passing through Japanese Customs. If you have items purchased as duty-free in Japan, attach the receipts to your passport. If there’s a receipt attached, you may be required to stop briefly for verification; otherwise, you can proceed without any issue.
“Departure Inspection”
Following the customs clearance, the departure inspection process began. Similar to the arrival inspection, it involved submitting your passport for verification before being allowed to proceed.
“Narita Airport Terminal 3 Duty-Free Shops”
After completing departure inspection, it was time for duty-free shopping. The duty-free shops at Narita Airport Terminal 3 were not particularly large, consisting of around four small stores. There were shops selling cosmetics, electronics, and a store named Akihabara selling Japanese character products.
Here, I was able to purchase character goods and souvenirs at reasonable prices. With about 1,600 yen left after completing departure procedures, I used the remaining Japanese yen to buy character goods.
“Boarding the Plane, Returning to Incheon Airport”
Once duty-free shopping was complete, it was time to board the plane. The Terminal 3 at Narita Airport I visited was surprisingly quiet, and even with a leisurely pace, it took around 20 minutes for the entire departure process. If I had rushed a bit more, it probably would have taken less than 10 minutes.
While I felt I had entered the airport a bit too early, I still believed it was better than risking being late for boarding. The process was so efficient that even with a bit of leftover time, it allowed for a smooth conclusion to the short yet eventful 4-night, 5-day journey.
“Narita Airport, Japan”
- Address: 1-1 Furugome, Narita, Chiba Prefecture 282-0004, Japan
- Phone: +81 476-34-8000
- Website: Narita Airport