Passengers at the Tokyo International Airport, commonly known as Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 23, 2020. Photo by Reuters
Many tourists complain about long queues at immigration at Japanese airports, with some waiting for two hours in lines as long as 500 meters, according to a survey.
The survey by the Japan Tourism Agency polled over 4,000 foreign visitors at five major airports between December 2024 and January 2025, and found that 8.6% were unhappy with immigration procedures.
Tourists encounter difficulties as soon as they step off the plane at airports like Narita, Haneda and other major hubs.
There are two lanes, one for Japanese citizens and another for foreigners, and while the former is processed quickly, the line for foreign visitors often takes much longer.
A recent jump in foreign tourist numbers has caused unprecedented congestion at Japanese airports, according to Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
Japan received a record 36.8 million tourists in 2024. The figure is expected to rise to 40 million this year.
Ashley Harvey, a travel marketing analyst, said Japan lags behind destinations like Singapore and Dubai, where travelers can preregister and easily pass through automated immigration procedures, the South China Morning Post reported.
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